These 10 Iconic Foods In Michigan Will Have Your Mouth Watering
By Serena Maria Daniels|Updated on May 03, 2022(Originally published April 27, 2022)
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Serena Maria Daniels
Author
Serena Maria Daniels is an award-winning freelance journalist in Detroit, by way of Chicago, by way of the West Coast. She writes about Michigan for OIYS. Serena enjoys learning about language and culture and taking road trips with her beagle Ralph.
Food in Michigan can’t be beat, there’s no denying it. It probably has a lot to do with all the cold, winter months that we are simply drawn to hearty, savory dishes. It’s as if we need that extra food in Michigan to keep a tad warm when the weather gets bad. And if you’ve ever sat down and thought about, “What food is Michigan known for,” you likely started drooling. Just take a look at some of the most mouthwatering food in Michigan below. Many of them are extra meaty, cheesy, or doughy. They’re the kinds of foods you might like to scarf down when you’re busy on the job in an automotive factory, or maybe your ancestors dug in when they worked in the mines in the UP. Many other dishes reflect the heritage of some of Michigan’s forefathers. Whatever the case may be, we have a feeling you have a deep appreciation for many of these dishes.
Popularized just after the turn of the 20th century in Detroit, Flint, Jackson, and elsewhere, the Coney has always served as a quick handheld meal, convenient for hard-working blue collar folks.
Easily one of the tastiest things invented in Michigan, Detroit pharmacist James Vernor originally created this ginger ale in 1862, but was called off to serve in the Civil War. So he took the concoction and stored it in an oak cask until he finished the fight four years later. What he discovered inside that cask was nothing short of magic and Michiganders have been loving Vernors ever since. Also known as the cure for literally everything.
The wives of hungry UP mine workers made these pocket pastry meals in the 19th century because they were the ultimate convenience foods. When deep in the mines, the men folk could perch a pasty on their shovel, take a flame to the bottom of that shovel, and heat their lunch right up.
Because Michigan apples are among our leading crops, it should come as no surprise that utilizing the fruit is deeply ingrained in our culture. Case in point, that tasty hot cider from one of the many cider mills in Michigan. Or a freshly-baked apple pie. Ooh, and a cider donut. Noms.
Those caramelized, cheesy corners. The crispiness of the crust. The gooey mozzarella cheese on top. This is the quintessential Michigan pizza and a must mention when talking about famous food in Michigan.
At one time, Detroit was the snack chip capital. It had a lot to do with the region's working class ethos. Hard workers have always needed convenient snack foods to keep them going for long hours. Though other snack food companies have come and gone over the decades, Better Made has stood the test of time.
When talking about what food is Michigan known for, it'd be remiss of us not to mention fish. We're surrounded by the Great Lakes, so that means we're really into the yummy fish that comes out of them.
And finally, because no food in Michigan would be complete without the perfect pop, we bring you the iconic beverage, Faygo. Just for fun take a peek at this vintage Faygo commercial from the 1970s.
Not fair – we just ate. But we are literally hungry all over again just looking at all this! Excuse us while we wipe the drool from our mouths! Anyway, enough about us! What do you think about food in Michigan? What is your favorite Michigan food? And where do you get it? To you, what food is Michigan known for?
The fantastic food in Michigan isn’t the only thing that sets the state apart. The Mitten State is truly one-of-a-kind, which means there are lots of things to love about Michigan.
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