(09-25-2019 04:37 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  My top 10

1. SMU - Dallas has a lot of great stuff outside of just BBQ
2/3. Tulsa / Cincy - Tied not because of BBQ or Chilli... but because of world class Oktoberfests! Heck, Tulsa is where the Chicken Dance became the Chicken Dance in the early 80's! If you're in town, Tulsa's Oktoberfest is usually scheduled around our Homecoming.... Tons of Alumni return to dance on tables around that time.
4. Temple - Philly's and Italian food!??!? Sign me up!
5. ECU - I'm a fan of the tang of some vinegar in my BBQ at times
6. Houston - Multicultural city. I've seen some food specials on the quality asian foods that can be found there
7. Memphis - The BBQ is renowned but overrated in my opinion. Not much outside of that to speak of.
8. Tulane - Some people may love it, but cajun food isn't really for me. I could live the rest of my life and not visit New Orleans and I'd be fine.
9. UCF - I guess you technically have epcot, and therefore foods of the world.... but I'm not sure that's fair.
10. USF - Cuban food..... meh.
11. Navy - Crab Cakes - Only sailors that have lived on commissary for months on end think this is good.

I'd say you must have access to Willie Nelson's stash, but that would presumably have given you the munchies, and you have way too many bad food takes about foods you don't like to be high. To be fair, it pairs well with your awful grits take.

USFFan

(09-25-2019 04:26 PM)usffan Wrote:  For our uneducated (and taste-challenged) brethren, for all intents and purposes, grits = polenta = masa = cornmeal. So hating grits is saying you don't like



tamales



shrimp and grits



polenta...

I mean, I could understand not liking scrapple or something that is truly objectionable. But grits are one of the most versatile food items you could imagine.

USFFan

I don't like any of these.

Don't be a seafood hater.

1. Tulane, and it’s not even close.
2. ECU
3. Houston/SMU
4. Memphis
5. Cincinnati (haters gonna hate, but Cincy chili is a proud family tradition)

Can’t really speak to the rest.

(09-25-2019 04:48 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 04:26 PM)usffan Wrote:  For our uneducated (and taste-challenged) brethren, for all intents and purposes, grits = polenta = masa = cornmeal. So hating grits is saying you don't like



tamales



shrimp and grits



polenta...

I mean, I could understand not liking scrapple or something that is truly objectionable. But grits are one of the most versatile food items you could imagine.

USFFan

I don't like any of these.

Same. That all looks like trash. Give me a Tacos al Pastor (Or maybe some machaka) over the Tamale, Sushi over the Shrimp + Grits, and Risotto over the Polenta.

Going back a couple centuries, cornmeal was a poor person's staple and unlike bbq, it wasn't improved upon with creativity.... It's easier to dress up / hide a protein than it is to vary cornmeal. That being said, cornbread is probably the best use of it. But, you can make pretty much any grain into a bread.

if you are looking at a place that has their own unique cuisine and culture behind it..its Tulane and not even close...new orleans has culture behind their food and unqiue foods tied to it

if you are looking for place that just has the best restaurants, nothing specifically tied to the city's culture..just good food... i think its houston and not sure its close

houston is a mega melting pot..the most diverse and biggest city in the south. where the most popular thing to do is go out and eat
you can find almost anything you are looking for, almost every international and national food style has some space/restaurant in Houston

(09-25-2019 05:06 PM)pesik Wrote:  if you are looking at at place that has their own unique cuisine and culture behind it..its Tulane and not even close...new orleans has had culture behind their food and unqiue foods tied to it

if you are looking for place that just has the best restaurants, nothing specifically tied to the city's culture..just good food... i think its houston and not sure its close

houston is mega melting pot..the most diverse and biggest city in the south. where the most popular thing to do is go to out and eat
you can find almost anything you are looking for, almost every international and national food style has some space/restaurant in Houston

I agree on Houston's diversity. It just gets dinged to me for being good at a lot of things while not being exceptional at any one thing. It's not a bad place to be. Probably a good food city to live in more than visit.

(09-25-2019 04:37 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 04:15 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 03:12 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 02:42 PM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 01:59 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  Any state that thinks Grits/hominy are real food items doesn't get my vote. Nastiest trash in the world.

My yankee wife never had grits until she met me. She couldn't get enough of them. She went apeshit over the grits and the homemade cornbread with honey butter. Warms the soul. If you didn't like grits then they weren't made right.

Cornbread, fried okra, pretty much most southern cooking I'm good with. Grits and hominy though? They're not real foods. I'm not a yankee. My dad is from Alabama. Southerners get touchy about some of their food stuffs.... some are good, some are crap... and grits are crap. Given the choice between a perfect Belgian Waffle, or Biscuits and Gravy, or Eggs and Grits.... who i their right mind chooses Grits except people that have to worry about dentures?

I truly believe a country bumpkin one day asked himself.... "how can we make a worse version of oatmeal?" and he came up with grits.

And out of the woodwork come the Tulane / Memphis / Houston / SMU fans like little orphan Oliver with their porridge....

Most people who don't like grits are doing it wrong. They try to eat them like you'd eat a bowl of plain rice. Grits are a medium. I think many of our Tulane faithful would agree that shrimp & grits, for instance, is f***ing fantastic.

Only works if you like shrimp. I'd rather have risotto. I guess I'll take Temple (Italian) over Tulane.

My top 10

1. SMU - Dallas has a lot of great stuff outside of just BBQ
2/3. Tulsa / Cincy - Tied not because of BBQ or Chilli... but because of world class Oktoberfests! Heck, Tulsa is where the Chicken Dance became the Chicken Dance in the early 80's! If you're in town, Tulsa's Oktoberfest is usually scheduled around our Homecoming.... Tons of Alumni return to dance on tables around that time.
4. Temple - Philly's and Italian food!??!? Sign me up!
5. ECU - I'm a fan of the tang of some vinegar in my BBQ at times
6. Houston - Multicultural city. I've seen some food specials on the quality asian foods that can be found there
7. Memphis - The BBQ is renowned but overrated in my opinion. Not much outside of that to speak of.
8. Tulane - Some people may love it, but cajun food isn't really for me. I could live the rest of my life and not visit New Orleans and I'd be fine.
9. UCF - I guess you technically have epcot, and therefore foods of the world.... but I'm not sure that's fair.
10. USF - Cuban food..... meh.
11. Navy - Crab Cakes - Only sailors that have lived on commissary for months on end think this is good.

The last person I want to hear an expert opinon on fine cuisine is a picky eater. Besides you're from Tulsa. What do you know about food. You people eat in cafeteria's.

(09-25-2019 05:24 PM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 04:37 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 04:15 PM)CoastalJuan Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 03:12 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 02:42 PM)Memphis Yankee Wrote:  My yankee wife never had grits until she met me. She couldn't get enough of them. She went apeshit over the grits and the homemade cornbread with honey butter. Warms the soul. If you didn't like grits then they weren't made right.

Cornbread, fried okra, pretty much most southern cooking I'm good with. Grits and hominy though? They're not real foods. I'm not a yankee. My dad is from Alabama. Southerners get touchy about some of their food stuffs.... some are good, some are crap... and grits are crap. Given the choice between a perfect Belgian Waffle, or Biscuits and Gravy, or Eggs and Grits.... who i their right mind chooses Grits except people that have to worry about dentures?

I truly believe a country bumpkin one day asked himself.... "how can we make a worse version of oatmeal?" and he came up with grits.

And out of the woodwork come the Tulane / Memphis / Houston / SMU fans like little orphan Oliver with their porridge....

Most people who don't like grits are doing it wrong. They try to eat them like you'd eat a bowl of plain rice. Grits are a medium. I think many of our Tulane faithful would agree that shrimp & grits, for instance, is f***ing fantastic.

Only works if you like shrimp. I'd rather have risotto. I guess I'll take Temple (Italian) over Tulane.

My top 10

1. SMU - Dallas has a lot of great stuff outside of just BBQ
2/3. Tulsa / Cincy - Tied not because of BBQ or Chilli... but because of world class Oktoberfests! Heck, Tulsa is where the Chicken Dance became the Chicken Dance in the early 80's! If you're in town, Tulsa's Oktoberfest is usually scheduled around our Homecoming.... Tons of Alumni return to dance on tables around that time.
4. Temple - Philly's and Italian food!??!? Sign me up!
5. ECU - I'm a fan of the tang of some vinegar in my BBQ at times
6. Houston - Multicultural city. I've seen some food specials on the quality asian foods that can be found there
7. Memphis - The BBQ is renowned but overrated in my opinion. Not much outside of that to speak of.
8. Tulane - Some people may love it, but cajun food isn't really for me. I could live the rest of my life and not visit New Orleans and I'd be fine.
9. UCF - I guess you technically have epcot, and therefore foods of the world.... but I'm not sure that's fair.
10. USF - Cuban food..... meh.
11. Navy - Crab Cakes - Only sailors that have lived on commissary for months on end think this is good.

The last person I want to hear an expert opinon on fine cuisine is a picky eater. Besides you're from Tulsa. What do you know about food. You people eat in cafeteria's.

Picky eater? I'm not afraid to try something... but if I try it more than once and I still don't like it, why should I go to a city that specializes in it. Had some great food in a trip through Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic recently. Central European Goulasch is the bomb. So is Czech Svickova.

HONEST QUESTION:

Is it just the food known from the region? Because Memphis BBQ alone can whoop a whole lotta dishes, but outside of Gus's and Anthony Michael's there isn't a supporting cast.
But Dallas has more restaurants per capita then NYC (and FANTASTIC ones at that) but doesn't have a distinct 'cuisine.' Yes, the BBQ is great, but I honestly prefer Memphis'.

So are we talking about the city/region's contribution, the actual restaurants on site, or a combination of both?

(09-25-2019 11:39 AM)usffan Wrote:  1 - Tulane (muffalettas and other NO food)
2a - Memphis (Central and Corkys are good grease BBQ)
2b - Houston (TX BBQ and great Mexican)
4 - Navy (crab and Seafood)
5 - Temple (Pilly C-steaks)
6 - SMU (upscale Texas BBQ )
7 - USF (Cuban sandwiches and Seafood)
8 - Tulsa (Good Tx BBQ and Mexican.
9 - ECU (Carolina BBQ Not a fan of)
10 - UCF (king of chain rests)
11 - Cincinnati (crap "chili")
12 - UConn (New Haven pizza is way overrated and wait is not worth it )

(never been Wichita)

Modded his list. I can't decide btw Memphis and Houston. Houston has more than BBQ.

Sure UConn would be last since I am sure Wichita could do better.

(09-25-2019 12:56 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  

(09-25-2019 12:53 PM)SMUleopold Wrote:  This must be what inspired this thread:

https://theathletic.com/1231490/2019/09/...y-cuisine/

Not a bad representation of this conference, either. :)

1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Tulane
4. Georgia
5. Wisconsin
6. LSU
7. Vanderbilt
8. Houston
9. Arizona State
10. Georgia Tech
11. Michigan State
12. Washington
13. SMU
14. Ohio State
15. USC
16. Oklahoma
17. Tennessee
18. Minnesota
19. Florida
20. Northwestern
21. ASA College-Brooklyn
22. Auburn
23. East Carolina
24. Nebraska
25. Utah

That list is bull shite. Norman doesn't have good food and neither does Alabama. Unless maybe they're ranking what they serve to the media in the booth. I don't like either state school and I would easily say that Stillwater has better food than Norman on gameday. Hell, Stillwater is where they keep all the cows!

What kind of food is Wisconsin known for? Last time I was in that state for business, I tried a Jalapeño Peanut Butter Cheese Burger. It was surprisingly pretty damn good. Sounds weird though. But that was actually closer to Minneapolis in western part of the state, not Badger Country so much.

(09-25-2019 05:56 PM)SMUleopold Wrote:  HONEST QUESTION:

Is it just the food known from the region? Because Memphis BBQ alone can whoop a whole lotta dishes, but outside of Gus's and Anthony Michael's there isn't a supporting cast.
But Dallas has more restaurants per capita then NYC (and FANTASTIC ones at that) but doesn't have a distinct 'cuisine.' Yes, the BBQ is great, but I honestly prefer Memphis'.

So are we talking about the city/region's contribution, the actual restaurants on site, or a combination of both?

Growing up in Chicago we had a little of everything. Lot's of Eastern European food. When you ate at a Polish restaraunt, a little old lady came out to take a bow at the end of the evening. Everyone is clapping. Those kind of places. Places that are hard to replicate.

Best Prime Rib I ever had was outside the city at a place called Simonini's. Lowery's couldn't hold a candle to this stuff. Get a steak dinner at Gibson's in the Viagra triangle. Best steak on earth.

The old world places that have stood the test of time.

Okay, but that doesn't answer my question.

What is the focus of this discussion?

The distinct food of the region, or the current menu region has to offer?

Tulane is the winner here

(09-25-2019 07:26 PM)SMUleopold Wrote:  Okay, but that doesn't answer my question.

What is the focus of this discussion?

The distinct food of the region, or the current menu region has to offer?

We really love our food in the AAC and we’re hungry.

(09-25-2019 06:42 PM)NoQuarterBrigade Wrote:  What kind of food is Wisconsin known for?

I already know invisiblehand doesn't like cheese curds - he hates anything that tastes good.

USFFan

(09-25-2019 07:26 PM)SMUleopold Wrote:  Okay, but that doesn't answer my question.

What is the focus of this discussion?

The distinct food of the region, or the current menu region has to offer?

I went for a combination of both. Viet-cajun is only in Houston because of the influx of Louisianans from Katrina and the Vietnamese immigrants to Houston, but it's delicious and the best of it can be found in Houston.

USFFan

(09-25-2019 12:11 PM)invisiblehand Wrote:  Every picture I see of Memphis BBQ looks dry to me for some reason.

That's because Memphis BBQ (especially ribs) is dry, not wet. That way, when it is brought to the table, you can either enjoy the true art of slow smoked pork, or you can efffff it up with a sauce that will mask all of that effort that went in to smokey perfection.

Never been to Greenville or Tulsa so I can't speak for those.

New Orleans is probably the best in the group, but Houston is good if you like Asian food.

I've never really found any BBQ in Memphis or Texas that lived up to the hype tbh. Best BBQ I've ever had was in st Louis.

Cincinnati chili, I don't want to hate too much because I'm sure it's a comfort food for those who grew up there, but for me it just tastes like cheap fast food. Been to all of the main ones. I think it's crap.

I like Philly but not so much for the cheese steaks. Just like a big city with a lot of variety.

Bias about the Tampa area so I won't speak to it too much, but it's got a very good foodie scene between Tampa and st pete.