Regional foodstuff

[Dragsterhund]

Ben's Chili Bowl - DC

Yessir... Half Smoke w/ Chili is epic.

[rgramjet]

Mmmmmm Vegemite.....

[Fresh Pants]

For some reason I actually like Marmite. 

I almost forgot Singapore/Malaysia (again) chili crab. Sweet, spicy, crab-ey, fantastic, and a big fat mess everytime I have it. The place in Malaysia I had it also served Marmite fish, which was lightly fried pieces of (mystery white meat fish) with a Marmite based sauce (not overpoweringly Marmite-ey mind you).

[rgramjet]

Im the same way with Gefilte Fish.....I love that stuff!

[ducati_tim]

I swear reading that reminded me of when I was a little kid on the Jersey shore.  My grandfather would take us to the bay and we would catch crabs off of the dock just like that.  We had a few traps, but while they were sitting we did the chicken on the string trick.  We would take the spackle bucket full of crabs home to my grandmother and she would turn it into magic.   

When I was back on the east coast last year in the DC area, I ate crabs every day for 4 days.  I LOVE softshells.  I finished off the trip with an all you can eat blue crab dinner at Capt. Pells.   

I grew up eating crabs at Capt. Pells! It is was just a couple of miles from house on Rt 50. What a great place

[triangleforge]

Yessir... Half Smoke w/ Chili is epic.

More than you'd ever want to know about the half smoke, DC's own indigenous sausage:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=561

And some cool history & anecdotes about Ben's Chili Bowl and Weenie Beenie, as well as some speculation about just what the Half Smoke is half of.

[NeufUnSix]

I grew up eating lobster and seafood on the East Coast. I grew to hate it. The only seafood I can stand is New England clam chowder, calamari, polpo, and grilled swordfish. When you had 5$ a pound lobster every weekend it loses its charm. I laugh at people who pay ridiculous prices for the sea bug up here... Where I come from it was always known as a poor working class person's food until the yuppies arrived.

It's not really regional (I can get it pretty much anywhere) but one of my favourite desserts is Devonshire custard. Preferably pre-made in a can, Bird's is overrated and a pain to make. Heat some up with a few teaspoons of fresh lemon juice, mmm mmm. You can eat it alone or throw it over fresh fruit/icecream/cake/pie...

For gelato, there is a place within walking distance of my place called Leo le Glacier. He makes arty gelatos every week, with funky flavours like lavender, dates, different spices, and of course the classic flavours. It's not typical gelato, because it's just as smooth and creamy as the best ice cream you've ever had. You'd never guess it was gelato.