Indiana
Signature dish:
Hoosier pie, or
sugar cream pie.
A favorite of the
Amish and Shak-
ers who settled in
Indiana, this custardy, nutmeg-
dusted pie is also known as despera-
tion pie, since it’s cheap to make.
Who Knew? A native of Brazil,
Indiana, Orville Redenbacher started
producing his own popcorn when
he was 12. His special hybrid—only
one kernel in every 45 doesn’t
pop!—helped build an empire.Iowa
Signature dish: Breaded pork tender-
loin sandwich. “Opening up one of
those pork sandwiches to eat on a
flight back home from Iowa elicits
groans and complaints. ‘Why didn’t
you bring enough to feed the whole
aircraft?’” —Reader Bill Spikes,
San Jose, California
Who Knew? The top pork producer
in the United States, Iowa is home to
nearly eight times as many pigs
(23.5 million in 2019) as people
(3.1 million residents).Kansas
Signature dish:
bierocks, German
pastries stuffed
with ground beef,
cabbage, onions,
and spices.Who Knew? Every year, farmers in
Kansas typically grow enough wheat
to make 36 billion loaves of bread.Kentucky
Signature dish: Hot Brown. After
dancing the night away at the Brown
Hotel in Louisville, Prohibition-era
revelers would head to the hotel
restaurant for this open-faced turkey-
and-tomato sandwich doused in
Mornay sauce, sprinkled with cheese,
broiled, and topped with bacon.
Who Knew? In honor
of the Kentucky Derby,
some spectators at
Churchill Downs sip
mint juleps in silver-
plated cups—at $1,000
a drink—for charity.Louisiana
Signature dish: Gumbo.
“Let me just say, gumbo is the food
of the gods. All the variations of
gumbo reflect the many origins and
cultures of the people of Louisiana.”
—Reader Anne Maverick, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana
Who Knew? The po’boy sandwich
was born during the transit strike of
1929, when 1,800 streetcar conduc-
tors and motormen took to the streets
of New Orleans. The Martin Brothers
Coffee Stand and Restaurant provided
large sandwiches for free to the
“poor boys.” Today, you can
order a po’boy with roast
beef or fried seafood.Reader’s Digest Cover Story
glenn^price/shutterstock(bierocks).^brent^ hofacker/shutterstock(julep)58 july/august 2019