Who Knew? Samuel Kaymen and
Gary Hirshberg were running out
of money for their organic farming
school, Stonyfield Farm, in 1983.
So they put their cows to work,
started making yogurt, and launched
a successful brand.New Jersey
Signature dish:
Taylor ham. “In
North Jersey, it’s
called Taylor ham,
and in South Jersey,
it’s called pork roll.
Whatever you call it,
it’s delicious.” —Reader Chris
Lamazza, Mahwah, New Jersey
Who Knew? Saltwater taffy was
invented in 1883 in Atlantic City.
The business became so competitive
that a patent dispute over taffy-
pulling machines went to the
U.S. Supreme Court in 1921.New Mexico
Signature dish: pork tamales. This
labor-intensive dish originated
in Mexico and features
seasoned meat that’s
wrapped in cornmeal
dough and then
baked in husks.
Who Knew?
Locals order their
tamales “red” or
“green,” depending on their
chile pepper preference. Want both?
Order yours “Christmas-style.”New York
Signature dish:
buffalo wings.
The beloved
appetizer was born
in Buffalo’s Anchor
Bar in 1964.
Who Knew? Why do
bagels have holes? So
the Jewish immigrants
who sold the yeasty rolls on
New York City’s Lower East Side
at the turn of the 20th century could
stack them up on sticks to take to
customers.North Carolina
Signature dish: Barbecue. The bar
for barbecue in the Tar Heel State is
high. To become a stop on the state’s
Historic Barbecue Trail, pits must
cook meat with wood or charcoal,
make their own sauce, provide a
sit-down dining experience for the
public, and “enjoy the high esteem”
of their community.
Who Knew? North Carolina produces
more sweet potatoes than the
other 49 U.S. states combined.
In fact, many North Carolinians
insist that sweet potato pie—not
pumpkin—is the true Thanks-
giving dessert.North Dakota
Signature dish: Knoephla
soup, a comfort food made with
chicken, potatoes, and dumplings.
Who Knew? Do you love digging in to64 july/august 2019 | rd.com
p^ maxwellphotography/shutterstock(tamales).^alpaksoy/shutterstock^(wings)Reader’s Digest