What foods remind you of home? Do you think of the Hawkeye State when you smell a tenderloin, or when you see Twin Bings in the grocery store? Read below to see what Iowa foods are sure to make you think of your time in the Midwest.
- The Breaded Pork Tenderloin
Facebook / Northside Cafe The most iconic Hawkeye dish is the breaded pork tenderloin. Everyone has a different style, and while some restaurants still try to pass off fritters as tenderloins, most of the BPTs you find in Iowa are going to be delicious.
- Maid-Rites
Facebook / Maid Rite Maid-Rites, taverns, canteens — it doesn’t matter what you call them, chances are you grew up eating these. Iowa’s signature loose meat sandwich is something we’ve enjoyed since they were first sold in Marshalltown.
- Steak de Burgo
Flickr / Alan Light One of the most famous Des Moines dishes is Steak de Burgo. Iowa’s corn-fed beef is the best around, and our capital’s Italian steakhouses make the best versions of this traditional dinner.
- Fried Catfish
Facebook / Bluff Lake Catfish Farm Are you even truly an Iowan if you haven’t feasted on fried catfish from Bluff Lake? There’s something special about Iowa’s favorite fish! Enjoy it with slaw and chips or fries on a breezy summer day.
- Cookies BBQ Sauce
Facebook / Cookies BBQ Sauce Is it even a cookout without Cookies? The best BBQ sauce in the world is made right here in Iowa, and you’ll really miss it if you ever move out of the state and have to deal with the boring National brands.
- Morel Mushrooms
Flickr / jacinta lluch valero If you grew up in Iowa, chances are you’ve gone Morel hunting. Every spring, these tasty mushrooms pop up in certain places — and the best hunting spots are family kept secrets! They’re expensive to buy, and in order to sell them yourself, you need to take a food safety class, so the best way to acquire them is to track them down in the wild.
- Taco Pizza
Facebook / Happy Joe’s Pizza Iowans love creative pizza! Taco Pizza may be the best, and even if you don’t go to Happy Joe’s to get it, you can probably find a local pizza parlor that serves up their own version. While Chicago has deep dish and New York has thin crust, Iowa is happy to have taco pie.
- Iowa Pork Chops
Flickr / Patrick Kuhl Iowa pork is the finest in the Nation! Throw a thick Iowa chop on the grill, pair it with whipped potatoes and veggies, and you’ll have one fine meal any time.
- Twin Bing
Facebook / Palmer Candy Company Twin Bing is the sweetest treat to come out of the Hawkeye State. One of the most iconic Iowa foods is still made right here, decades after the Palmer Candy Company got its start.
What are your favorite Iowa foods? Tell us in the comments below!
Facebook / Northside Cafe
The most iconic Hawkeye dish is the breaded pork tenderloin. Everyone has a different style, and while some restaurants still try to pass off fritters as tenderloins, most of the BPTs you find in Iowa are going to be delicious.
Facebook / Maid Rite
Maid-Rites, taverns, canteens — it doesn’t matter what you call them, chances are you grew up eating these. Iowa’s signature loose meat sandwich is something we’ve enjoyed since they were first sold in Marshalltown.
Flickr / Alan Light
One of the most famous Des Moines dishes is Steak de Burgo. Iowa’s corn-fed beef is the best around, and our capital’s Italian steakhouses make the best versions of this traditional dinner.
Facebook / Bluff Lake Catfish Farm
Are you even truly an Iowan if you haven’t feasted on fried catfish from Bluff Lake? There’s something special about Iowa’s favorite fish! Enjoy it with slaw and chips or fries on a breezy summer day.
Facebook / Cookies BBQ Sauce
Is it even a cookout without Cookies? The best BBQ sauce in the world is made right here in Iowa, and you’ll really miss it if you ever move out of the state and have to deal with the boring National brands.
Flickr / jacinta lluch valero
If you grew up in Iowa, chances are you’ve gone Morel hunting. Every spring, these tasty mushrooms pop up in certain places — and the best hunting spots are family kept secrets! They’re expensive to buy, and in order to sell them yourself, you need to take a food safety class, so the best way to acquire them is to track them down in the wild.
Facebook / Happy Joe’s Pizza
Iowans love creative pizza! Taco Pizza may be the best, and even if you don’t go to Happy Joe’s to get it, you can probably find a local pizza parlor that serves up their own version. While Chicago has deep dish and New York has thin crust, Iowa is happy to have taco pie.
Flickr / Patrick Kuhl
Iowa pork is the finest in the Nation! Throw a thick Iowa chop on the grill, pair it with whipped potatoes and veggies, and you’ll have one fine meal any time.
Facebook / Palmer Candy Company
Twin Bing is the sweetest treat to come out of the Hawkeye State. One of the most iconic Iowa foods is still made right here, decades after the Palmer Candy Company got its start.
Read Here Are The 18 Dishes You Have To Eat In Iowa Before You Die for more Hawkeye State dining traditions.
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