Cuisine of the Midwestern United States 20366 223552956 2008-07-04T16:10:09Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other {{Original research|date=April 2007}} '''Midwestern cuisine''' is a regional cuisine of the [[United States|American]] [[Midwest (United States)|Midwest]]. It draws its culinary roots most significantly from the cuisines of [[Central Europe|Central]], [[Northern Europe|Northern]] and [[Eastern Europe]]. Midwestern cuisine generally showcases simple and hearty dishes that make use of the abundance of locally grown foodstuffs. Its culinary profiles may seem synonymous with "American food." Quoted in an interview with the [[Daily Herald (Arlington Heights)|Daily Herald]] published Jan. 17, 2007, Chef [[Stephen Langlois]], described it thus: "Think of [[Thanksgiving]] dinner. [[Turkey]] and [[cranberry sauce]] and [[wild rice]] and [[apple pie]]."<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5273/is_200701/ai_n20752284 Daily Herald, Jan. 17, 2007] Stephen Langlois was one of the pioneering chefs who brought local food to national attention during the height of the contemporary awakening to American cuisine when he opened the groundbreaking Prairie in Printers Row.</ref> ==Characteristics== Sometimes called "the breadbasket of America," the Midwest serves as a center for [[cereal|grain]] production, particularly [[wheat]], [[maize|corn]] and [[soybean]]s. Midwestern states also produce most of the country's [[wild rice]]. Beef and pork processing always have been important Midwestern industries, with a strong role in regional diets. Chicago and [[Kansas City Metropolitan Area|Kansas City]] were historically [[stockyard]] and processing centers of the [[beef]] trade, while [[Iowa]] remains the center of [[pork]] production in the U.S. Far from the oceans, Midwesterners traditionally ate little [[seafood]], relying on local [[freshwater fish]], such as [[perch]] and [[trout]], supplemented by canned [[tuna]] and canned or cured [[salmon]] and [[herring]], although modern air shipping of ocean seafood has been increasing Midwesterners' taste for fish. [[Dairy]] products, especially [[cheese]], form an important group of regional ingredients, with [[Wisconsin]] known as "America's Dairy Capital," although other Midwest states make cheese as well. The upper Midwest, a prime [[fruit]]-growing region, sees the extensive use of [[apple]]s, [[blueberries]], [[cranberries]], [[cherry|cherries]], [[peach]]es and other cold-climate fruit in its cuisine. As with many American regional [[cuisine]]s, Midwestern cooking has been heavily influenced by [[immigrant]] groups. Throughout the northern Midwest, northern European immigrant groups predominated, so [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[pancakes]] and [[Poland|Polish]] [[pierogi]] are common. [[Wisconsin]], [[Missouri]], [[Kansas]], [[Ohio]] and [[Illinois]] were destinations for many [[ethnic German]] immigrants, so [[Cuisine of Germany|pork sausages and potatoes]] are prevalent. In the [[Rust Belt]], many [[ethnic Greek|Greek]]s and [[Macedonians (Greek)|Greek Macedonian]]s became restaurateurs, imparting a [[Mediterranean cuisine|Mediterranean]] influence. [[Native American cuisine|Native American]] influences show up in the uses of corn and wild rice. Traditionally, Midwestern cooks used a light hand with seasonings, preferring [[Common sage|sage]], [[dill]], [[caraway]], [[mustard plant|mustard]] and [[parsley]] to hot, bold and [[spicy]] flavors. However, with new waves of immigrants from [[Latin America]] and [[Asia]] moving into the region, these tastes are changing. This section of the country is also headquarters for several seminal [[hamburger]] chains, notably [[McDonald's]] in [[Oak Brook, Illinois]] (founded in [[California]], but turned into the iconic [[franchising|franchise]] by [[Ray Kroc]] beginning with a still-standing store in [[Des Plaines, Illinois]]). The Midwest is also home to [[Culver's]] in [[Sauk City, Wisconsin]]; [[Steak n Shake]], founded in [[Normal, Illinois]], and now based in [[Indianapolis]]; [[Wendy's]] in [[Dublin, Ohio]]; and [[White Castle (restaurant)|White Castle]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. Also, diner chain [[Big Boy]] is headquartered in [[Warren, Michigan]]. ==Urban centers== Major urban areas in the Midwest often have distinctive cuisines that can be very different from those of the region's rural areas. ===Chicago=== {{main|Culture of Chicago}} [[Chicagoland|Chicago]] has a distinctive [[Culture of Chicago|cuisine]] of restaurant foods exclusive to the area, such as [[Italian beef]], the [[Maxwell Street Polish]], the [[Chicago-style hot dog]], [[Chicago-style pizza]], [[chicken Vesuvio]] and the [[jibarito]], as well as a large number of [[steakhouse]]s. Chicago also boasts many gourmet restaurants, as well as a wide variety of ethnic food stores and eateries, most notably [[Mexican cuisine|Mexican]], [[Polish cuisine|Polish]], [[Italian cuisine|Italian]], [[Greek cuisine|Greek]], [[Indian cuisine|Indian/Pakistani]] and [[Asian cuisine|Asian]], often clustered in ethnic neighborhoods. Many of these cuisines have evolved significantly in Chicago. For example, the cheese dish [[saganaki]] was first [[flambéed]] at the table in [[Greektown, Chicago|Greektown]].<ref>[http://www.northshoremag.com/cgi-bin/ns-article?article=/taste/05-07-bites.html North Shore Magazine: Olives and Ends] Forty years ago, the Parthenon restaurant in Chicago's Greektown neighborhood took a patron's suggestion and began flambéing their saganaki tableside.</ref> The Midwest is sometimes thought to be behind the coasts in culinary trends, yet, perhaps ironically, Chicago is now the country's leading center of [[molecular gastronomy]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/dining/11avant.html New York Times: Sci-Fi Cooking Tries Dealing With Reality] Chicago … has emerged as an American center for this cuisine.</ref> As a major [[railroad|rail]] hub, Chicago historically had access to a broad range of the country's foodstuffs, so even in the 19th century, Chicagoans could easily buy items like live [[oysters]]<ref>[http://www.kancoll.org/voices/1997/1197stew.htm VOICES, THE KANSAS COLLECTION ONLINE MAGAZINE] Chicago's busy rail yards received "hundreds of thousands of barrels of oysters"</ref> and reasonably fresh [[shrimp]]. Chicago's oldest signature dish, [[shrimp de Jonghe]], was invented around the turn of the 20th century. Today, flights into [[O'Hare Airport]] bring Chicago fresh food from all over the world. ===Cincinnati=== [[Cincinnati]] is known for its namesake Greek-influenced "[[Cincinnati chili]]", piled onto [[spaghetti]]. [[Goetta]], a sausage made from pork and oats, often eaten at [[breakfast]], and [[opera cream]] chocolates are less-famous local specialties. ===Columbus=== The [[Columbus, Ohio]] area is the home and birthplace of many well-known [[fast food]] chains, especially those known for hamburgers. [[Wendy's]] opened its first store in Columbus in 1969, and is now headquartered in nearby [[Dublin, Ohio|Dublin]]. America's oldest hamburger chain, [[White Castle (restaurant)|White Castle]], started in Columbus during the 1920s and is still based there. [[Max & Erma's]] originated in [[German Village]]. Besides burgers, Columbus is also the home of [[Charley's Grilled Subs]], [[Steak Escape]], [[Bob Evans Restaurants]], [[Damon's Grill]] (a [[sports bar]] best known for ribs), and [[Donatos Pizza]]. ===Detroit=== [[Detroit]] specialties include the [[chili dog]]s called [[Coney Island hot dog]]s, found at hundreds of unaffiliated "Coney Island" restaurants. Famous examples include Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island which stand next to each other serving Coneys all night in downtown Detroit. Detroit also has its own style of pizza, a thick-crusted, [[Cuisine of Sicily|Sicilian]]-influenced, rectangular type called [[Detroit-style pizza|square pizza]]. Other Detroit foods include [[zip sauce]], served on steaks; the triple-decker [[Dinty Moore sandwich]]; and a [[American Chinese cuisine|Chinese-American]] dish called ''warr shu gai'' or [[almond boneless chicken]]. The Detroit area (particularly the suburb of [[Dearborn]]) has many large groups of immigrants, most notably the largest Arabic-speaking population outside of the Middle East and the most Lebanese storefronts outside of Lebanon.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} It also has a substantial number of [[ethnic Greek|Greek]] restaurateurs. Thus, numerous Mediterranean restaurants dot the region and typical foods such as [[gyros]], [[hummus]] and [[falafel]] can be found in many run-of-the-mill grocery stores and restaurants. Polish food is also prominent in the city, consisting of popular dishes such as [[borscht]] and [[paczki]]. Bakeries concentrated in the Polish enclave of [[Hamtramck, Michigan]], a suburb within the city, are celebrated for their paczki, especially on [[Fat Tuesday]]. ===Indianapolis=== [[Indianapolis]] was settled predominately by Americans of British decent, Irish and German immigrants, so much of the cities food draws upon these influences. Much of the food is considered to be "Classic American Cuisine". Later immigrants included many Jews, Poles, Eastern Europeans and Italians, all of whom influenced local food. Two of the city's most distinct dishes are the [[pork tenderloin sandwich]] and strawberry [[shortcake]]. A fast-growing immigrant population from places such as [[Mexico]] and [[India]] is also beginning to influence the local food. The area offers many diverse, locally owned ethic restaurants, as well as nationally and internationally renowned restaurants. Indy is also home to many local pubs, including the [[Slippery Noodle Inn]], a favorite hangout of the famous bank robber [[John Dillinger]]. ===Kansas City=== [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] is an important [[barbecue]] and meat-processing center with a [[Kansas City-style barbecue|distinctive barbecue style]]. The [[Kansas City metropolitan area]] has more than 100 barbecue restaurants and proclaims itself to be the "world's barbecue capital." The Kansas City Barbeque Society spreads its influence across the nation through its barbecue-contest standards. ===Milwaukee=== [[Milwaukee]], known for its strong German influences, serves loads of [[bratwurst]] and [[beer]]. [[Frozen custard]] is also very big in the Cream City. Like most large Midwestern cities, Milwaukee offers a diverse selection of ethnic restaurants. ===Minneapolis and Saint Paul=== Despite being major food-producing cities, [[Minneapolis]] and [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]] offer few unique dishes of renown, instead sharing many tastes with the rest of [[Minnesota]]. The [[Minneapolis-St. Paul|Twin Cities]] share the obscure distinction (along with [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]) of being associated with the neighborhood [[Booya (food)|booya]], a sort of mixture of cuisine and cultural event. Also, because of the strong influx of Asian immigrants over the past few decades, a form which combines traditional Midwestern dishes with Asian techniques and spices is developing, such as [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese]] preparations of [[walleye]]. The Twin Cities-based [[University of Minnesota]] has been a center for food research; such inventions as the [[Honeycrisp]] apple have come from the "U of M." Additionally, many important agricultural conglomerates, including [[General Mills]]/[[Pillsbury]], [[International Multifoods]] and [[Cargill]], make their home in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The [[Betty Crocker]] food brand (named after a non-existant housewife) was born there. The Twin Cities claim that the all-American [[corn dog]] made its first appearance there, as well as the [[Pronto Pup]]. One dish associated with the Twin Cities is the [[Jucy Lucy]] (or "Juicy Lucy"), a [[hamburger]] with a core of melted cheese. Several national restaurant chains, such as [[Buca di Beppo]] and [[Famous Dave's]], got their start in the Twin Cities area. [[Dairy Queen]], T.G.I. Friday's of [[Carlson Companies]] and [[Buffalo Wild Wings]] are also headquartered in the Twin Cities. Immigration from [[Somalia]] has brought an unusual number of restaurants serving [[Cuisine of Somalia|cuisine]] from that country. The [http://www.somaliresource.net/business.html Somali Resource Center's website] lists 20 Somali community restaurants, most of them concentrated in the [[South Minneapolis]] and [[West Bank, Minneapolis|West Bank]] neighborhoods. In St. Paul, there is a preponderance [[Southeast Asia]]n restaurants, including [[Vietnamese cuisine|Vietnamese]], [[Cuisine of Cambodia|Cambodian]], and [[Cuisine of Laos|Laotian]] food, along [[University Avenue (Minneapolis-St. Paul)|University Avenue]]. Perhaps the most iconic Minnesota dishes are [[lefse]] and [[lutefisk]]. Both brought to Minnesota with Norwegian immigrants. Lefse and Lutefisk dinners are held near Christmas and have become associated with that holiday. ===Omaha=== {{main|Cuisine of Omaha}} [[Omaha]] boasts unique steakhouses, several of which are [[Little Italy (Omaha, Nebraska)|Sicilian]] in origin or adjacent to the [[Omaha Stockyards]]. Central European and Southern influences can be seen in the local popularity of [[carp]] and [[South 24th Street Historic District|South 24th Street]] contains a multitude of [[Mexicans in Omaha, Nebraska|Mexican]] restaurants. [[North Omaha]] also has its own barbecue style. Omaha is one of the locations claiming to have invented the [[reuben sandwich]], supposedly named for [[Reuben Kulakofsky]], a grocer from the [[Dundee, Nebraska|Dundee]] neighborhood. Bronco's, [[Godfather's Pizza]], and the Garden Cafe are among the chain restaurants that originated in Omaha. ===St. Louis=== [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], reflecting its varied immigrant influences, is known for dishes such as [[toasted ravioli|"toasted" ravioli]] (which is breaded and fried), [[frozen custard]], [[gooey butter cake]] (a rich, soft-centered coffee cake), and for popularizing the [[ice cream cone]]. [[St. Louis-style barbecue]] uses pork steaks or St. Louis-style pork ribs and large quantities of [[barbecue sauce]]. [[St. Louis-style pizza]] has a crispy thin crust and is usually made with [[Provel cheese]] instead of traditional [[mozzarella cheese]]. The large number of [[German people|German]] immigrants have made "beer and brats" (bratwurst) the standby at baseball games and street festivals. Neighborhoods like [[The Hill, St. Louis|The Hill]] have many Italian restaurants. [[Mayfair salad dressing]] was invented at a St. Louis hotel of the same name, and is richer than Caesar salad dressing. A [[St. Paul sandwich]] is a unique St. Louis treat available in Chinese-American restaurants. A [[Slinger]] is a diner and late night specialty consisting of a plate smothered with breakfast staples and chili, cheese and onion. ==Regional specialties== ===Indiana=== A popular dish seen almost exclusively in [[Indiana]] is [[sugar cream pie]], which most likely originated in the state's [[Amish]] community. The pork tenderloin sandwich is also a popular state food. [[Beef and noodles]] is another homespun [[Hoosier]] dish.<ref>[http://contentdm.acpl.lib.in.us/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/coll3&CISOPTR=4354&REC=13 Photo: Allen County Community Album] Assistant Fire Chief Robert A. Kiles tasting beef & noodles</ref> Fried biscuits with apple butter are served at many restaurants in southern Indiana. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} ===Iowa=== Cuisine of [[Iowa]] includes the [[pork tenderloin sandwich]], consisting of a lean, [[beef tenderloin|tenderloin]]-cut [[pork chop]] which is pounded flat, breaded, and deep fried before being served on a seeded hamburger bun with any or all of [[ketchup]], [[mustard]], [[mayonnaise]], and [[dill pickle]] slices. The main ingredient of this dish bears a striking similarity to [[schnitzel]] and as such, may be related to the large population of German immigrants that originally populated central Iowa. Iowa is also the center for creamed corn production and consumption. Yet it is also popular in the other Midwestern states. Iowa is the center for [[tavern sandwich|loose-meat sandwiches]], such as those popularized by [[Maid-Rite]], although they can also be found in western [[Illinois]], Indiana<ref>[http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=9469 Loose Meat Sandwiches at Madvek's, Hammond IN]</ref> and [[Nebraska]].<ref>[http://www.beerorkid.com/Lincoln/tastees/tastee%20inn.htm Beer or Kid.com Tastee Inn] Their claim to fame is the tastee sandwich, kind of a loose meat not quite sloppy joe kind of thing.</ref> ===Michigan=== Western and northern [[Michigan]] are notable fruit-growing and [[wine]]-making regions. Miners looking for a convenient meal to bring to work popularized the [[pasty]], which is now the iconic dish of Michigan's [[Upper Peninsula]]. ===Minnesota=== Known for many delights, the most common three are walleye, [[hotdish]], and [[lutefisk]]. Walleye is the state fish of Minnesota. Its popularity with Minnesota residents means that the residents of that state consume more of the fish than in any other jurisdiction. In 2004, it was revealed that some restaurants in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region had been substituting the less expensive, imported [[zander]] for the walleye indicated on the menu. Zander (pikeperch) is a closely-related species and is almost impossible to tell apart by taste, so the television station that did the exposé had to send samples of food for DNA testing. Though sold as "walleye", several samples were found to be zander, which is considered an illegal practice by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.{{Fact|date=February 2008}} Hotdish is any of a variety of [[casserole]] dishes popular in the Midwest of the United States, although the term is used mainly in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Hotdishes are generally filling, convenient and easy to make, and well-suited for potlucks; they can be eaten either on a plate or in a bowl and may be considered comfort food. Lutefisk is a traditional dish of the Nordic countries made from stockfish (air-dried whitefish) and soda lye (''lut''). ===Ohio=== A [[buckeye candy]] is a peanut butter and chocolate [[candy]] made to resemble the nut of an [[Ohio Buckeye]] tree, available throughout the [[Ohio|Buckeye State]]. ===Wisconsin=== The Friday night [[fish fry]], typically fried perch or walleye, is ubiquitous throughout Wisconsin, while in northeast Wisconsin along [[Lake Michigan]], the [[Door County, Wisconsin|Door County]] [[fish boil]] holds sway. Besides beer, Wisconsinites drink huge quantities of [[brandy]],<ref>[http://www.onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/brandy.html OnMilwaukee.com Bars & Clubs: Wisconsinites love affair with brandy<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> often mixed into the unique Badger libation, the "brandy [[old fashioned]] sweet.The drink originated in 1947 at "Chissy's Pub", in Waldo, Wisconsin.The pub was owned by Harry Chisholm at that time. [[Seymour, Wisconsin]], claims to be the birthplace of the modern hamburger, although several other locations make similar claims. The southern Wisconsin town of [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]] is known for its [[Danish cuisine|Danish]] [[kringle]]. Wisconsin is a notable dairy state, and it's home to numerous frozen custard stands, particularly around Milwaukee and along the Lake Michigan corridor, as well as cheese, with cheesemakers ranging from artisans who hand-craft their product from the milk of their own dairy herds to large factories. [[Cheese curds]] are common as a snack or fried as an appetizer. Wisconsin is also well known for [[summer sausage]] and bratwurst. ==Dishes== {{Unreferencedsection|date=April 2008}} These dishes, while not all exclusively Midwestern, are commonly thought of as typical or exemplary of Midwestern foods or tastes. Many are shared with [[Cuisine of the Southern United States|Southern cuisine]] and [[Cuisine of the Northeastern United States|Northeast cuisine]], though some are unique to the Midwest, or have a Midwestern preparation style. *[[barbecue]] *[[beans]] *[[beef]], especially [[steak]], [[pot roast (beef)|pot roast]] and [[prime rib]] *[[bread-and-butter pickles]] *[[beer]] *[[beer cheese soup]] *[[brain sandwich]]es *[[brandy]] *[[cabbage]] *[[cheese]], including [[cheese curds]] *[[chicken Vesuvio]] *[[cole slaw]] *[[diner]] fare *Door County [[fish boil]] *[[duck]] *[[freshwater fish]], including [[catfish]], [[perch]], [[trout]], [[walleye]] and [[freshwater whitefish|whitefish]] and other [[panfish]] *[[frogs' legs]] *[[frozen custard]] *[[fruit]], especially [[apple]]s, [[blueberries]], [[cherry|cherries]], [[cranberries]], [[peaches]] and [[strawberries]] *fruit [[wine]]s *[[hamburger]]s *[[Horseshoe/Ponyshoe]] *[[hot dog]]s, with several regional styles *[[hotdish]] or [[casserole]]s *[[Italian beef]] *[[gyros]] (loaf-style) *[[Jello salad|Jell-O salad]]s *[[Johnny Marzetti]] *[[lefse]] *[[lutefisk]] *[[maple syrup]] *[[meatloaf]] *[[morel]] [[mushrooms]] *[[pancake]]s *[[pasty|pasties]] *[[pea]] salad *[[persimmon pudding]] *[[pierogi]] *[[pizza]], with several regional styles *[[pork]] *[[potatoes]], including [[mashed potatoes]] and [[potato salad]]s *[[wild leek|ramps]] *[[sauerkraut]] *[[sausage]], including [[bratwurst]], various ethnic types and [[summer sausage]] *[[shrimp de Jonghe]] *[[sugar cream pie]] *[[sweet corn]], on the cob, in [[creamed corn]] and in [[corn relish]] *[[turkey (bird)|turkey]] *[[wild rice]] ==Serving== In the home, Midwesterners traditionally serve meals family-style or as a [[smorgasbord]] or [[buffet]], rather than in set courses. ==Language== Most Midwesterners refer to [[soda pop|carbonated beverages]] as "pop." However, "soda" is more common in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Indianapolis and the surrounding areas.<ref>[http://www.popvssoda.com The Pop vs. Soda Page<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==References== <references/> ==External links== *[http://www.news.ku.edu/1999/99N/NovNews/Nov19/eating.html Eating Habitats] *[http://www.thehillstl.com St. Louis's Italian Neighborhood website, known for Toasted Ravioli] {{Cuisine of the United States}} {{cuisine}} [[Category:Cuisine of the Midwestern United States| ]] [[Category:Midwestern United States]]