Food/Things You Love, But Can't Get Where You Live?

I grew up in south central Kentucky. Got hooked on a few foods while living there that I just can't get here in AZ.

Fisher's Pickled Bologna - Might sound gross, but it's delish on Saltine's. I can order it online, but it's expensive and usually about 20 bazillion dollars for shipping.Attachment 190980 The super duper amazing bonus of this stuff is you can boil a bunch of eggs and drop them in the brine after the bologna is gone and have the best dam pickled eggs evar.

Bar B Q Fritos - What they hay, Frito Lay? Why can't we have this goodness here in AZ??

Country Ham - Well... What can be said about country ham that anyone one who knows what it is hasn't already said. I could drive to the other side of the freeway and get some on a plate at Cracker Barrel (I Think?), but I just want to have some in my fridge dammit.

Nehi Peach Soda - Yeah, I can get it from Amazon for $1.29 a can, but I ain't despit.

In Manistee Michigan, there is a pizza place called Big Al's. There is a sandwhich there called "The Big Al's Special".

Manistee is about an hour and 15 away from me, so I don't get to eat there much. If they were a mile away, I would be a much fatter and happier man.

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Originally Posted by birch

In Manistee Michigan, there is a pizza place called Big Al's. There is a sandwhich there called "The Big Al's Special".

Manistee is about an hour and 15 away from me, so I don't get to eat there much. If they were a mile away, I would be a much fatter and happier man.

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Oh I hear ya.

Two things I loved while living in Colorado Springs - The Bacon, Sour Cream, and Avocado burger from Meadow Muffins, and Laughing Lab Ale. :cry:

Coney dogs, better maid chips, and faygo!

I can't find French's sloppy joe mix in the envelope pack. Just add ground meat to a can of tomato paste with some water and in minutes its ready. I have to buy it on-line.

No Pig Sheep or Cow brains any where these days: one of my early years favorites!

West Texas Pepper Traders (out of Abilene) make a bread-and-butter pickled jalapeño marinade... zero salt, zero sugar... that works for beef, chicken, pork... Order it by the case because the grocery stores stopped carrying it.

when I visited by native cousins in AK, the Salmon they'd catch (subsistence), then dry/cure into Salmon sticks, it was like nothing I've ever had anywhere else, not salty at all, they said it didn't need to be stored in refrigeration. Also, they'd dry/cure the belly of King Salmon separate, they'd call that "Half-dry", stored in Freezer, they'd cook it in boiling water, my gosh that was rich, it was like eating pre-buttered Lobster, of course with the flavor of Salmon.

Mine goes beyond where I live because I travel for work. What I miss when I leave are Tastykake products. But what I really miss are the WaWa and Sheetz stores. The country is severely lacking in convenience stores of that quality. Scrapple, pork roll and PA Dutch food are on this list as well.

What I can't get at home is Barbecue. I prefer Kansas City style over Texas. And don't even bother bringing Carolina style into it because that ain't barbecue. I'd love to be able to go out and get some burnt ends right now.

Where I live is about as Midwest as it gets, and you can not get good seafood or Mexican food here.

One time I was home on leave and my uncle took me to a restaurant that was supposed to have good seafood. The "king (ha) crab legs were about the size of a pencil. I really miss getting those of the boat like when I was on Adak.

I also got used to getting a really good carne asada burrito just about anywhere when I was stationed in California. Not to be found in Missouri.

Robert

Boiled peanuts. You'd think Arkansas would have some, but if you get 50 miles from the river, you can fergit. Decent fried catfish! A coupe of places up here try hard, and actually sell a good bit, but just don't get it right. Gulf Oysters! Any which way....

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Originally Posted by 762sultan

I can't find French's sloppy joe mix in the envelope pack. Just add ground meat to a can of tomato paste with some water and in minutes its ready. I have to buy it on-line.

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Dang! Grew up on that stuff although we bought McCormicks. I have not bought it in some time and had not realized it was hard to find.

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Originally Posted by Handloader109

Boiled peanuts. You'd think Arkansas would have some, but if you get 50 miles from the river, you can fergit. Decent fried catfish! A coupe of places up here try hard, and actually sell a good bit, but just don't get it right. Gulf Oysters! Any which way....

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I love boiled peanuts. Have not had any in about 45 years. My Grandparents used get for us when they went down south on vacation.

I also miss the Yaki Soba from Okinawa when I was stationed there.

I've lived in several places and have always noticed different foods that are available there and no-where else. When I was driving coast to coast I made it a point to go into local grocery stores and look for stuff I had never seen before.

In NC where I'm at now you can't seem to find a number of things. Natural Cased HotDogs that snap when you bite into them (hello McKenzie's!). Pickled Tripe I miss (rolled in egg and crushed crackers then fried, yum), Vermont Common Crackers, Brown Bread in a can, MayPo, Hot Dog buns that are sliced on the top like God intended not on the sides, Star Crushed Peppers, Cains Mayonnaise, Salt Pork ( we have no idea why you can't find this here pigs are everywhere and how in the world do you make baked beans without it?), side pork, Schaefer Beer or Genessee for that matter, Maple Leaf Maple Bacon, Ketchup Potato Chips.

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Originally Posted by dragon813gt

Mine goes beyond where I live because I travel for work. What I miss when I leave are Tastykake products. But what I really miss are the WaWa and Sheetz stores. The country is severely lacking in convenience stores of that quality. Scrapple, pork roll and PA Dutch food are on this list as well.

What I can't get at home is Barbecue. I prefer Kansas City style over Texas. And don't even bother bringing Carolina style into it because that ain't barbecue. I'd love to be able to go out and get some burnt ends right now.

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Your in PA and you don't have a Sheetz or WaWa's near you? Finding that hard to believe

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Originally Posted by JWFilips

No Pig Sheep or Cow brains any where these days: one of my early years favorites!

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I really miss scrambled pork brains for supper. CWD stopped the sale of brains everywhere. Was on the menu at my house growing up about once a week

Lobster rolls, traveled to Conn. to call on Pratt & Whitney years ago, lived on lobster rolls when I was out there.

And Philly calling on Boeing Vertol, cheese steaks. I can feel the arteries hardening just thinking about them.

And Rudy's Bar-b-que in San Antonio when @ Toyota.

Or this hole in the wall bar in Davenport Ia. for pork tenderloin sandwich with fries the cut when you ordered.

I traveled way too much.

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Originally Posted by Blanket

I really miss scrambled pork brains for supper. CWD stopped the sale of brains everywhere. Was on the menu at my house growing up about once a week

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Not everywhere. You can still get them here

Attachment 191012

never had canned brains before, just fresh ones scrambled with eggs

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Originally Posted by jonp

Your in PA and you don't have a Sheetz or WaWa's near you? Finding that hard to believe

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Says "I miss when I leave" before mentioning them.

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Originally Posted by 15meter

And Philly calling on Boeing Vertol, cheese steaks. I can feel the arteries hardening just thinking about them.

And Rudy's Bar-b-que in San Antonio when @ Toyota.

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I can't tell you the last time I ate a cheese steak. Everyone makes them here. And almost all the places in Philly are horrible. When you grow up eating them you grow tired of them.

I ate Rudy's last week. It's okay but nothing special IMO. You can do a lot worse. There "sause" is bad if you ask me.

I've found there is a line somewhere in VA where if you go below it you can't get a good slice of pizza. I know it's made everywhere but it's usually just serviceable food. It's an art that seems to be lost outside the north east.

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Originally Posted by dragon813gt

Says "I miss when I leave" before mentioning them.

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Thought you were talking about TastyKakes.

Stuffed cabbage
stuffed peppers
coleslaw

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Originally Posted by jonp

Thought you were talking about TastyKakes.

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The exact sentence is "but what I really miss are the WaWa and Sheetz stores."

Maull's BBQ sauce. Can't make a good St Louis style pork steak without it.

I once traveled to Wisconsin for my employer, can't remember the town I was in but stayed at an inn called the Audubon Inn. In said Inn there was a bar/restaurant that I gravitated to in the evenings. They had a beer that was brewed just for them by some local brewery, IIRC it was call Audubon Gold that was so good I wanted to bring home several cases of the stuff and of course I could not. The second best beer/ale I have ever had to date, the first being an ale called Formidable Ale that is brewed somewhere in England but not exported, a friend had traveled there and returned with several cans he thought I would like, he was right.

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Originally Posted by dragon813gt

The exact sentence is "but what I really miss are the WaWa and Sheetz stores."

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Ok, you want to argue for some reason. The exact sentence and the following one are "What I miss when I leave are Tastykake products. But what I really miss are the WaWa and Sheetz stores." The first one you leave, the second one you don't.

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Originally Posted by PaulG67

I once traveled to Wisconsin for my employer, can't remember the town I was in but stayed at an inn called the Audubon Inn. In said Inn there was a bar/restaurant that I gravitated to in the evenings. They had a beer that was brewed just for them by some local brewery, IIRC it was call Audubon Gold that was so good I wanted to bring home several cases of the stuff and of course I could not. The second best beer/ale I have ever had to date, the first being an ale called Formidable Ale that is brewed somewhere in England but not exported, a friend had traveled there and returned with several cans he thought I would like, he was right.

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Odd how you run across stuff like that. Best beer I ever had was Guiness Export. Most likely because I was staying at an old coffee plantation in Tanzania when I first had it. The second time I ran across it was at a beach side bar in Belize. Great stuff.

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Originally Posted by dragon813gt

I can't tell you the last time I ate a cheese steak. Everyone makes them here. And almost all the places in Philly are horrible. When you grow up eating them you grow tired of them.

I ate Rudy's last week. It's okay but nothing special IMO. You can do a lot worse. There "sause" is bad if you ask me.

I've found there is a line somewhere in VA where if you go below it you can't get a good slice of pizza. I know it's made everywhere but it's usually just serviceable food. It's an art that seems to be lost outside the north east.

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I found one of the old places near Philadelphia, theirs was great. If it is not done right they can be awful.

Did you go to the original Rudy's northwest of town? The franchises just don't seem to get the smoking right.

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Originally Posted by jonp

Not everywhere. You can still get them here

Attachment 191012

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Wow. This is OK and lead is supposed to be bad for you? Wow. :kidding:

I worked with a guy who looked forward to getting an animal every hunting season, just so he could have "fresh" scrambled eggs and brains. Now I work with his son. Barney's 91 now, still going strong, but doesn't walk quite as much during hunting season. Maybe you guys know something I don't.

Now back on track, I miss Kentucky Fried barbecued chicken.

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Originally Posted by 15meter

Lobster rolls, traveled to Conn. to call on Pratt & Whitney years ago, lived on lobster rolls when I was out there.

And Philly calling on Boeing Vertol, cheese steaks. I can feel the arteries hardening just thinking about them.

And Rudy's Bar-b-que in San Antonio when @ Toyota.

Or this hole in the wall bar in Davenport Ia. for pork tenderloin sandwich with fries the cut when you ordered.

I traveled way too much.

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If you ever get back to eastern Iowa, you can get the best tenderloin in Muscatine Iowa at a place called Tee's. It is called the hubcap and that is not an overstatement

I travel for work, so I end up missing great fod that I had while out of town that I just can't get in the Detroit area. I can understand not getting good Cajun here but why can't I get good BBQ?

I miss steak at The Prime Quarter in Janesville, WI and at Paragon in Moraine, OH.

From Shreveport, LA I miss game dinners and live blues at the Noble Savage, catfish pretty much anywhere, Sammy's BBQ, Etouffee, and the Crawfish Palace.

From Spring Hill, TN I miss BBQ from Jack Of Hearts.

In the 80s I lived in Redondo Beach, in the LA area. A good friend turned me on to South Pacific Export Lager beer. Superb stuff. Can't find it anywhere else.
Ole Jack

The best hamburgers in the West........ Triangle Burger! Was going to list Spotted Dick but haven't actually tried it yet.

What I miss is good Thai food and Vietnamese as well. There are stellar restaraunts for both in DFW, Austin, and San Antonio but for some reason none in the Waco area. It is a sad situation when the best Asian cuisine on can find is Pei Wei or Panda Express. My personal theory, and I'm not joking, is that the local long term Asian buffet rules the area kind of like a mafia. Any competitors that come in soon have some "problems". Wierd.

Anyway, good Thai green curry is to die for.

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Originally Posted by 308Jeff

I grew up in south central Kentucky. Got hooked on a few foods while living there that I just can't get here in AZ.

Fisher's Pickled Bologna - Might sound gross, but it's delish on Saltine's. I can order it online, but it's expensive and usually about 20 bazillion dollars for shipping.Attachment 190980 The super duper amazing bonus of this stuff is you can boil a bunch of eggs and drop them in the brine after the bologna is gone and have the best dam pickled eggs evar.

Bar B Q Fritos - What they hay, Frito Lay? Why can't we have this goodness here in AZ??

Country Ham - Well... What can be said about country ham that anyone one who knows what it is hasn't already said. I could drive to the other side of the freeway and get some on a plate at Cracker Barrel (I Think?), but I just want to have some in my fridge dammit.

Nehi Peach Soda - Yeah, I can get it from Amazon for $1.29 a can, but I ain't despit.

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I sometimes buy a jar of the pickled Bologna when I visit with my son in KY. It's OK for a while, but I can never finish off a jar. FWIW it also makes a fair Catfish Bait :groner:

Good pickled Garlic, there used to be a store at the Mall of America that you could buy a huge jar or it in many flavors. I can find a small jar from time to time but it hasn't been the same.

Reindeer and some other dried wild game (cant remember the animal) I had in Norway, tried to bring some back but customs wasn't having it. That stuff was legendary!

Hi...

I miss Chuck's Steak House in Danbury, Connecticut. Great restaurant, great ribeyes. I used to get up there a couple times a year, but my health makes it more of a hassle than it is worth to drive 5 hours or so one way and stay overnight.

When I am out of the southcentral Pennsylvania area, I really miss Seltzer's Sweet Lebanon Bologna. Just great stuff.
One of my aunts and uncle lived out of the area and my mother used to send them some every year before they passed away.

I miss good beef. I grew up here and never really liked steak. Then I moved to Iowa and had a grilled corn-fed ribeye. Absolutely delicious! I could get great ribeyes at the local Fareway store. I also miss tenderloin sandwiches from Iowa as well. And Taco Pizza from Casey's. Oh, and Culver's and Hardee's fast food restaurants.

Too bad everything else about Iowa was awful; the weather, the environment, the small town white trash, the smell, the lack of wilderness, muddy and gross water, my ex-wife's family, etc.

Then I moved to AZ for several years and you could find a good ribeye every now and then, but not often. Now that I've been back home for three years, I've yet to find a good ribeye.

And in my area there aren't any seafood places. It's weird. I live in a tiny town of 1200. Within 15 miles of me are two college towns with a population of around 60k. We are roughly 300 miles from the Pacific ocean. Not even a crappy seafood place like Red Lobster or Long John Silver's. And no Olive garden. No Burger King, no In-N-Out Burger or Whataburger.

Oh, well. The nearest town does have five pot shops and not a single gun shop or FFL holder...

My wife is a "yooper" and I was a "troll" - for those that aren't Michigander's, a yooper is from the U.P. and a troll lives underneath the bridge - we're also called berry pickers and fudgies -

Anyway - I fondly remember the "pasties" - especially the homemade ones that my mother in law used to make. Out here in AZ you just don't see 'em. BUT . . . believe it or not . . . on our way out the the Desert Museum the other day, we actually saw a sign advertising pasties . . . we didn't pursue it but I imagine that it was probably a transplanted yooper that was making and selling them. In lower Michigan we used to be able to buy "Madelines Pasties" (sp?) in the grocery story and maybe you still can . . . good but not like the good old homemade version.