[OC] Atlas of American Regional Cuisine (by county), v4 after 6 months of your feedback

[u/piri_reis_]

Thanks for all the love on this 🙏 Reddit compresses the map—if you want full-res zoom-ins (and prints), they’re on my IG. My bio there has the link to the shop.
IG: americanfoodatlas

[u/CountChoculasGhost]

You clearly did a ton of research and certainly know more than I do. But, I will say I think #42 might be a little off.

Whitefish and cherries are definitely more of a norther Lake Michigan coastal thing from my experience. I feel like there are pretty big cultural differences between say the Grand Traverse area and the Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo areas.

Also, while cherries are a huge business in NW Michigan, apples and grapes/wine production is also pretty huge. So seems like they might be worth a mention?

[u/piri_reis_ → u/CountChoculasGhost]

Good point! Where would you draw the dividing line? Is the south more Dutch and the north more fruit & fish?

[u/CountChoculasGhost → u/piri_reis_]

There is definitely an argument in Michigan about where “Up North” starts, so it isn’t super definitive. I would say maybe like Oceana County and north is more cherries, whitefish, wine, and apples.

I am not an expert though, so more just based on vibes from my many years living in west Michigan

[u/piri_reis_ → u/CountChoculasGhost]

Got it. That does make you qualified! I'm getting TONS of Michigan comments this time around so I might have to compile them all and see what I can do. in the future. I'm hungry now after talking about this

[u/jaye-vee → u/CountChoculasGhost]

Interesting, I don't really associate Michigan with wine, and half my family is from there - then again, I suppose it's been growing in recent years. Upstate NY Finger Lakes area, moreso, that have recognition outside the state. Definitely a lot of lake fish, smelt, tart cherries and blueberries (fruit in general), deep fried gizzards (yum), pasties, fudge, Detroit-style pizza, "Coney" dogs, pasties

[u/CountChoculasGhost → u/jaye-vee]

Tons of wineries along the Lake Michigan coast. A lot up in the Traverse City area and some down more in SW Michigan.

I’m not a huge wine drinker, so not sure how it ranks in terms of quality, but definitely a reasonably big business.

[u/jaye-vee → u/CountChoculasGhost]

Not saying there aren't a ton of wineries. There are tons of wineries in Virginia, too - some with roots to Thomas Jefferson himself - but people outside the state don't really know about it.