Monday, January 26, 2009

Hometown hankerings

Ever since I joined Facebook and started chatting with my old high school friends again, I have had a craving for the distinctly Springfield, MO-centric dish of Cashew Chicken. It's kind of a bastardized Kung Pao, but with cashews and oyster sauce. Springfield is home to about four zillion Chinese restaurants, each serving it up hot:


It even has a wiki page!

How about you? Does your hometown have a particular restaurant you miss? Or are there any dishes you associate with your childhood?

17 comments:

Travis Erwin said...

Hope you don't mind put I put a link up for this in my collection of My Town Monday posts.

Janna Leadbetter said...

I'm not much on cashews, but that looks really good.

But seriously? When I think of dinners out as a child, I think of Golden Corral. :)

Debra Lynn Shelton said...

Chinese food is the only food we ever went "out" for when I was a kid growing up on Long Island. We always got egg rolls, won-ton soup, and spare ribs. Of course, now I'm a vegetarian and I eat out practically EVERY night, but every time I have Chinese (brocolli and cashews and egg-drop soup - no I'm not a vegan!) I get nostalgic.;-)

Joanne said...

It's not really associated with childhood, but there's a local pizza place we've been going to for 20 years, and really, when we're there now, it just feels like home! The booths, the food, soups, bread, lighting, everything brings comforting familiarity.

WendyCinNYC said...

Sure, Travis! No problem,

Janna--Was that a steakhouse?

Debbie--We get Chinese food every Friday. Delivered, though.

Joanne--Pizza counts, too. My favorite pizza was from a place call McSalty's.

Janna Leadbetter said...

Buffet. I think you could consider it "home style." It's still alive and kickin' today, too. Pretty decent food. The best rolls with honey butter. Mm-mmm!

Anita said...

The food I miss from hometown is my mother's. Sometimes I pack the kids in the car and make the hour drive just for the food. I give mom plenty of warning so she can make my favorites.

Spy Scribbler said...

Okay, well, for the record, I don't really eat hot dogs, and I don't drink soda, but...

There was this stand just by the park down the street. Woody's Root Beer Stand. And we always got a hot dog with mustard (yum!) and HOMEMADE ROOT BEER!

There is no root beer in the world that is as good as this root beer!

Anonymous said...

Pernil and pasteles with a side dish of yellow rice mixed with pigeon peas.

colbymarshall said...

Well, I live in my hometown, so yes, we have some great places, and I'm glad I still frequent them. We have this awesome sandwich shop people who don't live here should envy :-)

Barrie said...

I miss Swiss Chalet chicken. As in, I want some right this second!

Angie Ledbetter said...

I'm lucky. Still live in my hometown, so I get the good stuffs anytime I want it!

Brian Jay Jones said...

Green chile cheeseburgers from Blake's Lotaburger -- a New Mexico institution.

I also miss carne adovada from Los Cuates.

And from my days of living in St. Charles, MO, there are times I would kill for White Castle.

Anonymous said...

Hi - I've posted my entry for the AW Blog Chain. You're up next!
http://freshhell.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

I'm originally from Wilmington, DE and believe it or not, but they have the BEST sub sandwiches there. Every time we go back we pick up subs. If you're ever passing through, stop at Capriotti's or Casapulla's. Both are excellent!

WendyCinNYC said...

Reading through all these has made me so hungry.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

My town has pronto pups, which are basically corn dogs. They have a fan page on facebook. :)