What Minnesotan foods have you tried? (Minneapolis, Hibbing: school, prices, shop)

[tvdxer]

Riding my bike today I took a picture of a sign at a nearby convenience store advertising "homemade sylta" under the gas prices. Sylta, for those who don't know, is Scandinavian headcheese. One thing I couldn't imagine is finding this strange food in any region of the country other than the Upper Midwest, and particularly Minnesota. It also leads me to wonder: how many people around here really eat our local foods? How many have even ever tried them?

So for that reason I make this poll. I'm also curious what your favorite Minnesotan specialties are, and which ones absolutely repel you. Any ones I forgot?

Personally, I've tried sylta, lefse, cheese curds, various "on a stick" meals at the State Fair, hotdish, wild rice, chow champagne, porketta, pasties, walleye, and the various cuisines of new immigrants (Minnesota is said to have some of the best Vietnamese food in the country, for starters). The only ones I eat on a somewhat regular basis are cheese curds and hotdish, however. In fact, I had what could be called a hotdish (or casserole) tonight...a kind of Mexican one.

[judlee]

My family are hunters so wild game is often on the table. I would add to your list: venison, grouse, duck, pheasant, wild turkey, goose... I've eaten all of them. Also blueberries are our state berry; they might make your list.

[sophocles_sarcophagus]

I think I might've had lefse, but I can't remember. Otherwise, I've eaten most everything at one point.

Right now I'm going to school in another state, and barely anyone knows what lutefisk or tator tot hotdish is. They all think sylta sounds pretty gross.

Some other Minnesotan specialties I've had are: pickled herring, candied apples, and carrot jello. I don't know if the carrot jello is a Minnesotan thing or not, but my grandma used to make it all the time. I'd also have sauerkraut and bratwursts a lot, but that's more of a Wisconsin thing.

[Slig]

I think Pasties is more of an Upper Peninsula Michigan food. I've never seen it in Minnesota in my 25 years here.

[sophocles_sarcophagus]

Really? I used to work at a bakery and I'd have to make pasties. Pasties are associated with mining, and Minnesota has the Iron Range.

[Astron1000]

Originally Posted by Slig

I think Pasties is more of an Upper Peninsula Michigan food. I've never seen it in Minnesota in my 25 years here.

I've frequently bought pasties in Minneapolis. Places like Milda's have them. But I admit I usually get them from U.P. suppliers like Joe's Pasty Shop in Ironwood, Michigan when I'm up there. Best of the best!

Yum!

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by Slig

I think Pasties is more of an Upper Peninsula Michigan food. I've never seen it in Minnesota in my 25 years here.

The Iron Range is famous for them.

I'm pretty surprised so many people have tried Hmong food. You know, it's not General Tso's Chicken or Chop Suey, right?

[santos]

Originally Posted by Slig

I think Pasties is more of an Upper Peninsula Michigan food. I've never seen it in Minnesota in my 25 years here.

Serious?? A Pastie is a little meat/carrot/potato in a baked bread. Wrapped in paper and put it the pocket--it went to the mines for lunch. Pasties are big on the Iron Range to this day, and always will be. Drive up to Hibbing and have a homemade pastie at MARY'S CAFE--D-licious!!! They are made fresh once a week and the locals flock there for take-out and well as eat-in. Call first, so there will be a supply for you to take home--you'll want to.

[slamont61]

Yep the Pastie isn't strictly a UP thing, it's only associated that way. Best Pasties around come from Minnesota.

[Slig]

What about pickled herring? I grew up with the notion that it was some kind of tradition, maybe Swedish or German?