What the Sacramento region needs is some distinguishing dish or unique food item to put it on the map

When you think of American cities, certain things come to mind depending on your interests. Longtime NBA fans might identify with the Boston Celtics' parquet floors. When NFL fans think of the Philadelphia Eagles, they might recall when Philly Fans pelted Santa Claus with snowballs.

For the business-minded, Pittsburgh and the steel industry come to mind, even though they are largely gone. The same applies to Houston and oil, and by no coincidence, both have NFL teams named after those city-defining industries—the Steelers and the Houston had the Oilers, which was replaced by the Texans.  

Many people also think of certain food items or dishes when specific notable American cities are mentioned. Think New York-style pizza, or San Francisco and sourdough bread.  

That made us reflect on the Sacramento area. Sacramento's closest thing to an iconic dish is Frank Fat's Banana Cream Pie. While delicious, unfortunately, unless you are a legislator being wooed by a Capitol lobbyist, it is not well known even in the Sacramento area, much less gained a national reputation.  

We realize that wine regions surround Sacramento, but Sacramento is not closely associated with them. People might fly into Sacramento, rent a car, and head to noted specialty wine areas like Lodi or Amador County, not to mention internationally recognized Napa and Sonoma counties.  

While Sacramento is recognized as an incubator for the farm-to-fork movement, it does not have that one special dish. Healthy food items are available nationwide, and people will not travel somewhere to get something they can get at home. 

And the truth is that these famous specialty dishes are not the healthiest food choices.  

If Sacramento had a famed dish, these travelers would likely indulge. After all, the best way to get to a person's heart and wallet is often through their stomach!  

In the future, some Sacramento-created dishes or food specialties originated here will identify the local food scene, like a Philly Steak Sandwich that defines Philadelphia, Key Lime Pie, and Key West, or a French Dip Sandwich and Los Angeles. 

And here is a memo to tourism officials and Elk Grove's economic development director, Darrell Doan: Don't sponsor another wasteful contest or incentive program with taxpayer dollars to create the illusion of some dish associated with a city or region. Consumers know the difference - it must develop organically, not the concocted creation of inept bureaucrats just biding their time to collect their fat CALPERS benefits.

Here is a compilation of some famous American cities and their dishes. While not exhaustive, the list gives you an idea. Below is an interactive map.See the bottom of this story (below the map) to enter our contest! 

1. New York City, NY

• New York-Style Pizza: Large, thin, and foldable slices with a crispy edge.
• Bagels with Lox and Cream Cheese: Chewy bagels topped with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

2. Chicago, IL

• Deep-Dish Pizza: A thick, buttery crust filled with cheese, chunky tomato sauce, and toppings.
• Italian Beef Sandwich: Thinly sliced roast beef on a roll, often dipped in gravy.

3. Los Angeles, CA

• Street Tacos: Authentic Mexican-style tacos with simple, fresh ingredients.
• French Dip Sandwich: Roast beef sandwich served with au jus for dipping (originated at Philippe’s or Cole’s).

4. San Francisco, CA

• Sourdough Bread: Famous tangy bread made from a unique local starter.
• Cioppino: Seafood stew with tomato and wine broth, created by Italian fishermen.

5. New Orleans, LA

• Beignets: Deep-fried pastries dusted heavily with powdered sugar.
• Gumbo: A hearty stew with a roux base, often featuring seafood, sausage, and okra.

6. Philadelphia, PA

• Cheesesteak: Thinly sliced beef with melted cheese (often Cheez Whiz) in a hoagie roll.
• Roast Pork Sandwich: Pork, broccoli rabe, and provolone on a crusty roll.

7. Houston, TX

• Tex-Mex: A fusion of Mexican and American cuisine, including enchiladas and fajitas.
• Vietnamese Crawfish: Cajun-style boiled crawfish influenced by Houston’s Vietnamese community.

8. Miami, FL

• Cuban Sandwich: Ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on Cuban bread.
• Stone Crab Claws: Sweet, tender crab claws served chilled with mustard sauce.

9. Boston, MA

• Clam Chowder: Creamy soup with clams, potatoes, and onions.
• Boston Cream Pie: Actually, a cake filled with custard and topped with chocolate glaze.

10. Seattle, WA

• Salmon: Fresh, local wild-caught salmon prepared in various ways.
• Teriyaki: Sweet soy-glazed grilled meats, a Seattle favorite since the '70s.

11. Atlanta, GA

• Fried Chicken: Crispy, seasoned fried chicken, a Southern staple.
• Peach Cobbler: Sweet dessert made from Georgia peaches and biscuit topping.

12. Detroit, MI

• Detroit-Style Pizza: Rectangular, thick, airy crust with crispy edges and sauce on top.
• Coney Dog: Hot dog topped with beef chili, mustard, and onions.

13. Dallas, TX

• Chicken-Fried Steak: Breaded and fried beef steak, typically served with gravy.
• Barbecue Brisket: Smoked beef brisket, juicy and tender.

14. Phoenix, AZ

• Sonoran Hot Dog: Bacon-wrapped hot dog in a soft bolillo roll with beans and toppings.
• Green Chile Burrito: Spicy burrito filled with slow-cooked pork and green chiles.

15. Portland, OR

• Voodoo Doughnuts: Wildly creative and quirky doughnut creations.
• Artisan Coffee: Third-wave coffee culture thrives here.

16. Minneapolis, MN

• Juicy Lucy: Burger with cheese stuffed inside the patty.
• Walleye: Freshwater fish often battered and fried.

17. San Diego, CA

• California Burrito: Burrito stuffed with carne asada, French fries, cheese, and salsa.
• Fish Tacos: Grilled or fried fish in a soft tortilla, often with cabbage and creamy sauce.

18. Denver, CO

• Rocky Mountain Oysters: Deep-fried bull calf testicles, a novelty item.
• Green Chile: Spicy stew or sauce made with Hatch chiles.

19. Washington, D.C.

• Half-Smoke: A spicy, coarsely ground sausage, often served with chili.
• Mumbo Sauce: A tangy, sweet-and-sour sauce, often paired with fried chicken or wings.

20. Baltimore, MD

• Maryland Crab Cakes: Lump crab meat cakes lightly seasoned and fried.
• Pit Beef Sandwich: Charcoal-grilled beef sandwich served rare with horseradish sauce.

21. Nashville, TN

• Hot Chicken: Deep-fried chicken slathered in spicy oil.
• Meat and Three: A plate of one meat choice and three side dishes.

22. Austin, TX

• Breakfast Tacos: Tacos filled with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and cheese.
• Brisket: Legendary smoked beef from famous barbecue joints.

23. Las Vegas, NV

• Buffets: Extravagant all-you-can-eat meals featuring a range of cuisines.
• Shrimp Cocktail: A classic casino appetizer — chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce.

24. St. Louis, MO

• Toasted Ravioli: Breaded and deep-fried ravioli, often served with marinara.
• St. Louis-Style Pizza: Thin, cracker-like crust with Provel cheese.

25. Cleveland, OH

• Polish Boy: Kielbasa sausage sandwich with fries, coleslaw, and barbecue sauce.
• Pierogi: Dumplings filled with potato, cheese, or meats, reflecting Eastern European roots.