Growing up in a Sicilian family with a mama who was an amazing cook who loved to create delicious food for us and who learned how to do so from her grandmother who came off the boat from Sicily when she was seventeen years old, you might guess that, not only do I love food but I can decipher what is good and what is not.
One of my goals in life is to travel across the USA, trying all the local favorite foods, as well as do so abroad, especially in Sicily and Italy, where my food roots originated. Below are some places I would like to visit and the food I would like to experience. Yes, I said “experience” instead of “taste” because, as a Sicilian person, eating is life, and life is meant to be lived/experienced!
- Alaska – King crab (freshly caught!)
- New York – pizza (I have had Detroit-style and Chicago pizza, but not NY yet!)
- Kansas City – BBQ
- New Mexico – tacos
- New Orleans – cajun
- Philadelphia – cheese steak hoagie
- Honolulu – kalua pork
- Boston – lobster rolls
- San Francisco – Asian cuisine
According to Travel and Tour World, they report the following on what city has the best food in the USA, “United States offers a diverse culinary landscape, with each city boasting unique flavors and dining experiences.
New York City is a melting pot of global cuisines, from street food to Michelin-starred dining.
San Francisco emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients, especially seafood, while Miami blends Latin American and Caribbean influences with vibrant dishes like Cuban sandwiches and ceviche.
Las Vegas is a hub for celebrity chef restaurants and lavish buffets, whereas Seattle is known for its seafood, coffee culture, and Pike Place Market.
Washington D.C. showcases an international food scene with Michelin-starred restaurants and global flavors.
Denver highlights farm-to-table dining and craft breweries, and Chicago is famed for deep-dish pizza, steakhouses, and an innovative fine-dining scene. Each city contributes to America’s dynamic and evolving food culture,”.
What is comfort food
When I think of comfort foods and the benefits I receive when eating them, my mind immediately goes to my mother’s meatloaf, my grandmother’s (Nana) chicken rice soup, or my great-grandmother’s (Grammy) carne muddica (a Sicilian family recipe meaning breaded steak). Later in the article, I will include our secret recipe.
Typically, foods that are considered “comfort foods” vary significantly between cultures; however, the term denotes a prepared food that is high in fat and calories but low in nutritional value, which may evoke associations of “home,” childhood, or happiness – often associated with caloric content; however, the association is not restricted to high-calorie foods.
Even though I have plans to travel and try other cities’ foods, I am certain that I will be grateful to return home where my comfort food is. Living in the Metro Detroit area of Michigan means we get to enjoy the best coney island hot dogs, square deep-dish pizza (Buddy’s is my favorite), slow roasted shawarma from our Arabic friends native to Dearborn, sliders (Hunter House in Birmingham or Bray’s in Garden City), and corned beef Reuben’s. It’s lamb chops and baklava: Vernor’s and Faygo, Better Made, and Boston Coolers. Our area is definitely filled with iconic dishes that speak to our State’s global demographic influence.
Every family member or friend who has moved away from Michigan always craves the foods as mentioned earlier. In fact, when they visit, every one of them must get their fix before they leave the state.
Why do people eat comfort food?
When talking about my family and friends who do not live in Michigan, they crave comfort food when they feel homesick. For example, one friend who lives near Greenville, South Carolina, was feeling homesick and was not well as she was going through chemotherapy for breast cancer, so we overnighted her some Michigan favorites such as Vernor’s pop, Buddy’s Pizza, coney sauce and Better Made potato chips.
Bringing food to comfort others is especially common in my Sicilian-American family. It is our love language. “Are you sad? Let me cook you something.” “Are you under the weather? Let me make you something.” “Are you visiting after a long absence? Let me make you something.” Can you see a theme here? We want to feed you!
And in my family, there is usually a pot of sauce in the fridge to whip up a good meal relatively fast. My mom would say, “It only takes a few minutes to make the pasta and heat the sauce, so get comfy and stay awhile!”
Psychology Today shares this about why we crave comfort food, “Nostalgic eating. There is a strong link between scents and emotional memory. The smell of foods can evoke vivid and detailed emotional memories of our past (Reid, et al., 2014). Our learning history predisposes us to enjoy certain foods.
For example, the scent of deep-fried corn dogs may remind one childhood summers at the state fair. Because odor-evoked memories tend to be positive, the smell improves mood and produces feelings of social connection,”.
As promised, below is our family recipe for “Carne Muddica” ~ Manga, manga!
- 2 lbs of round steak (cubed three times)
- Season meat with garlic powder, onion powder and pepper
- Make one bowl with three eggs, a three-count pour of olive oil, and a splash of milk
- Make another bowl with 2 cups of Italian breadcrumbs, 1 cup of grated Romano cheese, more garlic powder to taste
- Cut meat into portion-sized pieces
- Get a large frying pan, coat the bottom with olive oil, and put on medium heat.
- Dip meat pieces into the egg wash
- Then dip into the breadcrumb mix
- Lay carefully in the frying pan
- Flip (with a strong flat-bottomed spatula) when juices start to appear on top of the meat pieces.
- Cook another couple of minutes until it reaches a safe temp for meat (or to your liking)
- Serve over pasta with a red meat sauce or marinara sauce
- Manga!
*We are not responsible for undercooked food. This article is for informational purposes only. Always consult an expert when cooking meat or poultry.
What city has the best food in USA
In conclusion, the quest for the best food city in the USA is highly subjective and depends on individual, personal, and cultural preferences. However, cities like New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans consistently stand out for their diverse culinary scenes. Ultimately, the best food city is where your taste buds find the most joy and satisfaction.