Californians: what food or dish is CA most known for? (San Francisco: live, rated)

[Chava61]

Outside of California probably the wine from Napa Valley.

[Curmudgeon]

Frozen Bananas, first introduced at the Fun Zone on the Balboa Penninsula in Newport Beach!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by bjh

What food or dish is CA most known for or best represented by?

On the edge of the continent you guys have received people from all points eastward in the US and from around the world. So what has congealed into the regional or state dish(es)?

Yes, you have a big state, but can you narrow it down to a few?

Is it:
seafood (a coastal state after all)
bbq
Mexican
Napa valley chic
sourdough biscuits from the 49ers?

If we have to regionalize it, so be it. What's more Norcal and more Socal?

Ps- mods, can we keep this in Cal.? I'd really like to know from Californians talking about their state.

I do want to say, you can't ask the mods or anyone to keep this confined to Californians only, many here have lived in Ca but no longer do or visit the state often and have opinions. That being said, yes, number 1 has to be Seafood and and I would say Mexican would follow next with sourdough anything being third. I certainly would not put BBQ on the list at all. Living in 8 states, everywhere from CA to the east coast I would put CA and BBQ at the bottom. After sourdough I would rate it's asian food, mainly because to the asian influence.

Nita

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by eureka1

Dungeness crab or Cobb salad.

How could I forget Cobb Salad, but I am not sure people thoughout the country would connect CA and Cobb salad.

Nita

[Fontucky]

The chili size.

[rah]

The San Francisco Style Burrito, which came into being in the 1960's in SF's Mission District. Many national chains such as QDoba and Chipotle, etc, are imitating this style of burrito.

San Francisco burrito - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Dean Trails]

Sourdough bread!!!!

Thank you 49ers!!!!

[drunk on kool aid]

I'd agree with the several posters who've mentioned fast food and sushi (in general and the California roll in particular) as having their epicenters in SoCal.

Americanized Chinese food (chop suey, fortune cookies) have California as their ground zero.

I had no idea that such a thing as Santa Maria BBQ even existed. Thanks for the knowledge. Is there any place in L.A. that serves this?

I don't know if the French dip sandwich is attributed to California by people outside of Los Angeles but it did originate here. The debate over whether it was birthed at Philippe's or Cole's PE is as hot as the mustard at the former.

Alice Water's Berkeley restaurant, Chez Panisse, is commonly acknowledged as the founder of the California fusion style and the renaissance of using fresh, local ingredients.

Taco trucks are huge in L.A.--again, I don't know if people outside of L.A. associate them with California or not.

Lastly, the Oki Dog.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by drunk on kool aid

I'd agree with the several posters who've mentioned fast food and sushi (in general and the California roll in particular) as having their epicenters in SoCal.

Americanized Chinese food (chop suey, fortune cookies) have California as their ground zero.

I had no idea that such a thing as Santa Maria BBQ even existed. Thanks for the knowledge. Is there any place in L.A. that serves this?

I don't know if the French dip sandwich is attributed to California by people outside of Los Angeles but it did originate here. The debate over whether it was birthed at Philippe's or Cole's PE is as hot as the mustard at the former.

Alice Water's Berkeley restaurant, Chez Panisse, is commonly acknowledged as the founder of the California fusion style and the renaissance of using fresh, local ingredients.

Taco trucks are huge in L.A.--again, I don't know if people outside of L.A. associate them with California or not.

Lastly, the Oki Dog.

I forgot about Philippes but I don't think many people outside of Ca would connect the two. I guess that is what I was thinking about when I answered the question originally. What is Ca known for, not what is their best? InandOut of course is at the top of the list as well. Oh, just asked hubby, the first thing he said was, oranges..

Nita

[Snort]

Rice-a-Roni, the San Francisco treat!