Gozaic's California girl is Sonja Potter. One of her favorite places is Wahoo's Fish Taco restaurant in Laguna Beach. Sonja's recommended order is two fish tacos with black beans and rice. Wahoo's was founded by brothers, Wing, Ed and Mingo, in 1988.Scott Gerloff grew up in South Dakota and now visits family in North Dakota. Before returning home he stops in Widman's Candy Shop in historic downtown Grand Forks for the world-famous “chippers,” chocolate-covered potato chips.
Gozaic has three Pennsylvania transplants -- each offering their own tastes of home.
Lisa Turgeon-Williams has several sweet and savory recommendations. First, the family-owned Bird-in-Hand Bakery in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, has been making whoopie pies -- little chocolate cake-sandwiches with a cream filling -- for 40 years. Second, Lebanon bologna is named after Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, with a flavor patterned after the slow-cured
sausages of Germany. Seltzer's Smokehouse in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, founded in 1902, uses lean beef with the addition of special seasonings, smoked in wooden smokehouses and slow-cured. Lisa’s favorite is the sweet variety. Third, Martin's Pretzel Bakery in Akron, Pennsylvania, has been making pretzels, rolled and twisted by hand, for 65 years. And last but not least, Lisa recommends a cold Yuengling beer! Dating to 1829, Yuengling has been family-owned for five generations and is America's oldest brewery. The Pottsville, Pennsylvania, brewery offers tours, as does Yuengling’s location in Tampa, Florida.Kathy Adams offers suggestions to satiate a sweet tooth. Kathy recommends Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia for all of its great history and traditional Philadelphia flavors. A favorite is Bassetts Ice Cream, which moved into the newly opened Reading Terminal Market in 1893. Today, Bassetts’ ice cream is available at a number of locations in the Mid-Atlantic, including the store in Reading Terminal. Kathy's favorite flavor is the butterscotch vanilla ice cream.
The town of Lititz in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is home of Wilbur Chocolate. Making candy for more than 100 years, the company is famous for its Wilbur Buds. Available in milk and semi-sweet chocolate, Kathy says the semi-sweet buds are "to die for."
According to Sarah Gabriele, "Everyone thinks the best cheese steaks are in the city of Philadelphia, but Pudge’s (pronounced Pudgies by locals) has THE BEST cheese steaks." Pudge's is located in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, close to Sarah's hometown. It's been around for 40 years; in the current location for 30.
Kate Vann is a fan of salt potatoes, a central New York specialty. Salt potatoes date to the 1800s
and were invented by local salt mine workers who created a simple and inexpensive lunch by boiling small potatoes in brine. The potatoes are still very popular today and make an easy and delicious dish.As a child, Lisa Lanna and her mom were the perfect bagel-eating team. Lisa loved the warm, doughy, slightly sweet interior, saturated with melted butter, and her mom loved the crispy exterior. The traditional New York bagel, first boiled then baked, can be found throughout New York. Lisa favors the variety closest in size, texture and taste to the bagels of her childhood memories. Ess-a-Bagel, Inc. is one that Lisa recommends, serving up large fluffy bagels that are doughy on the inside and crispy on the outside, for nearly 35 years. Lisa adds, “Always best when fresh-out-of-the-oven!”
Sue Bourdaud’hi is a native of England and recommends Cornish pasties. It seems like every mining community has its own version of a pocket sandwich. The origin of the Cornish pasties dates back to the mid-1800s. They were the favored pocket sandwich of the tin miners. Sue shares her favorite recipe.
Share your recommendations of favorite local food and authentic restaurants in the comments section below.
Mary Billingsley is the director of media relations for Gozaic.com.
Photos top to bottom: Wahoos Fish Taco; Martin's Pretzel Bakery; Wilber Buds, mixed milk and semi-sweet buds; salt pototoes.
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