Signature Sandwich From Each State, part 3of3

In the final week of my 3-part blog series on the signature sandwich for each state, I'm presenting New Mexico thru Wyoming.

New Mexico: Green chili cheeseburger

Thanks to the state's love of green chilis, particularly from Hatch, New Mexico, this burger is a staple in New Mexican cuisine. The Southwestern cheeseburger features a beef patty topped with roasted green chilis and melted cheese served on a bun.

New York: Pastrami on rye

It goes without question that thick slices of pastrami piled high on rye bread and served with mustard is a New York culinary landmark. Originating from Jewish delis in New York City, this sandwich became an iconic part of the city's food culture in the 1920s.

North Carolina: Pulled pork sandwich

This sandwich is made with slow-cooked smoky pork shoulder that is shredded and slathered in a vinegar-based barbecue sauce. Topped with coleslaw and served on a bun, it is indicative of the state's rich barbecue tradition in which low and slow is the name of the game.

North Dakota: Sloppy Joe

This messy and delicious sandwich—sometimes referred to as a slushburger—combines seasoned ground beef cooked in a tangy tomato sauce and served on a bun. It became popular in the mid-20th century as an easy and affordable meal—in turn, becoming a hearty Midwestern comfort food staple.

Ohio: Polish boy

The Polish boy features a snappy kielbasa sausage on a bun, topped with a mound of coleslaw, french fries, and barbecue sauce. This behemoth originated in Cleveland.

Oklahoma: Chicken fried steak sandwich

For Oklahomans, this is the ultimate comfort food: a breaded and fried steak patty topped with savory gravy, lettuce, and tomato served on a bun. Variations include toppings such as Swiss cheese and caramelized onions.

Oregon: Fried chicken biscuit

This entry highlights Oregon's love of comfort food. The loaded sandwich is made with seasoned fried chicken and served on a fluffy biscuit, often slathered with gravy or topped with honey.

Pennsylvania: Cheesesteak

Created in Philadelphia in 1930 by ​​Pat Olivieri, the cheesesteak evolved to become the signature sandwich of the city's food culture. Thinly sliced beefsteak, grilled and topped with melted cheese—Cheez Whiz, provolone, or American—and served on a hoagie with optional sautéed onions and peppers, cements its status as a culinary icon.

Rhode Island: Fried clam roll

Originating from the East Coast, this sandwich showcases golden-fried clams served on a buttered bun with tartar sauce and lemon wedges. The state's clam shacks call to locals and visitors alike with this summer seafood delight.

South Carolina: Pulled pork sandwich

This sandwich highlights the state's unique Carolina gold barbecue tradition, which originated in the Midlands. Slow-cooked pulled pork is dressed in a tangy, mustard-based barbecue sauce and served on a bun with coleslaw. Thank Germans, who settled in the British colony of South Carolina, for bringing over the mustard that influenced the finger-licking sauce.

South Dakota: Pheasant sandwich

After the Red Cross and USO opened a canteen in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to feed World War II soldiers boarding the train, local farmers brought pheasants, resulting in the creation of the pheasant sandwich in 1943. This offering comes together with cooked and chopped pheasant, hard-boiled eggs, onion, celery, pickle relish, and mayo.

Tennessee: Hot chicken sandwich

This Nashville creation features spicy fried chicken served on white bread with pickles. The sandwich originated with Prince's Hot Chicken Shack after a revenge plot-turned-happy accident which ignited the spread of the Southern staple people can't get enough of.

Texas: Brisket sandwich

Slow-smoked tender beef brisket sliced and served on a bun with barbecue sauce and pickles highlights Texas' renowned barbecue culture. Variations of the brisket sandwich include different sauces or toppings, including onions and ​​coleslaw.

Utah: Pastrami burger

Adopted by James Katsanevas in Southern California in the 1960s and perfected when he moved to Salt Lake City, the pastrami burger features a beef patty loaded with a pile of pastrami, topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and fry sauce, and served on a bun.

Vermont: Vermonter sandwich

The Vermonter sandwich features roasted turkey, sharp cheddar cheese, apple slices, and honey mustard served on hearty—and sometimes grilled—bread. There are countless iterations, including those with maple syrup. All are representative of the state's emphasis on high-quality local ingredients and agricultural heritage.

Virginia: Country ham sandwich

This sandwich comes from Virginia's long tradition of curing ham. It features slices of local-cured country ham with variations and fixings that include a biscuit, cheese, and lettuce. The goal is to let the ham shine.

Washington: Banh mi

The Vietnamese community's influence on and contributions to Washington's cuisine is most evident with this sandwich. The banh mi features a crusty baguette filled with marinated pork, pickled vegetables, cilantro, jalapeños, and creamy mayonnaise.

West Virginia: Sausage biscuit sandwich

The hearty sausage biscuit sandwich—which can be traced back to a stolen idea from 1975 that led to the founding of Tudor's Biscuit World—features a savory sausage patty topped with a slice of cheese or egg and served in a fluffy biscuit. Variations for serving include gravy or bacon, and the result is a big home-cooking hug.

Wisconsin: Grilled cheese

The beloved grilled cheese sandwich celebrates Wisconsin's renowned dairy industry and unmatched variety of delicious cheeses. Various toppings include tomatoes, bacon, and onions.

Wyoming: Trout sandwich

Wyoming is a top fly-fishing destination, and this sandwich highlights fresh, local trout plucked from its rivers and lakes. The trout filet shines, whether smoked or fried until crispy; it's topped with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce and served on a soft bun.

And that takes care of all 50 states. I'm sure there are many of you who have a favorite sandwich that wasn't listed here as the signature sandwich for your state. Enjoy whatever sandwich you like the most. 

Important Historical Event in Each State—part 2 of 5

This week is part 2 of 5 of my series highlighting an important historical event in each State. This week's blog post covers Hawaii through Maryland.

11. Hawaii

Event: Attack on Pearl Harbor

Year: 1941

Location: Honolulu

The Japanese Empire's assault on the United States naval fleet at Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack, though relations between the two nations had been deteriorating for years. The United States did not think an attack would occur near the U.S. mainland, and the naval facilities at Pearl Harbor, where the fleet was based, were not well defended. The attack destroyed 20 American ships, more than 300 airplanes, and killed more than 2,400 people. Fortunately for America, oil storage depots, repair shipyards, and other facilities in Hawaii were not destroyed. The U.S. aircraft carriers were not in Hawaii at the time. The attack brought the United States into World War II.

12. Idaho

Event: The Big Burn

Year: 1910

Location: Northern Idaho

In 1910, the Western United States suffered a severe drought that left much of the wilderness susceptible to fire. The extreme conditions led to The Big Burn, a massive forest fire that scorched over 3 million acres of land across Montana, Washington, and Idaho killing 87 people with at least 78 of them firefighters. The deaths and wide spread damage started a renewed interest in conservation among the American people. President Theodore Roosevelt attempted to acquire land for the national forest system after his election in 1904, but Congress refused. The Big Burn shifted public interest, and in 1911, Congress passed a law leading to the purchase of more than 20 million acres of land for the national forest system. The National Forest Service's budget was doubled.

13. Illinois

Event: Chicago Fire

Year: 1871

Location: Chicago

Prolonged dry weather and the haphazard construction of wooden structures all contributed to the conditions for the Chicago Fire. The blaze killed 300 people, destroyed thousands of buildings, and damaged an estimated $200 million worth of property. Luckily for the city, its transportation infrastructure was left intact. In the wake of the conflagration, Chicago implemented stricter building and fire codes. From the ruins emerged the nation's first skyscrapers and a teeming metropolis.

14. Indiana

Event: Native American Uprising

Year: 1811

Location: Tippecanoe

By the early 19th century, Native American tribes had enough of white settlers moving into their lands. Shawnee Chief Tecumseh organized a resistance and set up a village in Central Indiana. Gov. William Henry Harrison led approximately 1,100 men to confront them. Tecumseh's brother, Tenskwatawa, initially requested a ceasefire, but he broke it and attacked the militia in the early morning. Harrison's troops endured the attack and eventually forced the native fighters to retreat. Though Harrison lost more troops than the tribes, he developed a reputation as a war hero that eventually helped him get elected president decades later.

15. Iowa

Event: Creation of caucuses

Year: 1976

Location: Statewide

The caucuses are unique to Iowa in its political procedure of selecting presidential candidates. For candidates such as Jimmy Carter, success at the caucuses in 1976 generated momentum toward his eventual nomination for president. The process emerged out of the chaos of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. For the Democrats, the caucuses are akin to a neighborhood meeting in which supporters of a particular candidate make their pitch to caucus-goers. Caucus attendees then gather in groups in various parts of the room for the candidate of their choice. The elected chairperson of the caucus counts the supporters of each candidate. The Republican process is less complicated.

16. Kansas

Event: Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka

Year: 1954

Location: Topeka

The Supreme Court's decision in the Brown v. Board of Education case provided one of the first major victories of the civil rights movement. Oliver Brown sued the Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education, saying the city's schools for black students were not as good as those for white students. The case made it to the Supreme Court in 1952, where the justices ruled that the idea of public facilities being "separate but equal" was unconstitutional. This decision made racial integration the law of the land and marked a major step forward in U.S. history.

17. Kentucky

Event: Fort Knox starts holding gold bullion

Year: 1937

Location: Fort Knox

Opened in 1937, the United States Bullion Depository in Fort Knox stores the nation's gold reserves. It is one of six U.S. Mint facilities and is located next to a U.S. Army garrison. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the holdings swelled to 649.6 million ounces, the highest amount ever held there. The gold is kept in the form of bars measuring 7 inches in length, 3.625 inches in width, and are 1.75 inches thick. The depository has held other valuables such as the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution.

18. Louisiana

Event: Hurricane Katrina

Year: 2005

Location: Southeastern Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in August 2005. The hurricane hit several states, but Louisiana took the brunt of the storm. Katrina battered New Orleans and the surrounding area with 127 mile per hour winds. Most of the levees in New Orleans failed, leading to overwhelming flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that 1,833 people were killed either directly or indirectly as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Over 1,500 of those fatalities were in Louisiana. The storm also caused over $108 billion in damages, making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history.

19. Maine

Event: The Year Maine Burned

Year: 1947

Location: Statewide

In 1947, Maine received about half of its normal rainfall for the summer and into the fall, setting up dry conditions that led to a fire. The blaze began on Oct. 17 in a cranberry bog. Strong winds fanned the flames, spreading the fire until it eventually engulfed more than 17,000 acres, including 10,000 acres of Acadia National Park. Today, the aftermath of the fire at the park can be seen in the diversity of its scenery. Nature has replaced many evergreen trees by a colorful spread of deciduous trees. That fire was a prelude for the rest of the year. The fall of 1947 saw many other serious fires. By the end of the year, more than 200,000 acres and 1,000 homes had been destroyed. The repeated destruction earned 1947 the nickname "The Year Maine Burned."

20. Maryland

Event: The Toleration Act

Year: 1649

Location: Statewide

The colony of Maryland was settled in 1634 with the intention of expanding religious freedoms compared to England at the time. Anglicans and Catholics were often at odds, which made it a surprise when the charter for Maryland was given to a Catholic family from the Anglican King James. Maryland sealed its reputation as a haven for religious liberty when it passed the Toleration Act, which said that no one who "professes to believe in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth be any way troubled, harassed or embarrassed for…his or her religion." Although restrictive by today's standards, it was a big step in the 17th century.

Next week in part 3 of 5, I'll present Massachusetts through New Jersey.