So here in Jersey:
Pork Roll/Taylor Ham - Breakfast meat of the gods.
Texas Weiners (particularly around the Greater Paterson area) - Chili Dog but the dogs are grilled on a flat top or deep fried (no batter or breading) and then topped with brown deli mustard, diced/minced onions and a nutmegy chili (influenced by the Greek cuisine of the immigrants who invented it.)
Italian Hot Dogs - Invented in Newark at Jimmy Buffs where they use a "pizza bread" (round loaf of bread made from pizza dough) cut in half and the sliced longways to form a pocket stuffed with two hot dogs, fried potatoes, sauteed peppers and onions. There is also a half and half where by one of the hot dogs is replaced with an Italian sausage link.
Pizza - Particularly along the shore and in the northeastern part of the state. Other parts of the state get the basic formula right but something about it just doesn't measure up.
Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Indian, Kosher-style Delicatessan cuisines
Italian Bread - What passes for Italian Bread outside of this area makes me cringe. For that matter some of what passes for Italian Bread inside the area these days makes me cringe. The best bread comes from Calandra's Italian and French Bakery which has 3 bakeries: their original in Newark and two suburban locations in Fairfield and Caldwell. They also sell in the supermarkets but this isn't quite as good as taking the ride to the bakery itself. Some local bakeries in different parts of the state also do a very good job, but Calandra's is just a level above everyone. The best semolina bread I've had from outside this area is from Panera Bread which does a decent job but has a much higher sugar content than what is ideal.
Bagels - Basically see the above on Italian Bread.

We're also known for our blueberries, cranberries, eggplant and tomatoes. Jersey Corn is also among the best in the country in quality, but we don't produce the quantity of the corn belt states.

A good start brista.

I'll add original sliders from White Mana in Jersey City or White Manna in Hackensack. Both have been feuding since before any of us were born and either place is worth the trip.
Cuban sandwiches from the Hudson/Essex County area. That area of NJ has second largest concentration of ethnic Cubans in USA.
Last but not least a real Sloppy Joe. Not to be confused with that ground beef and manwitch sauce crap served in the Midwest. I'm talking about a triple decker deli sandwich featuring turkey, ham or roast beef on rye bread with Swiss cheess, cole slaw and Russian dressing. These are a local favorite in the area just to the West and South of Newark.
Alright one more. Order Italian food from anyplace not named Olive Garden. It will be the best any Corn belt cousin will ever have.

White Rose in Highland Park for burgers, similar to White Mana ( i think), but a full size burger.

Delis were mentioned, but also the straight up Sub shops. In Central NJ you have Tastee Sub Shoppe with 3 locations and Just Subs with i think 6 locations. The bread is what makes them great.

(07-31-2014 09:06 PM)General Mike Wrote:  White Rose in Highland Park for burgers, similar to White Mana ( i think), but a full size burger.

Delis were mentioned, but also the straight up Sub shops. In Central NJ you have Tastee Sub Shoppe with 3 locations and Just Subs with i think 6 locations. The bread is what makes them great.

Never had Just Subs so I can't comment, but I really find Tastees to have gone downhill over the last several years. I remember in my Junior and Senior Years (I graduated in 2007) we'd take a ride over there sometimes and I remember it being a very good, solid sub. As I've gone back since I've graduated I feel that the quality of the sandwich has gone downhill. A friend just went last week and took a picture of a sandwich which was very light on the meat, frankly little better than Subway meat portions. I actually like Jersey Subs on George Street although its been 4 years since I was in there.

(07-31-2014 11:01 PM)brista21 Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 09:06 PM)General Mike Wrote:  White Rose in Highland Park for burgers, similar to White Mana ( i think), but a full size burger.

Delis were mentioned, but also the straight up Sub shops. In Central NJ you have Tastee Sub Shoppe with 3 locations and Just Subs with i think 6 locations. The bread is what makes them great.

Never had Just Subs so I can't comment, but I really find Tastees to have gone downhill over the last several years. I remember in my Junior and Senior Years (I graduated in 2007) we'd take a ride over there sometimes and I remember it being a very good, solid sub. As I've gone back since I've graduated I feel that the quality of the sandwich has gone downhill. A friend just went last week and took a picture of a sandwich which was very light on the meat, frankly little better than Subway meat portions. I actually like Jersey Subs on George Street although its been 4 years since I was in there.

If it's the Tastee in Edison I can't comment, since I've never been to that location. I always hit up the Franklin Park one. I can't say I've noticed a difference, but you may be right.

metro Chicago:

Deep dish pizza: Giordano's & Pizza Uno. They also ship frozen pies anywhere
Thin Crust: Lou Malnotti's. Also Ships pies nationally

Italian Beef
Al's originated the thin sliced Italian Beef Sandwich in 1938. Have added locations in Los Angeles, the Sahara in LV along with San Jose.

Duke's Drive In Bridgeview where they do an Italian Sausage & Beef combo. They charcoal grill the sausages which gives them a crispiness that pops with the italian beef.

Johnnies (Elmwood Park) the best gravy on great beef.

Pierogies
Fried slices of heaven filled with cheese & berries (dessert) Bacon, cheese & Mushrooms, pepppers or onions.

U Gazdy in Wood Dale

Smak-Tak! 6000 N Elston Chicago

Old Warsaw 4750 N Harlem, Harwood Heights &

Helen's (Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale) an all you can eat buffet style

All offer great versions

(08-01-2014 11:26 AM)Policiious Wrote:  metro Chicago:

Deep dish pizza: Giordano's & Pizza Uno. They also ship frozen pies anywhere I've heard the original Pizza Uno and Pizza Due are night and day from the chain they spawned. That being said my favorite is Bacino's of Lincoln Park, Lou's, Giordano's and Gino's East aren't bad either, but Giordano's is the best of those three.
Thin Crust: Lou Malnotti's. Also Ships pies nationally

Italian Beef
Al's originated the thin sliced Italian Beef Sandwich in 1938. Have added locations in Los Angeles, the Sahara in LV along with San Jose. I've unfortunately never made it to Al's. On my next trip, but I've had Italian Beef at Portillo's and man is it great.

Duke's Drive In Bridgeview where they do an Italian Sausage & Beef combo. They charcoal grill the sausages which gives them a crispiness that pops with the italian beef.

Johnnies (Elmwood Park) the best gravy on great beef. I'm from Elmwood Park, NJ so I always find it funny. Little odd thing to note is that there are a cluster of towns in that area of Illinois that correspond to towns in Bergen County, NJ

Pierogies
Fried slices of heaven filled with cheese & berries (dessert) Bacon, cheese & Mushrooms, pepppers or onions.

U Gazdy in Wood Dale

Smak-Tak! 6000 N Elston Chicago

Old Warsaw 4750 N Harlem, Harwood Heights &

Helen's (Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale) an all you can eat buffet style

All offer great versions

As a pizza connoisseur I look strangely at people who try to say Chicago-style or New York-style suck. They're both very different things and both are outstanding.

(08-01-2014 08:35 AM)General Mike Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 11:01 PM)brista21 Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 09:06 PM)General Mike Wrote:  White Rose in Highland Park for burgers, similar to White Mana ( i think), but a full size burger.

Delis were mentioned, but also the straight up Sub shops. In Central NJ you have Tastee Sub Shoppe with 3 locations and Just Subs with i think 6 locations. The bread is what makes them great.

Never had Just Subs so I can't comment, but I really find Tastees to have gone downhill over the last several years. I remember in my Junior and Senior Years (I graduated in 2007) we'd take a ride over there sometimes and I remember it being a very good, solid sub. As I've gone back since I've graduated I feel that the quality of the sandwich has gone downhill. A friend just went last week and took a picture of a sandwich which was very light on the meat, frankly little better than Subway meat portions. I actually like Jersey Subs on George Street although its been 4 years since I was in there.

If it's the Tastee in Edison I can't comment, since I've never been to that location. I always hit up the Franklin Park one. I can't say I've noticed a difference, but you may be right.

The Tastees in Edison is the one. I've never been to the Franklin Park location.

(08-01-2014 05:06 PM)brista21 Wrote:  [quote='Policiious' pid='10954401' dateline='1406910365']
metro Chicago:

Deep dish pizza: Giordano's & Pizza Uno. They also ship frozen pies anywhere I've heard the original Pizza Uno and Pizza Due are night and day from the chain they spawned. That being said my favorite is Bacino's of Lincoln Park, Lou's, Giordano's and Gino's East aren't bad either, but Giordano's is the best of those three.
Thin Crust: Lou Malnotti's. Also Ships pies nationally

Italian Beef
Al's originated the thin sliced Italian Beef Sandwich in 1938. Have added locations in Los Angeles, the Sahara in LV along with San Jose. I've unfortunately never made it to Al's. On my next trip, but I've had Italian Beef at Portillo's and man is it great.

Duke's Drive In Bridgeview where they do an Italian Sausage & Beef combo. They charcoal grill the sausages which gives them a crispiness that pops with the italian beef.

Johnnies (Elmwood Park) the best gravy on great beef. I'm from Elmwood Park, NJ so I always find it funny. Little odd thing to note is that there are a cluster of towns in that area of Illinois that correspond to towns in Bergen County, NJ

Pierogies
Fried slices of heaven filled with cheese & berries (dessert) Bacon, cheese & Mushrooms, pepppers or onions.

U Gazdy in Wood Dale

Smak-Tak! 6000 N Elston Chicago

Old Warsaw 4750 N Harlem, Harwood Heights &

Helen's (Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale) an all you can eat buffet style

All offer great versions

As a pizza connoisseur I look strangely at people who try to say Chicago-style or New York-style suck. They're both very different things and both are outstanding.
[/quote

Yes they are as different as possible while still being called "Pizza"
There are actually a number of New York Style Pizza Purveyors in Chicago and others including Lou Malnotti's that do not promote their pizza as New York Style, offer a wonderfully crispy thin crust pie that is quite similar to New York style pizza.

(08-01-2014 11:26 AM)Policiious Wrote:  metro Chicago:

Deep dish pizza: Giordano's & Pizza Uno. They also ship frozen pies anywhere
Thin Crust: Lou Malnotti's. Also Ships pies nationally

Italian Beef
Al's originated the thin sliced Italian Beef Sandwich in 1938. Have added locations in Los Angeles, the Sahara in LV along with San Jose.

Duke's Drive In Bridgeview where they do an Italian Sausage & Beef combo. They charcoal grill the sausages which gives them a crispiness that pops with the italian beef.

Johnnies (Elmwood Park) the best gravy on great beef.

Pierogies
Fried slices of heaven filled with cheese & berries (dessert) Bacon, cheese & Mushrooms, pepppers or onions.

U Gazdy in Wood Dale

Smak-Tak! 6000 N Elston Chicago

Old Warsaw 4750 N Harlem, Harwood Heights &

Helen's (Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale) an all you can eat buffet style

All offer great versions

My Chicago area suggestions.

Pizza: It's Lou Malnati's and its deep dish and thin crust are the best. The Lou salad is also good.

Italian Beef: Portillo's and Buona Beef are good city wide options. There are hundreds of places all over Chicagoland that serve good Italian Beef, I'm partial to Nicky's Red Hots for beef. I've been to Duke's several times and its good but not as flavorful as others and their fries aren't great.

A good beef comes with mozzarella or provolone cheese, extra gravy (au jus) and Giardiniera, hot.

Perogies: Hell, just like Italian Beef and hot dog joints, there are ton of perogie options. Several good Polish and eastern European deli's all over the western part of town serve them up.

Hot Dogs: All over Chicagoland, though you better hit Hot Doug's before it closes its doors for good.

Mexican Food: If you enjoy "authentic" Mexican food there are 10,000 places with unique, regional food offerings. It all kinda sucks in my opinion. I prefer Tex-Mex and the best places for that are all in Texas.

Best Euro diner: Grand Duke's

Best ice Cream: Emo's Dairy Mart in Peoria (a good drive but if you have to be in Peoria for any reason stop by Emo's).

(08-05-2014 01:20 AM)Waterloo Wrote:  

(08-01-2014 11:26 AM)Policiious Wrote:  metro Chicago:

Deep dish pizza: Giordano's & Pizza Uno. They also ship frozen pies anywhere
Thin Crust: Lou Malnotti's. Also Ships pies nationally

Italian Beef
Al's originated the thin sliced Italian Beef Sandwich in 1938. Have added locations in Los Angeles, the Sahara in LV along with San Jose.

Duke's Drive In Bridgeview where they do an Italian Sausage & Beef combo. They charcoal grill the sausages which gives them a crispiness that pops with the italian beef.

Johnnies (Elmwood Park) the best gravy on great beef.

Pierogies
Fried slices of heaven filled with cheese & berries (dessert) Bacon, cheese & Mushrooms, pepppers or onions.

U Gazdy in Wood Dale

Smak-Tak! 6000 N Elston Chicago

Old Warsaw 4750 N Harlem, Harwood Heights &

Helen's (Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale) an all you can eat buffet style

All offer great versions

My Chicago area suggestions.

Pizza: It's Lou Malnati's and its deep dish and thin crust are the best. The Lou salad is also good.

Italian Beef: Portillo's and Buona Beef are good city wide options. There are hundreds of places all over Chicagoland that serve good Italian Beef, I'm partial to Nicky's Red Hots for beef. I've been to Duke's several times and its good but not as flavorful as others and their fries aren't great.

A good beef comes with mozzarella or provolone cheese, extra gravy (au jus) and Giardiniera, hot.

Perogies: Hell, just like Italian Beef and hot dog joints, there are ton of perogie options. Several good Polish and eastern European deli's all over the western part of town serve them up.

Hot Dogs: All over Chicagoland, though you better hit Hot Doug's before it closes its doors for good.

Mexican Food: If you enjoy "authentic" Mexican food there are 10,000 places with unique, regional food offerings. It all kinda sucks in my opinion. I prefer Tex-Mex and the best places for that are all in Texas.

Best Euro diner: Grand Duke's

Best ice Cream: Emo's Dairy Mart in Peoria (a good drive but if you have to be in Peoria for any reason stop by Emo's).

Waterloo couldn't agree more on the best way to eat Italian Beef. Provolone or Mozz and hot giardiniera is definitely the way to go.

You know it Brista.

Looking forward to seeing your program compete this football season, we're all going to be watching to see how you handle Washington State on the road. Mike Leach will have his team ready, hopefully Flood does too.

Good luck.

(08-05-2014 02:50 PM)brista21 Wrote:  

(08-05-2014 01:20 AM)Waterloo Wrote:  

(08-01-2014 11:26 AM)Policiious Wrote:  metro Chicago:

Deep dish pizza: Giordano's & Pizza Uno. They also ship frozen pies anywhere
Thin Crust: Lou Malnotti's. Also Ships pies nationally

Italian Beef
Al's originated the thin sliced Italian Beef Sandwich in 1938. Have added locations in Los Angeles, the Sahara in LV along with San Jose.

Duke's Drive In Bridgeview where they do an Italian Sausage & Beef combo. They charcoal grill the sausages which gives them a crispiness that pops with the italian beef.

Johnnies (Elmwood Park) the best gravy on great beef.

Pierogies
Fried slices of heaven filled with cheese & berries (dessert) Bacon, cheese & Mushrooms, pepppers or onions.

U Gazdy in Wood Dale

Smak-Tak! 6000 N Elston Chicago

Old Warsaw 4750 N Harlem, Harwood Heights &

Helen's (Irving Park Rd, Wood Dale) an all you can eat buffet style

All offer great versions

My Chicago area suggestions.

Pizza: It's Lou Malnati's and its deep dish and thin crust are the best. The Lou salad is also good.

Italian Beef: Portillo's and Buona Beef are good city wide options. There are hundreds of places all over Chicagoland that serve good Italian Beef, I'm partial to Nicky's Red Hots for beef. I've been to Duke's several times and its good but not as flavorful as others and their fries aren't great.

A good beef comes with mozzarella or provolone cheese, extra gravy (au jus) and Giardiniera, hot.

Perogies: Hell, just like Italian Beef and hot dog joints, there are ton of perogie options. Several good Polish and eastern European deli's all over the western part of town serve them up.

Hot Dogs: All over Chicagoland, though you better hit Hot Doug's before it closes its doors for good.

Mexican Food: If you enjoy "authentic" Mexican food there are 10,000 places with unique, regional food offerings. It all kinda sucks in my opinion. I prefer Tex-Mex and the best places for that are all in Texas.

Best Euro diner: Grand Duke's

Best ice Cream: Emo's Dairy Mart in Peoria (a good drive but if you have to be in Peoria for any reason stop by Emo's).

Waterloo couldn't agree more on the best way to eat Italian Beef. Provolone or Mozz and hot giardiniera is definitely the way to go.

For NJ, I have to give the best Ice Cream nod to Van Dyk's in Ridgewood....

Tex-Mex is not Mexican, and sucks badly.



Local fare for Central Illinois - the Horseshoe Sandwich - bread, meat, fries, cheese sauce. YUM!! Invented in Springfield

the sausage on Lou Malnati's pizza is absolutely killer

For NJ, don't forget our famous Fat Sandwiches on George Street (if we can find them anymore), Edison/Princeton/Livingston areas for some of the most authentic various Asian food out there, and the fried hot dogs (rippers) at Rutts Hut in Clifton. Also the Jersey Burger at White Rose is really good, pork roll with a great grilled slider.

(08-08-2014 05:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  Tex-Mex is not Mexican . . .

That's why Tex-Mex is good, it's not Mexican.

BTW, i enjoyed a horseshoe while in Springfield last summer, a lot of damn food. But hell if I didn't eat it all (including leftovers).

Mel-O-Cream Donuts on Grand Ave was a good spot too. I love donuts.