But do they sell a hot dish?
January 14, 2018 2:37 PM Subscribe
Casseroles are ubiquitous comfort foods in the Midwest, but they're almost never found at restaurants. What other foods do people cook at home but are rarely seen in a commercial context?
Oatmeal / porridge? (Although a few fast-food places offer it)
posted by pseudostrabismus at 2:54 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by pseudostrabismus at 2:54 PM on January 14, 2018
Meatloaf.
posted by praemunire at 3:04 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 3:04 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Well, in Maine, we have American Chop Suey, which has zero to do with Chinese food, but my Mom made a lot of it.
She also made red flannel hash. Which as I remember it was, potatoes and ground beef, and beets.
My folks also used to do stuff like chipped beef on toast (which my Dad fondly referred to as Shit on a Shingle), or Welsh rarebit.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:06 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
She also made red flannel hash. Which as I remember it was, potatoes and ground beef, and beets.
My folks also used to do stuff like chipped beef on toast (which my Dad fondly referred to as Shit on a Shingle), or Welsh rarebit.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:06 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
Mac ‘n cheese (arguably a casserole), grilled cheese sandwiches (excepting Waffle House).
posted by rodlymight at 3:06 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by rodlymight at 3:06 PM on January 14, 2018
Midwest-style tacos, which are ground beef generously cooked with a lot of ketchup and some chili powder, served with either crunchy or soft taco shells and various fixings.
Sloppy Joes.
posted by daisystomper at 3:11 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sloppy Joes.
posted by daisystomper at 3:11 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, Ro-Tel cheese dip.
posted by daisystomper at 3:12 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by daisystomper at 3:12 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
praemunire: "Meatloaf."
I eat meatloaf in restaurants fairly often.
posted by octothorpe at 3:22 PM on January 14, 2018 [14 favorites]
I eat meatloaf in restaurants fairly often.
posted by octothorpe at 3:22 PM on January 14, 2018 [14 favorites]
Boiled Dinner with GRAY corned beef (the real stuff) is something you never see in a restaurant.
posted by KazamaSmokers at 3:23 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by KazamaSmokers at 3:23 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
also, B-grade maple syrup.
posted by KazamaSmokers at 3:23 PM on January 14, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by KazamaSmokers at 3:23 PM on January 14, 2018 [8 favorites]
I see meatloaf all over at restaurants here in the Midwest. And if mac'n'cheese and grilled cheese weren't ubiquitous on kids menus, my oldest would have starved by now.
How about breakfast staples like bowls of cereal w/ milk or pop-tarts?
posted by chrisamiller at 3:24 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
How about breakfast staples like bowls of cereal w/ milk or pop-tarts?
posted by chrisamiller at 3:24 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
I see mac n cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches on menus fairly often.
But, until about 10 years ago in my area there weren't that many bbq places. There were a couple, but mostly people made it at home. Now it seems there's one on every corner.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 3:32 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
But, until about 10 years ago in my area there weren't that many bbq places. There were a couple, but mostly people made it at home. Now it seems there's one on every corner.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 3:32 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
> Oatmeal / porridge? (Although a few fast-food places offer it)
Starbucks sells it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:35 PM on January 14, 2018
Starbucks sells it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:35 PM on January 14, 2018
French toast made from plain old sliced bread. I know you can get French toast in restaurants, but I see it made with challah or other specialty bread; I've never seen it the way I make it at home.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:36 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:36 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
cream of wheat?
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:40 PM on January 14, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:40 PM on January 14, 2018 [11 favorites]
I think I've only ever seen basic chicken soup (as opposed to, like, chicken pho or chicken-tortilla soup) on the menu in specifically Jewish restaurants. Do other people make it at home?
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:42 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:42 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Rice-A-Roni? I've eaten it at home when I was a kid thousands of times, but I've never seen it served in restaurants.
posted by spinifex23 at 3:42 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by spinifex23 at 3:42 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
This isn't a huge category like casseroles but, Filipino style Rice and Eggs should be a diner breakfast classic. It is fried eggs on leftover rice stir fried with a little garlic with vinegar as a condiment. Since I live in the American south, stir frying happens in Meemaws old cast iron skillet and vinegar is the same pepper vinegar we use on turnip greens.
posted by mumblelard at 3:45 PM on January 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by mumblelard at 3:45 PM on January 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
Also - for the record, my work cafeteria in the morning serves a huge vat of cream of wheat, and also steel cut oatmeal in another vat, as well as a bar full of fixin's. I don't know if this counts as a 'commercial' setting for this question, as it's open to employees only, and in such a remote location that non-employees are not going to stumble across upon it by accident.
posted by spinifex23 at 3:45 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by spinifex23 at 3:45 PM on January 14, 2018
Virtually everything on this list (with the exception of the rather euphonious 'shit on a shingle' and the unusual American Chop Suey) is something I've actually ordered in a restaurant. YMMV.
How about straight-out leftovers? (I know restaurants use leftovers and repurpose them, but I'm talking about straight-out Dad sliding a plate of random microwaved stuff in front of you and proudly exclaiming that he has emptied every single tupperware in the fridge to fill your plate)
posted by arnicae at 3:54 PM on January 14, 2018 [7 favorites]
How about straight-out leftovers? (I know restaurants use leftovers and repurpose them, but I'm talking about straight-out Dad sliding a plate of random microwaved stuff in front of you and proudly exclaiming that he has emptied every single tupperware in the fridge to fill your plate)
posted by arnicae at 3:54 PM on January 14, 2018 [7 favorites]
Grilled cheese is a bar food staple here. Sometimes fancied up, but definitely a staple.
posted by joycehealy at 4:04 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by joycehealy at 4:04 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
I have seen whole unstuffed steamed artichokes in a restaurant exactly once in my life.
posted by STFUDonnie at 4:06 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by STFUDonnie at 4:06 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
Hard boiled eggs? They sell them at grocery stores, and presumably you could order them as your "eggs any style" at IHOP or whatever, but I don't think I've ever seen them on a menu.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:08 PM on January 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by the primroses were over at 4:08 PM on January 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
Varan bhat. I've never seen it on an Indian restaurant menu, but it is the best. I'm 32, and my mom still makes this for me when I visit.
posted by basalganglia at 4:16 PM on January 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by basalganglia at 4:16 PM on January 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Good answers! I'm particularly interested in non-Midwestern examples, if people have any.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 4:22 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by steady-state strawberry at 4:22 PM on January 14, 2018
To add to basalganglia's comment, home-cooked Indian food in general bears almost no resemblance to restaurant Indian food.
On the subject of Maharashtrian food in particular, I've never seen things like bharli vangi, poha, or puran poli on a menu in the US. Other dishes, like dhal bhati (Rajasthani), dosa (south Indian), khichdi, or thali are rarely found at restaurants in the US.
posted by aquamvidam at 4:26 PM on January 14, 2018 [7 favorites]
On the subject of Maharashtrian food in particular, I've never seen things like bharli vangi, poha, or puran poli on a menu in the US. Other dishes, like dhal bhati (Rajasthani), dosa (south Indian), khichdi, or thali are rarely found at restaurants in the US.
posted by aquamvidam at 4:26 PM on January 14, 2018 [7 favorites]
I've definitely had dosa in more than one Indian restaurant. Of course I do live in the metro NYC area.
posted by sciencegeek at 4:32 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by sciencegeek at 4:32 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
Pigs in blankets? I’ve seen those in school cafeterias, but not restaurants.
I’ve never been able to get a soft-boiled egg in an American restaurant - and I’ve tried. It’s not a food safety thing, since you can get eggs over easy with runny yolks.
posted by FencingGal at 4:35 PM on January 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
I’ve never been able to get a soft-boiled egg in an American restaurant - and I’ve tried. It’s not a food safety thing, since you can get eggs over easy with runny yolks.
posted by FencingGal at 4:35 PM on January 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
Lots of party food probably fits this, like buffalo chicken dip.
posted by gatorae at 4:36 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by gatorae at 4:36 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
The entirety of the Dutch cuisine. And there's a very good reason for that.
posted by ouke at 4:38 PM on January 14, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by ouke at 4:38 PM on January 14, 2018 [13 favorites]
Pigs in blankets?
Do you mean stuffed cabbage or little hot dogs in pastry?
(Dosa is on the menus at every Indian restaurant I've been to in Cincinnati.)
posted by cooker girl at 4:39 PM on January 14, 2018
Do you mean stuffed cabbage or little hot dogs in pastry?
(Dosa is on the menus at every Indian restaurant I've been to in Cincinnati.)
posted by cooker girl at 4:39 PM on January 14, 2018
Cole slaw with crumbled ramen noodles is a potluck staple on my home planet and I have never once seen it in a restaurant.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:43 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:43 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
I would agree that the kind of food that my Chinese immigrant in-laws make sometimes bears little resemblance to anything I've seen in a Chinese restaurant (Americanized or not). What stands out to me as particularly distinctive is no mi fan, the sticky rice w/Chinese sausage that goes inside the Thanksgiving turkey.
Generally ethnic holiday foods seem like a good category for this. My mother's Swedish rice pudding, for example. Likewise, her potatiskorv is purchased from a butcher but I've never seen it in a restaurant, even the handful of Swedish restaurants that still exist, e.g. Tre Kronor in Chicago. My Irish grandmother's Irish soda bread is another example, as well as quote-unquote "Amish friendship bread."
posted by crazy with stars at 5:09 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Generally ethnic holiday foods seem like a good category for this. My mother's Swedish rice pudding, for example. Likewise, her potatiskorv is purchased from a butcher but I've never seen it in a restaurant, even the handful of Swedish restaurants that still exist, e.g. Tre Kronor in Chicago. My Irish grandmother's Irish soda bread is another example, as well as quote-unquote "Amish friendship bread."
posted by crazy with stars at 5:09 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
For French cuisine -- clafoutis, in general, but definitely cherry clafouti the "right way," at least according to the mom in the French home where I was an exchange student. The right way means you don't take the pits out of the cherries, because everybody at home just knows they're there and spits them out. When I see a cherry clafouti at a restaurant, which is super rare, they're always pitted. I'm sure the restaurant is worried about the liability of a diner biting into a pit and breaking their tooth.
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:13 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by BlahLaLa at 5:13 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
Jello salads, but that’s definitely a midwestern thing.
I agree oatmeal, mac and cheese, meatloaf, shepherd’s pie, and grilled cheese are all over the place, at least in coastal city trendy restaurants doing the gastropub or expensive take on “comfort food” thing.
My parents are also shit on a shingle fans (ugh it is THE WORST) and thank god I’ve never seen that in a restaurant. Pork and sauerkraut (I have German ancestry)? Many kinds of cookies or other sweets handed down as family recipes?
posted by olinerd at 5:15 PM on January 14, 2018
I agree oatmeal, mac and cheese, meatloaf, shepherd’s pie, and grilled cheese are all over the place, at least in coastal city trendy restaurants doing the gastropub or expensive take on “comfort food” thing.
My parents are also shit on a shingle fans (ugh it is THE WORST) and thank god I’ve never seen that in a restaurant. Pork and sauerkraut (I have German ancestry)? Many kinds of cookies or other sweets handed down as family recipes?
posted by olinerd at 5:15 PM on January 14, 2018
tater tots?
The brew pub down the street must make a killing selling standard Sysco tater tots with some spices sprinkled on top. I've even encountered artisanal, house-made tater tots at fancy places a few times.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:18 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
The brew pub down the street must make a killing selling standard Sysco tater tots with some spices sprinkled on top. I've even encountered artisanal, house-made tater tots at fancy places a few times.
posted by Dip Flash at 5:18 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
Canned vegetables? American goulash?
Do poor-kid staples like mayonnaise sandwiches count?
posted by metasarah at 5:23 PM on January 14, 2018
Do poor-kid staples like mayonnaise sandwiches count?
posted by metasarah at 5:23 PM on January 14, 2018
I'm here to vehemently refute the rumor that sloppy joes aren't sold in restaurants.
There is an entire restaurant chain dedicated to that exact thing in Iowa.
posted by Temeraria at 5:23 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
There is an entire restaurant chain dedicated to that exact thing in Iowa.
posted by Temeraria at 5:23 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
By pigs in blankets, I meant hot dogs in pastry. I didn’t know there was another meaning.
I’ve seen Irish soda bread in Irish restaurants.
I’ve seen Lithuanian food only in Lithuanian restaurants, which are extremely rare in the US. I’m not quite sure how the less represented ethnicities fit into a question like this. Outside of the aforementioned restaurants and the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, I’ve never met someone of Lithuanian descent I wasn’t related to. So I’m not expecting anyone to serve our food.
posted by FencingGal at 5:24 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I’ve seen Irish soda bread in Irish restaurants.
I’ve seen Lithuanian food only in Lithuanian restaurants, which are extremely rare in the US. I’m not quite sure how the less represented ethnicities fit into a question like this. Outside of the aforementioned restaurants and the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, I’ve never met someone of Lithuanian descent I wasn’t related to. So I’m not expecting anyone to serve our food.
posted by FencingGal at 5:24 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Chinese Egg and Tomato Stir-Fry? Never seen it on a restaurant menu. (It‘s delicious)
posted by The Toad at 5:32 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Toad at 5:32 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
with the exception of the rather euphonious 'shit on a shingle'
I've seen (and of course, ordered) Creamed Chipped Beef on a menu exactly once. Not sure if people cook it at home -- like casseroles, might turn up in a cafeteria/mess hall/steam table situation, but not sit-down restaurants.
posted by Rash at 5:38 PM on January 14, 2018
I've seen (and of course, ordered) Creamed Chipped Beef on a menu exactly once. Not sure if people cook it at home -- like casseroles, might turn up in a cafeteria/mess hall/steam table situation, but not sit-down restaurants.
posted by Rash at 5:38 PM on January 14, 2018
Spoon Bread, Watergate Salad, and Ambrosia.
posted by Rash at 5:39 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 5:39 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
FWIW, meatloaf is in LOTS of restaurants in the south, everything from meat-and-three places to American food chains. Similarly, every breakfast restaurant I go to serves oatmeal (though I probably wouldn't notice cream of wheat).
Non-meat patties. Like, my mom makes cheese patties/pancakes with farmer's cheese, and I think it's called Sirniki. I've never seen it in a restaurant. It's Russian/Polish/Ukranian-ish.
I think ethnic foods where there are few restaurants that serve that type would fit this bill. I mean, at a Jewish deli, you can get chicken soup or matzoh ball soup, but you probably can't get kreplach, kishka, tsimmes, cholent, matzoh brei, p'tcha, etc. outside of NYC and maybe a very few places with a high Jewish immigrant population. I'm not sure about kugel, which fits the casserole category already brought up -- other than the bagel deli I visit when I go to Atlanta, I can never get kugel in a restaurant.
And now I'm craving kugel.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 5:41 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
Non-meat patties. Like, my mom makes cheese patties/pancakes with farmer's cheese, and I think it's called Sirniki. I've never seen it in a restaurant. It's Russian/Polish/Ukranian-ish.
I think ethnic foods where there are few restaurants that serve that type would fit this bill. I mean, at a Jewish deli, you can get chicken soup or matzoh ball soup, but you probably can't get kreplach, kishka, tsimmes, cholent, matzoh brei, p'tcha, etc. outside of NYC and maybe a very few places with a high Jewish immigrant population. I'm not sure about kugel, which fits the casserole category already brought up -- other than the bagel deli I visit when I go to Atlanta, I can never get kugel in a restaurant.
And now I'm craving kugel.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 5:41 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
Rash posting "Watergate salad" made me think of Waldorf Salad. I don't think I've ever seen it in a restaurant, which is ironic, because it probably started at a Waldorf Hotel, right?
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 5:42 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 5:42 PM on January 14, 2018
The classic hot Turkey sandwich (open face, gravy) has lost its "found in every diner" status around here (CT).
I think there is probably a class of dishes made with name brand products that qualify. Jello has been mentioned though Jello parfaits can be found in cafeterias. Spam, peanut butter fluff, cheese whiz.
Grasshopper pie. Cottage pudding.
I suppose no one makes Welsh rarebit anymore anywhere.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:43 PM on January 14, 2018
I think there is probably a class of dishes made with name brand products that qualify. Jello has been mentioned though Jello parfaits can be found in cafeterias. Spam, peanut butter fluff, cheese whiz.
Grasshopper pie. Cottage pudding.
I suppose no one makes Welsh rarebit anymore anywhere.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:43 PM on January 14, 2018
Ooh, what about monkey bread?
posted by Night_owl at 5:46 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Night_owl at 5:46 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I've only had pigs in a blanket in pancake reastaurants as a kid. With blueberry syrup!
(All the Jewish foods above are available in the restaurants I grew up with in Toronto, which is good because who makes kishka from scratch?)
posted by Valancy Rachel at 5:47 PM on January 14, 2018
(All the Jewish foods above are available in the restaurants I grew up with in Toronto, which is good because who makes kishka from scratch?)
posted by Valancy Rachel at 5:47 PM on January 14, 2018
Spaghetti with chili.
Although if I see both items on a menu I can get them to do it for me.
posted by SLC Mom at 5:53 PM on January 14, 2018
Although if I see both items on a menu I can get them to do it for me.
posted by SLC Mom at 5:53 PM on January 14, 2018
King Ranch Chicken! (Which is your basic casserole, but Texas style). Ro*Tel is criminally underused in restaurant cuisine, as a rule.
There's a certain genre of dessert that I think is criminally unavailable commercially because it's hard to make them pretty, though I'm sure there are exceptions. Your Indian Pudding (cornmeal based), persimmon pudding, you know, your general brown steamy type pudding.
posted by theweasel at 5:56 PM on January 14, 2018
There's a certain genre of dessert that I think is criminally unavailable commercially because it's hard to make them pretty, though I'm sure there are exceptions. Your Indian Pudding (cornmeal based), persimmon pudding, you know, your general brown steamy type pudding.
posted by theweasel at 5:56 PM on January 14, 2018
SLC Mom: "Spaghetti with chili."
This is a mainstay of Steak & Shake (the Midwestern chain) with their "3-Way" and "5-Way."
posted by crazy with stars at 5:57 PM on January 14, 2018
This is a mainstay of Steak & Shake (the Midwestern chain) with their "3-Way" and "5-Way."
posted by crazy with stars at 5:57 PM on January 14, 2018
I grew up (northern New England) with Welsh rarebit, “Indian pudding” (cornmeal and molasses), syllabub and brown bread. Never seen any of those in a restaurant.
posted by Cygnet at 5:59 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by Cygnet at 5:59 PM on January 14, 2018
Ooh ooh, I've got one! Egg in the Hole! I have NEVER seen that at a restaurant.
posted by HotToddy at 6:00 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 6:00 PM on January 14, 2018 [3 favorites]
I've had poha, dosa, and thali in many restaurants. Also clafoutis.
posted by HotToddy at 6:03 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 6:03 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
... Waldorf Salad. I don't think I've ever seen it in a restaurant, which is ironic ...
Obligatory Fawlty Towers link
posted by basalganglia at 6:09 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Obligatory Fawlty Towers link
posted by basalganglia at 6:09 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Deviled eggs?
posted by Chrysostom at 6:17 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 6:17 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
Just for clarification, Maid-Rites are not sloppy joes. They’re loose hamburger sandwiches.
Most of the things I do with boneless skinless chicken breasts for a quick meal, I’ve never seen in restaurants.
posted by epj at 6:19 PM on January 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
Most of the things I do with boneless skinless chicken breasts for a quick meal, I’ve never seen in restaurants.
posted by epj at 6:19 PM on January 14, 2018 [6 favorites]
Poached eggs in tomato sauce was (and still is!) a once a week dinner growing up in my Italian-Canadian household. I've never seen it in a restaurant.
posted by trigger at 6:19 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by trigger at 6:19 PM on January 14, 2018
All of this Midwestern comfort food I’ve seen in diners. Including Green Bean Casserole once. And The Hat, a fast food place in SoCal, has shit on a shingle though they don’t call it that (or they used to, I haven’t been to The Hat for 15 years.)
I never saw some of the stuff my mom cooked (rice, peas, and cheese which is what it says, and rice loaf held together with cheese) until I went to the Sri Chinmoy restaurants which have exactly that.
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:31 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I never saw some of the stuff my mom cooked (rice, peas, and cheese which is what it says, and rice loaf held together with cheese) until I went to the Sri Chinmoy restaurants which have exactly that.
posted by blnkfrnk at 6:31 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think a lot of what you will find are items that were once classicly found in cafeterias. There used to be, in the south in which I lived and in the NYC in which I lived years ago, cafeterias where you would take a tray and walk the line. Foods like jello, meatloaf, macaroni and cheese and many others mentioned above were found there. The foods were mostly exactly what was being made at home.
Nowadays, (you meddling kids get offa my lawn) I think you will find the exception to the rule at many restaurants, but the real change is not so much what is served at restaurants, but what is served at home. As the country changed post WW II, as more women were allowed to enter the work force, as time sped up, items like Swanson's frozen TV dinners, Stouffer's frozen meals and all sorts of meal replacements that saved time, clean up, and grocery shopping effort, the American meals started changing, No longer were families putting a whole chicken in the pot and making fresh mashed potatoes, making fresh vegetables. Processed foods had started ruling the day.
A lot of the meals that were made by my great-grandmother, my grandmother and even my mother (I am in my 50s for reference) are simply not made by many any more. What suburban family has the time to take the kids to practice, pick them up at school, do their homework for them, grocery shop, cook a two hour meal and then clean up afterwards while coaxing the kids to take a bath, read a book and go to sleep? I admit, in my family, the big mneal of the week was Sunday dinner. We had time to cook, eat as a famiy and clean. Now, for $0.99 you can cookl a pound of pasta, for ~$2.00 put the red sauce on it, buy some premade meatballs from the deli counter and make a quick salad from a head of lettuce and the pre-cut veggies in the refrigerated section of the vegetable aisle. Whole thing takes a half an hour.
I think the items you find that are still made in the home yet rarely seen in a restaurant are ethnic items from the old country. Whether that be Jewish, Italian, Mexican, Irish, Chinese, the Islands or anywhere, the ones made with love, not following a set recipe, those are the ones that are hard to find in a restaurant.
posted by AugustWest at 6:34 PM on January 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
Nowadays, (you meddling kids get offa my lawn) I think you will find the exception to the rule at many restaurants, but the real change is not so much what is served at restaurants, but what is served at home. As the country changed post WW II, as more women were allowed to enter the work force, as time sped up, items like Swanson's frozen TV dinners, Stouffer's frozen meals and all sorts of meal replacements that saved time, clean up, and grocery shopping effort, the American meals started changing, No longer were families putting a whole chicken in the pot and making fresh mashed potatoes, making fresh vegetables. Processed foods had started ruling the day.
A lot of the meals that were made by my great-grandmother, my grandmother and even my mother (I am in my 50s for reference) are simply not made by many any more. What suburban family has the time to take the kids to practice, pick them up at school, do their homework for them, grocery shop, cook a two hour meal and then clean up afterwards while coaxing the kids to take a bath, read a book and go to sleep? I admit, in my family, the big mneal of the week was Sunday dinner. We had time to cook, eat as a famiy and clean. Now, for $0.99 you can cookl a pound of pasta, for ~$2.00 put the red sauce on it, buy some premade meatballs from the deli counter and make a quick salad from a head of lettuce and the pre-cut veggies in the refrigerated section of the vegetable aisle. Whole thing takes a half an hour.
I think the items you find that are still made in the home yet rarely seen in a restaurant are ethnic items from the old country. Whether that be Jewish, Italian, Mexican, Irish, Chinese, the Islands or anywhere, the ones made with love, not following a set recipe, those are the ones that are hard to find in a restaurant.
posted by AugustWest at 6:34 PM on January 14, 2018 [5 favorites]
Many of these are diner staples in my experience, from breakfast cereal to meat loaf to casseroles to Jello. And I see Welsh rarebit and soda bread at pubs.
I do think some of the nameless “weeknight staples” real people actually cook at home might be the right track— like when I boil some whole wheat pasta and add broccoli to the water at the end then grate cheddar or whatever cheese I have on hand but do not make it a proper cheese sauce or bake it, that wouldn’t be on any menu, though mac n cheese would be. Or I see people here all the time say they like add a jar of salsa and chicken parts to a slow cooker. Stuff like that.
posted by kapers at 6:38 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I do think some of the nameless “weeknight staples” real people actually cook at home might be the right track— like when I boil some whole wheat pasta and add broccoli to the water at the end then grate cheddar or whatever cheese I have on hand but do not make it a proper cheese sauce or bake it, that wouldn’t be on any menu, though mac n cheese would be. Or I see people here all the time say they like add a jar of salsa and chicken parts to a slow cooker. Stuff like that.
posted by kapers at 6:38 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
This isn't a huge category like casseroles but, Filipino style Rice and Eggs should be a diner breakfast classic.
Interesting! I'm not familiar with this Filipino dish, but I also came here to post "rice and eggs". My version consists of an egg over hard (or sometimes scrambled) on top of buttered, freshly cooked long-grain rice. I make this often and eat it for any meal, but I never see it at a restaurant without several things added.
posted by aws17576 at 7:22 PM on January 14, 2018
Interesting! I'm not familiar with this Filipino dish, but I also came here to post "rice and eggs". My version consists of an egg over hard (or sometimes scrambled) on top of buttered, freshly cooked long-grain rice. I make this often and eat it for any meal, but I never see it at a restaurant without several things added.
posted by aws17576 at 7:22 PM on January 14, 2018
I’ve had almost everything mentioned in this thread in a restaurant. Rarebit, meatloaf (a whole bunch of times), clafoutis, even Filipino breakfast (granted it was a Filipino restaurant). I’ve never seen casserole, though, so it’s fascinating to hear about restaurants that sell it.
My mom is from Boston, and I’d be really interested to know if there’s a restaurant that makes Indian pudding. There’s got to be a place in Massachusetts where you can get baked beans and brown bread, right? Or something big like a clambake.
Growing up, we had a lot of Adelle Davis type meals, and I’ll bet you never see those in restaurants. Brewers yeast in everything! But that’s also sort of a dated thing now.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 7:39 PM on January 14, 2018
My mom is from Boston, and I’d be really interested to know if there’s a restaurant that makes Indian pudding. There’s got to be a place in Massachusetts where you can get baked beans and brown bread, right? Or something big like a clambake.
Growing up, we had a lot of Adelle Davis type meals, and I’ll bet you never see those in restaurants. Brewers yeast in everything! But that’s also sort of a dated thing now.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 7:39 PM on January 14, 2018
+1 that many regional non-Euroamerican foods will not show up on many U.S. menus, but indeed some do (or are common in restaurants in those regions themselves).
What I have YET to see on any menu is the kind of "use up the leftovers" cooking that comprises many daily make-it-work late nights or early mornings, like (first example I thought of) Fodnichi poli-- I think it would be seen as too haphazard and informal to offer.
posted by athirstforsalt at 7:43 PM on January 14, 2018
What I have YET to see on any menu is the kind of "use up the leftovers" cooking that comprises many daily make-it-work late nights or early mornings, like (first example I thought of) Fodnichi poli-- I think it would be seen as too haphazard and informal to offer.
posted by athirstforsalt at 7:43 PM on January 14, 2018
A liverwurst sandwich? (Outside of New York City)
posted by ITravelMontana at 7:47 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by ITravelMontana at 7:47 PM on January 14, 2018
My grandmother used to make prune whip for dessert. I never met her (due to weird family dynamics), and so I never ate it myself, but I'd be astounded if any restaurant made that (as far as I can tell, it's kind of a soft meringue with prune pulp in it). Although I'd also be surprised if anyone still made prune whip at home. It was pretty common 100 years ago.
Same for stewed tomatoes.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 8:00 PM on January 14, 2018
Same for stewed tomatoes.
posted by shapes that haunt the dusk at 8:00 PM on January 14, 2018
A long time ago I would have answered "beans on toast" but that was before I discovered a whole heap of Asian (surprisingly) restaurants in Melbourne that sold beans on toast as a menu item. Literally just baked beans from a can on toast. Madness!
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:21 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by turbid dahlia at 8:21 PM on January 14, 2018
Hors d'oeuvres and fingerfood; pretty much all of it, with the exception of some common appetizers. Can't remember the last time I saw pigs in a blanket on a menu.
I've seen tater tot casserole on a menu before, but it was at a Seattle restaurant, now sadly closed, called Zadya Buddy which was opened by midwesterners, named for their Grandfather, and which was all about the midwest food experience: midwestern beers, tater tots on anything (even the pizza, no questions asked), cheese curds, Grain Belt beer, etc.
posted by Sunburnt at 8:43 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
I've seen tater tot casserole on a menu before, but it was at a Seattle restaurant, now sadly closed, called Zadya Buddy which was opened by midwesterners, named for their Grandfather, and which was all about the midwest food experience: midwestern beers, tater tots on anything (even the pizza, no questions asked), cheese curds, Grain Belt beer, etc.
posted by Sunburnt at 8:43 PM on January 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
On the topic of tater tots, there's a Western Washington (and elsewhere?) chain called Taco Time which sells them as "mexi-fries." Ah, the look on the face of any actual visiting Mexican national who learns of this is priceless. The place is an even more glib take on Tex-mex food than, say, taco bell, but heck, they're crisp, and fried potatoes are a perfectly good side in any fast food resto.
posted by Sunburnt at 8:47 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Sunburnt at 8:47 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
PS-- shapes that haunt the dusk-- I've had the Indian pudding at Durgin Park and it's alright.
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:49 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:49 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
A roast turkey, pig roast, rib roast - things that take a lot of time to cook. Breakfast cereal (usually). Goldfish crackers. Ants on a log (raisins, peanut butter and celery). Fluffernutter sandwiches.
posted by Toddles at 9:55 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by Toddles at 9:55 PM on January 14, 2018
I’ve never seen a pimiento cheese on white bread sandwich in a restaurant, but growing up in the South (US) we had them on the regular at home and as finger foods at potlucks.
(Jeez y’all are making me hungry. I could definitely go for some shepherd’s pie or even chipped beef on toast right now.)
posted by darkstar at 10:45 PM on January 14, 2018
(Jeez y’all are making me hungry. I could definitely go for some shepherd’s pie or even chipped beef on toast right now.)
posted by darkstar at 10:45 PM on January 14, 2018
Kid food like Tomato sandwiches, Mac and cheese with sliced hot dogs, hamburger helper, sugar water, kool aid, bananas or apples dipped in peanut butter. Those gross cheese balls people always bring to potlucks. Picadillo. Stew.
posted by galvanized unicorn at 10:58 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by galvanized unicorn at 10:58 PM on January 14, 2018
Balogna.
posted by panama joe at 10:58 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by panama joe at 10:58 PM on January 14, 2018 [2 favorites]
I've spent a lot of money on fancy deviled eggs and count me in on the spotters of/eaters of dosa, chipped beef on toast, stewed tomatoes (as a side), rarebit, shepherd's pie, kugel, Waldorf salad, liver wurst, grilled cheese, and oatmeal...though not at the same place, or I would eat there every single day. I've only ever had eggs in tomato sauce in Napoli for dinner but given the popularity of shakshuka, can uova in purgatorio be far behind? I'd agree that party-style dips are not common if ever seen on menus but now I want a plate of ants on a log! Similar: Apple slices with peanut butter, baked apples with raisins, spoon bread pudding, cheese balls, port wine cheese spread. Are things like chuck roast or brisket still around? Probably in diners?
posted by jetlagaddict at 10:59 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by jetlagaddict at 10:59 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
In honor of this thread, I just fixed a snack of cheese-wrapped baby dill pickles, Triscuits dabbed with cream cheese, sardines from the can with a bit of mustard, and two mandarins peeled and eaten over the kitchen sink.
posted by darkstar at 12:55 AM on January 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 12:55 AM on January 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
Roasts are a staple of the British Sunday pub lunch (usually choice of beef, pork or chicken).
There is a cereal restaurant in east London and also I just watched Silver Lining Playbook recently and Bradley Cooper’s character orders Raisn Bran (to make sure Jennifer Lawrence’s character knows that “they are not on a date”) at their local diner which makes me believe it is pretty commonly available. Not to mention countless hotel/motel breakfast buffets.
What a deceptively hard question! I can only think of the opposite - when you go to a Korean restaurant it is comprised of almost everything people eat at home.
posted by like_neon at 1:16 AM on January 15, 2018
There is a cereal restaurant in east London and also I just watched Silver Lining Playbook recently and Bradley Cooper’s character orders Raisn Bran (to make sure Jennifer Lawrence’s character knows that “they are not on a date”) at their local diner which makes me believe it is pretty commonly available. Not to mention countless hotel/motel breakfast buffets.
What a deceptively hard question! I can only think of the opposite - when you go to a Korean restaurant it is comprised of almost everything people eat at home.
posted by like_neon at 1:16 AM on January 15, 2018
My father used to make herring in oatmeal with boiled potatoes - it's one of my favourite meals but I've never seen it in a restaurant here (Scotland).
posted by Lluvia at 2:55 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Lluvia at 2:55 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
Seven layer bean dip.
posted by emd3737 at 2:59 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by emd3737 at 2:59 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
You can get turkey and dressing this time of year, you can get cranberry sauce... but you can't get the MIL's candied sweet potatoes.
posted by TrishaU at 3:15 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by TrishaU at 3:15 AM on January 15, 2018
SLC Mom: "Spaghetti with chili."
This is a mainstay of Steak & Shake (the Midwestern chain) with their "3-Way" and "5-Way."
posted by crazy with stars at 8:57 PM on January 14
Which is just their version of Cincinnati chili, originated by Macedonian restauranteurs in the 20's, probably best known outside Cincy via the chain of Skyline Chili. (Although the "chili" in Cincy chili is quite different from what Americans usually consider chili, whereas Steak'n'Shake's is "standard" chili.)
posted by soundguy99 at 5:20 AM on January 15, 2018 [7 favorites]
While I won't say I've never ever seen it on a menu, I rarely see goose in any form or preparation anywhere. Not even much in France where you'd think they had some leftover geese from all that foie gras making.
posted by mumimor at 5:57 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mumimor at 5:57 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
Spoon bread used to be served at the hospital cafeteria in my hometown. My mom doesn't work there anymore, so I don't know if they still do.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 6:20 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by Ms Vegetable at 6:20 AM on January 15, 2018
I've seen welsh rarebit at a pub in STL.
I have not seen broccoli casserole with cheez-its, chow chow (squash relish), tuna toasts my mom made us as a kid (but I don't remember what was in them), or a non-grilled cheese sandwich (white bread, mayo, cheese slices) on menus.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 6:27 AM on January 15, 2018
I have not seen broccoli casserole with cheez-its, chow chow (squash relish), tuna toasts my mom made us as a kid (but I don't remember what was in them), or a non-grilled cheese sandwich (white bread, mayo, cheese slices) on menus.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 6:27 AM on January 15, 2018
Snicker salad
Tater tot hotdish (BARFFFFF) (although some hipster places serve it (~un~)ironically)
Toad in the hole (yum!)
Its been mentioned before, but the super midwesty version of chow mein (you know, white rice with a groundbeef, celery, mushroom, cream of something mixture on top, then liberally sprinkled with chow mein noodles...my grandma always called it 'Chinese Hot Dish'
posted by museum of fire ants at 6:39 AM on January 15, 2018
Tater tot hotdish (BARFFFFF) (although some hipster places serve it (~un~)ironically)
Toad in the hole (yum!)
Its been mentioned before, but the super midwesty version of chow mein (you know, white rice with a groundbeef, celery, mushroom, cream of something mixture on top, then liberally sprinkled with chow mein noodles...my grandma always called it 'Chinese Hot Dish'
posted by museum of fire ants at 6:39 AM on January 15, 2018
I have had the chipped beef on toast at a restaurant (Hon’s Cafe) and was not super impressed, but it indeed exists in restaurants
posted by buttonedup at 6:45 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by buttonedup at 6:45 AM on January 15, 2018
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
posted by NikitaNikita at 7:25 AM on January 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by NikitaNikita at 7:25 AM on January 15, 2018 [5 favorites]
Tuna cassarole. Maybe some high end places make a version but my Mom just put a can of tuna, a can of Cream of Mushroon soup, a little milk, semi cooked pasta in a cassarole and baked it up. Always on Fridays. It's so disgusting just typing this I feel like I need to take zofran.
posted by cairnoflore at 7:53 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by cairnoflore at 7:53 AM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
American chop suey is called chili Mac outside of new england.
posted by brujita at 8:15 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by brujita at 8:15 AM on January 15, 2018
Scotch eggs (though apparently American "British" pubs serve them !hot!).
Traditional dried salmon.
Beet Holubtsi though I imagine some ethnic Ukrainian restaurants sell it.
posted by Mitheral at 8:48 AM on January 15, 2018
Traditional dried salmon.
Beet Holubtsi though I imagine some ethnic Ukrainian restaurants sell it.
posted by Mitheral at 8:48 AM on January 15, 2018
I've seen chilaquiles on brunch buffets but very seldom on a menu.
posted by mikeh at 9:11 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by mikeh at 9:11 AM on January 15, 2018
I also haven't seen frozen spinach, baked with egg and cheese.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:39 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by Ms Vegetable at 9:39 AM on January 15, 2018
Chilaquiles aren't a rarity at all on menus where I live. I was on the California Zephyr Amtrak train day before yesterday and chilaquiles were one of their featured lunch offerings. They parenthetically called it "Mexican lasagna." (American regionalism is fun!)
My all-time least favorite staple meal growing up was creamed chipped beef on toast, served with canned La Sueur peas. My midwestern parents loved it. Their kids, not so much. Blech.
Another staple, and a must-have at every Texas church potluck (where there would be five or six different varieties) was Frito salad, which I've never seen on a menu. My mom still makes it. It still shows up at Texas potlucks. It now shows up in Indiana too, because our extended family has latched on to the recipe, and it's a well-loved novelty item among their grandkids and dinner guests. The version I grew up with had Fritos, Ranch beans, chopped tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese, green onions, and iceberg lettuce, all tossed in Catalina dressing. Other versions use French dressing, or feature abominations like canned corn (!), or have ground beef in them.
posted by mudpuppie at 9:42 AM on January 15, 2018
My all-time least favorite staple meal growing up was creamed chipped beef on toast, served with canned La Sueur peas. My midwestern parents loved it. Their kids, not so much. Blech.
Another staple, and a must-have at every Texas church potluck (where there would be five or six different varieties) was Frito salad, which I've never seen on a menu. My mom still makes it. It still shows up at Texas potlucks. It now shows up in Indiana too, because our extended family has latched on to the recipe, and it's a well-loved novelty item among their grandkids and dinner guests. The version I grew up with had Fritos, Ranch beans, chopped tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese, green onions, and iceberg lettuce, all tossed in Catalina dressing. Other versions use French dressing, or feature abominations like canned corn (!), or have ground beef in them.
posted by mudpuppie at 9:42 AM on January 15, 2018
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Often available via kids' menus at restaurants, e.g. Which Wich.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:44 AM on January 15, 2018
Often available via kids' menus at restaurants, e.g. Which Wich.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:44 AM on January 15, 2018
Ok now I am invested! You see goose on menus in Germany, especially in November for Martinstag.
Instant noodles are a stumper but something I find extremely weird in (at least Western) India is the "instant noodle" section of restaurant menus where they will fix instant noodles to your liking.
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:46 AM on January 15, 2018
Instant noodles are a stumper but something I find extremely weird in (at least Western) India is the "instant noodle" section of restaurant menus where they will fix instant noodles to your liking.
posted by athirstforsalt at 9:46 AM on January 15, 2018
Seven-layer salad.
More generally — and linking many of the better answers in this thread — are things that strongly favor being served family-style, since relatively few restaurants serve family-style, and even those that do need to be able to customize dishes for different size groups.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:49 AM on January 15, 2018 [2 favorites]
More generally — and linking many of the better answers in this thread — are things that strongly favor being served family-style, since relatively few restaurants serve family-style, and even those that do need to be able to customize dishes for different size groups.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:49 AM on January 15, 2018 [2 favorites]
>Ooh ooh, I've got one! Egg in the Hole! I have NEVER seen that at a restaurant.
Conversely, I had never heard of this dish my friend ordered it at Perkins yesterday...
posted by yuwtze at 10:25 AM on January 15, 2018
Conversely, I had never heard of this dish my friend ordered it at Perkins yesterday...
posted by yuwtze at 10:25 AM on January 15, 2018
In my family, Egg in the Hole is called either One-Eyed Sailors, or One-Eyed Egyptians. Parents from Kansas, so that's the source. I'd never think they appeared on a menu, until now.
posted by Rash at 11:11 AM on January 15, 2018
posted by Rash at 11:11 AM on January 15, 2018
Ooh ooh, I've got one! Egg in the Hole! I have NEVER seen that at a restaurant.
One of my kids had this at a restaurant yesterday morning, as well.
Some of the answers in this thread are making me think that a lot of what people think appears/does not appear on restaurant menus has to do with what kinds of restaurants they go to, and whether they have kids. Of course, whether you have kids strongly affects the kind of restaurants you go to, so those are certainly not independent variables.
posted by Orlop at 11:41 AM on January 15, 2018 [2 favorites]
One of my kids had this at a restaurant yesterday morning, as well.
Some of the answers in this thread are making me think that a lot of what people think appears/does not appear on restaurant menus has to do with what kinds of restaurants they go to, and whether they have kids. Of course, whether you have kids strongly affects the kind of restaurants you go to, so those are certainly not independent variables.
posted by Orlop at 11:41 AM on January 15, 2018 [2 favorites]
UK focus...
For a long time, British food wasn't really served in restaurants (although greasy spoons/cafes did breakfasts). Then the Ivy came along in the 90s pioneering over-priced childhood favourites ("nursery food" for the upper classes). These are now pretty widespread, and modern British is actually proper food. Npt sure why it changed. Money and a lack of self-hatred in the 90s.
All that being said...
Never seen crème caramel on a menu
Or custard with banana (although custard is now frequently present)
Semolina is rare
posted by eyeofthetiger at 11:57 AM on January 15, 2018
For a long time, British food wasn't really served in restaurants (although greasy spoons/cafes did breakfasts). Then the Ivy came along in the 90s pioneering over-priced childhood favourites ("nursery food" for the upper classes). These are now pretty widespread, and modern British is actually proper food. Npt sure why it changed. Money and a lack of self-hatred in the 90s.
All that being said...
Never seen crème caramel on a menu
Or custard with banana (although custard is now frequently present)
Semolina is rare
posted by eyeofthetiger at 11:57 AM on January 15, 2018
This thread reminds me of those food memes about home-cooked food becoming trendy at so-called hipster restaurants.
I'd say I've seen almost all of the items mentioned upthread on menus at gastropubs in LA and San Diego, gussied up with fancy plating, and complete with catchy monikers. That said, my ex-boyfriend's mother used to make beer cheese at home in Wisconsin, and I've never seen that (thank goodness) on a menu.
posted by Everydayville at 12:03 PM on January 15, 2018
I'd say I've seen almost all of the items mentioned upthread on menus at gastropubs in LA and San Diego, gussied up with fancy plating, and complete with catchy monikers. That said, my ex-boyfriend's mother used to make beer cheese at home in Wisconsin, and I've never seen that (thank goodness) on a menu.
posted by Everydayville at 12:03 PM on January 15, 2018
Never seen crème caramel on a menu
Semolina is rare
Here in the United States, crème caramel is flan. Popular dessert, especially in Mexican restaurants. Corn semolina is grits, also popular here.
posted by Everydayville at 12:05 PM on January 15, 2018 [3 favorites]
Semolina is rare
Here in the United States, crème caramel is flan. Popular dessert, especially in Mexican restaurants. Corn semolina is grits, also popular here.
posted by Everydayville at 12:05 PM on January 15, 2018 [3 favorites]
A dish I have never, ever seen offered is the Vietnamese dish of dried, salted radish with pork cooked in fish sauce and caramel. Also, some variations of kho though I have seen pork belly kho in restaurants and bbq delis. Oh man, I just remembered a salad using raw chicken blood, which also does not appear on restaurant menus. This is for the US and I have not gone to enough Viet restaurants in Australia to say if this holds true.
posted by jadepearl at 12:18 PM on January 15, 2018
posted by jadepearl at 12:18 PM on January 15, 2018
Raw carrot sticks.
Steamed vegetables without lots of butter and salt.
Fried cabbage.
Boiled potatoes that are not tiny.
Mixed nuts.
Cornstarch pudding.
posted by SandiBeech at 12:49 PM on January 15, 2018
Steamed vegetables without lots of butter and salt.
Fried cabbage.
Boiled potatoes that are not tiny.
Mixed nuts.
Cornstarch pudding.
posted by SandiBeech at 12:49 PM on January 15, 2018
Tater Tots are called potato gems in Australia and they're pretty common in stalls that sell roast meat sandwiches and the like.
posted by divabat at 12:59 PM on January 15, 2018
posted by divabat at 12:59 PM on January 15, 2018
My great-grandparents (who came to America from present-day Ukraine after World War II) supposedly loved kholodets/studenec (aspic), but I doubt you'll find it any restaurant in America. I didn't even see it at restaurants in Ukraine. Low-quality pork turned into jelly doesn't sound especially appealing to me anyway.
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:45 PM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:45 PM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
As for watergate salad, I actually saw it at a Hoss's (labeled "pistachio delight", I believe) in Erie, PA.
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:49 PM on January 15, 2018
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:49 PM on January 15, 2018
OK, it looks like there's one restaurant in Albany, NY, that offers Eastern European aspic, if you REALLY want to try it...
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:56 PM on January 15, 2018
posted by Seeking Direction at 2:56 PM on January 15, 2018
And I thought lutefisk wouldn't be found at any restaurant, but I'm wrong.
posted by Seeking Direction at 3:01 PM on January 15, 2018
posted by Seeking Direction at 3:01 PM on January 15, 2018
I've had raw carrot sticks on a relish tray in a restaurant that was trying to be swanky and retro in a Sinatra kind of way.
posted by HotToddy at 4:43 PM on January 15, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 4:43 PM on January 15, 2018 [4 favorites]
My husband prefers parboiled rice (like, uncle ben's rice) to any other style of rice, and in my experience I don't think I've ever seen that at a restaurant.
things I cook at home I've never seen in a restuarant:
rice balls (they're like fried rice patties filled with cheddar cheese with a cheese/veggie bechamel sauce on top)
steamed broccoli with cheese sauce
a stir fry of asparagus/cashews/mandarin oranges/tofu
spinach noodles (actually I've never seen ANY coloured pasta in a restaurant I don't think.)
slow cooked ribs (the kind that fall off the bone in a lot of sauce)
split pea soup? Though I never get soup at restaurants, so I might just not be paying attention.
chili con queso?
my mom makes a pie that is filled with rotini and onions and some other veggies, I've never seen a pasta filled pie out of my childhood home.
stuffed zucchini? spaghetti squash?
posted by euphoria066 at 4:45 PM on January 15, 2018
things I cook at home I've never seen in a restuarant:
rice balls (they're like fried rice patties filled with cheddar cheese with a cheese/veggie bechamel sauce on top)
steamed broccoli with cheese sauce
a stir fry of asparagus/cashews/mandarin oranges/tofu
spinach noodles (actually I've never seen ANY coloured pasta in a restaurant I don't think.)
slow cooked ribs (the kind that fall off the bone in a lot of sauce)
split pea soup? Though I never get soup at restaurants, so I might just not be paying attention.
chili con queso?
my mom makes a pie that is filled with rotini and onions and some other veggies, I've never seen a pasta filled pie out of my childhood home.
stuffed zucchini? spaghetti squash?
posted by euphoria066 at 4:45 PM on January 15, 2018
Another (relocated) Mainer here.
Chili Mac is not the same as American Chop Suey. Similar, but not the same.
Also I have never seen baked beans served as an entree in an actual restaurant.
Husband is from Virginia and has never seen ham biscuits or “frogmore stew” served in a restaurant.
We both agreed on celery with peanut butter (raisins could be added so it becomes “ants on a log”)
posted by donut_princess at 6:53 PM on January 15, 2018
Chili Mac is not the same as American Chop Suey. Similar, but not the same.
Also I have never seen baked beans served as an entree in an actual restaurant.
Husband is from Virginia and has never seen ham biscuits or “frogmore stew” served in a restaurant.
We both agreed on celery with peanut butter (raisins could be added so it becomes “ants on a log”)
posted by donut_princess at 6:53 PM on January 15, 2018
Response by poster: Just to clarify: I am not asking about foods that are never found at restaurants— I’m asking about foods that are disproportionately not available at restaurants relative to how frequently they’re prepared at home.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 8:16 PM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by steady-state strawberry at 8:16 PM on January 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've seen hay and straw (spinach and egg noodles) dishes on menus.
posted by brujita at 2:17 AM on January 16, 2018
posted by brujita at 2:17 AM on January 16, 2018
chocolate chip cookies.
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:01 AM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:01 AM on January 16, 2018 [2 favorites]
Along with tuna toast and tuna casserole, we frequently ate tuna & noodles, which was classically prepared cold tuna (mayo, relish) on top of cooked, warm egg noodles. Never seen that at a restaurant.
posted by bologna on wry at 9:01 AM on January 16, 2018
posted by bologna on wry at 9:01 AM on January 16, 2018
Potato chips and dip.
posted by emd3737 at 3:11 AM on January 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by emd3737 at 3:11 AM on January 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
-Chicken à la King
-Church potatoes (the kind with cornflakes on top)
-grape jelly cocktail meatballs
-buckeyes (the pb/chocolate things)
posted by a fiendish thingy at 10:58 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
-Church potatoes (the kind with cornflakes on top)
-grape jelly cocktail meatballs
-buckeyes (the pb/chocolate things)
posted by a fiendish thingy at 10:58 AM on January 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
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