Pennsylvania - "The Keystone State"

Pennsylvania, a northeastern U.S. state and one of the 13 original colonies, is known for its diverse terrain, which includes wide stretches of farmland, national forests and major waterways. The state's five most populous cities are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie and Reading. The state capital is Harrisburg. Pennsylvania has 51 miles of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary.

Why Pennsylvania has a nick name of "Thy Keystone State"? Like most nicknames, it is not known, for certain, where this name originated. A keystone is a central wedge in an arch that locks all other pieces of an arch in place. It is the part of an arch that all other parts depend upon. It's reported that Pennsylvania was toasted as "...the keystone of the federal union" at a Republican presidential victory rally for Thomas Jefferson in 1802. Regardless of its origin, the nickname has come to represent Pennsylvania's geographic, economic, social and political impact on development of the United States.

The state was named for its founder, William Penn, who was a member of the Christian sect known as Quakers, or Society of Friends. Penn received the land in a grant from King Charles II, and decided to create a haven for the Quakers, who faced religious persecution in England. The colony saw a large influx of English settlers during the late 1600s, followed by Germans and Irish immigrants who also sought religious freedom. These immigrants brought foods and traditions from their homelands, and have innovated and invented many specialties that reflect the modern, or in some cases old-fashioned, lifestyles of the people of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Pepper Pot (Beef and Vegetable Stew in Pepper) and Pretzels are among a few Pennsylvania signature food. However,

the Philadelphia  cheesesteak or Philly Cheesesteak  is Philadelphia's icon. It is a sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll. This sandwich is an all-American dish, but created by Italian immigrants to the United States. Brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri created the sandwich for their hot dog cart, while trying to incorporate some variety into their shop. The sandwiches, which they simply called steak sandwiches, were a hit and the brothers opened up their restaurant, now called Pat’s King of Steaks, specializing in cheesesteaks, located in South Philadelphia.

The steak is cooked with onions and sometimes peppers to enhance the flavor. Cheesesteak purists only consider the sandwiches served on Amoroso (a Philadelphia-based baking company) rolls to be authentic Philly cheesesteaks. The type of cheese used on a Philly cheesesteak varies, though it is usually provolone, American, or even Cheez Whiz. Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steak are two of the most famous Philadelphia establishments that serve Philly cheesesteaks.

Is there is a good establishment in Arizona to try Philadelphia's icon? Absolutely! Although it is easy to get the choice of cheese in Arizona, when making a regional sandwich away from it ancestral home, the hardest thing to get right is the often the bread. National distribution is usually impractical for such a highly perishable, low margin product, and replicating the précis texture and flavor of signature bread in a restaurant kitchen is a technical challenge. Local substitute may not quite capture the soft, chewy texture of Amoroso or Vilotti-Pisanelli rolls that are used throughout Philadelphia, but the steak at Philly's Famous, located in Chandler, AZ  is griddled up hot and fresh to order, which puts them a step ahead of most other cheesteakes establishments in the valley. The food is indeed delicious there, even to the patrons of the restaurant who are PA natives.



Philly Cheesesteak



Hedy's Version of Cheesesteak (Cheesesteak with Mustard!)

 

New York - "The Empire State"

New York is a state in the Northeastern United States. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south and Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont to the east. The state has a maritime border with Rhode Island east of Long Island, as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the north and Ontario to the west and north. The state of New York is often referred to as New York State to distinguish it from New York City, the state's most populous city and its economic hub.
With an estimated population of nearly 8.5 million in 2014, New York City is the most populous city in the United States and the premier gateway for legal immigration to the United States. The New York City Metropolitan Area is one of the most populous urban area in the world. New York City is a global city, exerting a significant impact upon commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and entertainment, its fast pace defining the term New York minute. The home of the United Nations Headquarters, New York City is an important center for international diplomacy and has been described as the cultural and financial capital of the world, as well as the world's most economically powerful city. New York City makes up over 40% of the population of New York State. Two-thirds of the state's population lives in the New York City Metropolitan Area, and nearly 40% live on Long Island. Both the state and New York City were named for the 17th century Duke of York, future King James II of England. The next four most populous cities in the state are Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse, while the state capital is Albany.
The cuisine of New York comprises many cuisines belonging to various ethic groups that have entered the United States through the city. There were a few signature dishes developed and popularized in New York. Egg Benedict, Manhattan clam chowder, NY style pizza, corned beef and chicken and waffles are among those dishes. There is one dish that is very popular any where in united states which is hard to believe it was developed in New York, and that would Buffalo Wings.
There are several different claims about how Buffalo wings were invented. One of the more prevalent claims is that Buffalo wings were first prepared at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, by Teressa Bellissimo, who owned the bar with her husband, Frank. The city of Buffalo officially declared July 29, 1977, to be Chicken Wing Day. A Buffalo wing or Buffalo chicken wing is a chicken wing section (wingette or drumette) that is generally deep-fried, unbreaded, and coated in vinegar based cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter. They are traditionally served hot, along with celery sticks and/or carrot sticks with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping. There are also boneless wings, from which the humerus and other bones have been removed.
One can find Buffalo wings any where in town, however at The Hungry Monk restaurant and bar located in Chandler, AZ, there is a great variety of Buffalo wings offered in the menu served with blue cheese, ranch and a few token celery sticks. Friendly staff and a great service makes the dining experience in this restaurant indeed pleasant.



Manhattan (Cocktail)

Flavors of Wings 

Original Wings

Nevada - "The Silver State"

Nevada is a state in the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas–Paradise metropolitan area where three of the state's four largest incorporated cities are located. Nevada's capital is Carson City. Nevada is officially known as the "Silver State" due to the importance of silver to its history and economy. It is also known as the "Battle Born State", because it achieved statehood during the Civil War; as the "Sagebrush State", for the native plant of the same name; and as "Sage hen State".
Nevada has a reputation for its libertarian laws. In 1900, with a population of just over 40,000 people, Nevada was by far the least populated state. However, legalized gambling and lenient marriage and divorce laws transformed Nevada into a major tourist destination in the 20th century. Nevada is the only U.S. state where prostitution is legal, though it is illegal in Las Vegas (Clark County) and Reno (Washoe County). The tourism industry remains Nevada's largest employer, with mining continuing as a substantial sector of the economy: Nevada is the fourth-largest producer of gold in the world.
Unless you are in Las Vegas, where you can eat anything from anywhere in the world, Nevada serves typical American fare including bacon, eggs, steak, hamburgers mostly. This is the kind of food you will find in small towns, those with only one diner in a hundred miles radius. A curious note is the north region, where you can find Basque style food. Restaurants there will have large tables and everyone will seat side by side, like they would at a family meal. One can find chateaubriand, leg of lamb, chicken, pig’s feet and various types of seafood, all seasoned with plenty of garlic, and, of course, old Spanish familiars like paella and chorizo.
Shrimp cocktail is a Vegas cliché, but it’s one thing that Nevada has made its own. In 1959, the Golden Gate hotel-casino introduced the shrimp cocktail for fifty cents. It stayed fifty cents until 1991, and now costs $2.99. The introduction is credited to a man by the name of Italo Gheli, one of a group of Italian-Americans from San Francisco who bought the property in 1955. Since then, the Golden Gate has sold more than 30 million cocktails, always served lettuce filler-free in a tulip sundae glass. In the last 50 years, the shrimp cocktail has become iconic of eating in southern Nevada. Shrimp cocktails can be found on appetizer menus across the state, in buffets and with or without onions.
Don and Charlie's located in Scottsdale, AZ serves one the best Shrimp Cocktails. Since 1981 Don & Charlie’s has been serving to prime steaks, BBQ baby back ribs, BBQ chicken, prime rib, fresh fish and many other entrees. While it isn't an all-you-can-eat outfit like many buffets in Nevada, though their prime rib and shrimp are prepared with care, and far more delicious than your average Vegas buffet.



Shrimp Cocktail



Prime Rib





Crème Brulee