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I can understand the appeal of chains, but I can't imagine favoring them over a regional culinary specialty. I'll never forget that my first time in Albuquerque
You haven't lived until you've had a green chile quarter pounder from a New Mexico McDonald's. Talk about a regional culinary specialty ...
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Originally Posted by BergenCountyJohnny
I know better than to look for Italian or Pizza outside of the NJ/NY area because it will never be as good anywhere else.
and
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Originally Posted by tommyc_37
Oh, I'm sure the main ethnic staples are AVAILABLE, but they will not be as plentiful, and not be of the quality of the Northeast.
Now how on Earth could anyone be so narrow-minded as to believe these things? Are there not people of Italian descent in Birmingham, Greek descent in Florida and Ethiopian descent in Atlanta? What makes their cooking inferior to that of their fellow ex-pats who just happen to live in the Northeast?
You haven't lived until you've had a green chile quarter pounder from a New Mexico McDonald's. Talk about a regional culinary specialty ...
Yes, it's good, but I like Tommy's and Blake's green chile burgers better; and Blake's will even make me a RED chile burger!
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Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81
and
Now how on Earth could anyone be so narrow-minded as to believe these things? Are there not people of Italian descent in Birmingham, Greek descent in Florida and Ethiopian descent in Atlanta? What makes their cooking inferior to that of their fellow ex-pats who just happen to live in the Northeast?
I'm not saying there are NO good Italian or pizza places outside the Northeast; I'm saying there are so few that it is not worth trying to find them through trial and error when the regional specialty is better. Why would I waste time trying the various pizza places in Birmingham, trying to find something decent, when I could stumble into most barbecue joints and get a better quality of barbecue than anything I could find at home?
I have found great pizza in Boston's North End and some parts of New England but only after kissing too many frogs. I stumbled upon good pizza in West Palm Beach, FL but it still wasn't better than home. I had awesome Italian food in Hollywood, CA in the touristy Hollywood and Highland complex, but that was owned by a NJ'an and it was just dumb luck that we ate there. Why would I waste time trying the Italian food there when most of it isn't as good and when I could be eating awesome fish tacos and other tacos that I can't get in NJ???
That's all I'm trying to say - stick a region's specialty and you'll kiss fewer frogs and find great food more quickly and easily.
Oh, I'm sure the main ethnic staples are AVAILABLE, but they will not be as plentiful, and not be of the quality of the Northeast. HENCE why many people in the south end up going to chains (the orginal topic of this thread).
As an aside, I would bet that there are indeed some ethnic varieties of food that cannot be found in the south.
You are losing me more and more with every post, and I find it more than amusing that you refuse to answer my simple question.
Again, if you have indeed ever been here, please specify just exactly what type of cuisine you enjoy regularly that you could not access here.
You just assume that there is no way that the quality can be the same - why? As far as ethnic offerings go, immigrants are immigrants are immigrants. Why in the world would you assume that the food quality is so far superior in the Northeast that people are actually being forced to eat at chains down here rather than partake of independent, ethnic places?
I'm beginning to think that you've never been outside of the Tri-State area by the tone of your posts.
I don't think it's a southern thing. I think it's a city vs. suburb thing. Could also be an age thing. I have lived in a number of southern cities and none of them are chain central...hello...New orleans? The epitome of locally owned, charming restaurants. Head over to Metairie...chains everywhere...definitely a suburban thing.
Plus, have you ever tried Yelp? You don't have to blindly go to bad pizza joints until you find the right one...do some research...check out some reviews. I mean, if you live in a decent sized city, you should be able to find most anything...i mean, yeah, you might not find great Ethiopian food in Meridian, Mississippi, but if you are in any non-suburban major city, you should be able to find something...Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, etc.
Most small towns in the South have locally owned restaurants that are usually the town tradition. The oldest restaurant in my town has been here since the 1950's and the walls are covered with old black and white photos. Most people around here know the daily lunch specials by heart.
The fact that southerners are afraid of locally owned restaraunts is simply not true. There are no more locally owned places in the north then there are in the south.
You are losing me more and more with every post, and I find it more than amusing that you refuse to answer my simple question.
Again, if you have indeed ever been here, please specify just exactly what type of cuisine you enjoy regularly that you could not access here.
You just assume that there is no way that the quality can be the same - why? As far as ethnic offerings go, immigrants are immigrants are immigrants. Why in the world would you assume that the food quality is so far superior in the Northeast that people are actually being forced to eat at chains down here rather than partake of independent, ethnic places?
I'm beginning to think that you've never been outside of the Tri-State area by the tone of your posts.
I travel to the South (mostly TX, NC, SC, and FL) about once per month. As a foodie I always seek "local joints", and usually stick with regional specialties.
Apparently you and I have a difference of opinion. Let's just put it this way:
- Region A has tons of people who are FROM the country of the style of food that is being served.
- Region B also has a fair amount of people from these countries, but significantly less than Region A.
In which region would you expect the food to *generally* be better?
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