How would I enter my Rib eye steak? Has to be Harris beef or something?

This is exactly the kind of thing we need.

Another thing we could do is one of those Giant Fig Pie bake offs. You know, where it's a 20 foot diameter pie and we bake it in the middle of Fulton Mall. Then the masses of Fresnans come eat it all gone the same day.

Diablo

how about some bright FF'er setting up & hosting a Fresno Famous cookoff?

it would be looking for Fresno foods, the only rules are;
1) has to have been invented here
2) has to be made from Valley products
3) unique mix
4) has to be trademarked prior to entry
5) so that it can then be entered into

FF's; "Fresno Famous Cookbook: 2008 Edition"

something like:

Uncle Chuy's Polblano/Fig/Pomogrante salsa

or

Aunt Edna's Fig-licious Pie

and forget about inviting me to cook, I never cook & not a good judge either, if its better than I could have made, its got my vote

Nope, Fresno doesn't have a food item like the "Chicago Style Pizza" or "Phily Cheese Stake." Why? I dunno. Maybe because Fresno has so much more to offer than just one special food item, y'know?

that mexicans eat when they go home. Like Lengua tripas and menudo.

I'll be that top ten restaurant doesn't offer those items.

I feel what you're saying though, and props to them for being in the top ten. More props if they offer those dishes I mentioned as well.

Diablo

>>Leave California again, and you'll not find any good mexican places to eat.

I think you're reaching a bit much here. There's a mexican restaurant in Chicago that is usually in the top 10 restaurants in the country (Toplobampo). Good Mexican food is actually available throughout much of the United States. It's not like 30 years ago when we had only Taco Bell.

variety...that's what we have.

try getting some decent chinese or thai food in the midwest.
as a kid in illinois, my family once drove 2 hours into iowa to THE chinese restaurant...only to find they were serving Chung King -from cans.
our first stop when we came to california?...Lums Chinese Restaurant on divisidero.

what fresno has is EVERYTHING.

we do coffee like no other place in the valley. In specific, the espresso.

Can't really say there is anything better than the best freshest produce you can get, and only we can get it.

Tritip as well, any non Californian is not hip to that cut of meat.

Leave California again, and you'll not find any good mexican places to eat. We take our taco trucks for granted, not to mention places like Chris's.(or what used to be Chris's anyhow)

I think perhaps we hold more of a general availability of superior product. Just more people need to chase trying to excel in one aspect.

Hey, how bout Chicken Pie Shop!? Mmmmmm, chicken livers.....

Diablo

Anti is right in the sense that it is very hard to come by a food that you can't get anywhere else. But there are ways that the food is prepared that can distinguish its origins. Like North Carolina BBQ is known for being a little more "vinergery" than say Kansas City BBQ which is known for it's sauces.

So who do you guy's think makes the best tri-tip in Fresno? Personally I think Doghouse Grill makes a good tri-tip sandwich.

Abe Lopez

tommy's right that tri tip comes from santa maria, but it's not just a california thing anymore. my friend lived out here for a few years, grew to love tri tip, and then moved back to pennsylvania. he's recently seen it popping up out there.

as for specifically fresno food...hmm...that's a tough one. maybe fig something or other. i know we aren't the only ones with figs, i'm just trying to think about what's big in our area. other than raisins.

Tri-tip is exclusive to California. I don't know of another state that sells it (although, you can get a butcher to cut it for you, but it won't come seasoned).

food has been so homogenized across the states that there is very little difference in a so-called global economy. When you can walk in to a grocery store and buy the same types of fresh fruit all year around, the prices and quality may vary, do to shipping & costs, but what items you can only find at one store and not at the others will set them apart in exclusiveness.
For example I like Orange Blossom Honey and very few stores have that, most only give you the bland Clover Honey, and if you can find any other types then you've got good store.

Really is there something exclusive to Fresno only? How about the Valley? or just California.

Technically, you can get raisins just about anywhere. But most are made here in Fresno county.

Tri-tip is interesting, and it is consumed (almost exclusively) in Central California. But, it's from Santa Maria, not Fresno.

Maybe it could shish kebabs?

I still vote for the raisin. It's easy, non-offensive, and we can bring back the Raisin Bowl (wtih the California Raisins)!

Thank You!! I don't know why I didn't think of that. Several years ago my family had a reunion in Texas. We took some from a small store in Caruthers (Mr. G's) all the way to El Paso, TX. My uncles had never head it, needless to say after that day, they were fans!

Good job, Andy!!

Rob DeFrees

Abe, am right gobsmacked that you would not think there is a difference. Sort of like telling the chap in France that all grapes are the same.

MOI has been told that the climate here makes for the most excellent raisins, the sort that a breakfast food company would be agog over.

The are sweet, and very plumb.

You could make raisin and oatmeal cookies to die for. Rice Pudding with raisins.

They are 'fat free'!!!!!

If you are looking for a food that is unique to Fresno, perhaps you are thinking of the
sandwiches that crackle(from the power lines),
and weigh a ton due to all of the dust(that is in the air).

Good point on the tri-tip. I have a few friends from the east coast and they have never heard of it. And another friend of mine who's orginally from New York never had it till he came out here.

You don't seem to find tri-tip anywhere except in the Valley. Maybe Fresno can claim that. We also have cracker bread like from Lavosh's or the valley wraps made from the same.

While I agree that we should embrace our ag "roots", it's not necessarily what I was after.

A raisin is pretty much the same anywhere you go. Sure there are different varieties. But what about a raisin makes it uniquely Fresno? Could you tell the difference in a raisin if it was from Bakersfield? Does Fresno prepare theirs differently and thats how you know? Is there a Fresno style raisin?

Abe Lopez

I agree with Rob, although we have a lot of local foods.

But we don't have a Raisin parade or Bowl anymore. Just some architecture from mediterrania, where ever that is... And soon we will have a Panera.

Rob DeFrees

Fresno is the Raisin Capitol of the world. Everyone loves raisins. Can you remember feeling robbed when you ate your breakfast and did not get a good amount of raisins with every spoon full?

RAISINS............wonder why there is not more made of that fact. MOI is told that there was once a parade to honour the fact we were BIG on raisins.

Oi!! It is a good snack.......very healthy, and is one of the things that always brings a mile to your cake-hole as you eat.