Heard on the Hill

Taste of America Bracket Coming

The winner will be presented on June 23 at the Congressional Baseball Game

By Alex Gangitano
Posted April 27, 2016 at 2:43pm

   

At the Annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity between Republican and Democratic members, CQ Roll Call holds it's annual Taste of America Reception in the Diamond Club of Nationals Stadium in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 11, 2015. (James R. Brantley)
At the Annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity between Republican and Democratic members, CQ Roll Call holds its annual Taste of America Reception in the Diamond Club of Nationals Stadium. (James R. Brantley)

The survey results are in and the best of the best American cuisine has been decided for Roll Call’s annual Taste of America bracket .  

Some states had a few switches this year. New Mexico’s new dish is Chilies. Why? Because New Mexico is the only state with an official question: “Red or Green?” referring to the choice of red or green chilies. Another state with a new dish is South Dakota, whose survey results lead us to add Cookies & Cream Ice Cream to the bracket. The flavor was invented at South Dakota State University.  

Missouri inputs added Kansas City-style BBQ to the list because Kansas City has more than 100 barbecue restaurants. The Kansas City Barbeque Society has over 13,000 members worldwide and is the world’s largest organization of barbecue and grilling enthusiasts.  

Wisconsinites added the carnival and fair favorite Cheese Curds while Kansas added Pulled Pork BBQ because the state is one of the top 10 pork producing states in the country. Have you heard of a Jucy Lucy? Apparently it’s a Minnesota burger, prepared by putting cheese between two patties of meat and then sealing both patties around the cheese to create a single patty with a cheese core. There are two Minneapolis bars about three miles from each other that both claim to have invented this burger.  

Shockingly new to the list if New York Style Pizza, famous for its distinguishing crust and the minerals present in the delicious New York City water. Florida’s Cuban Sandwich was added because in 2012, the “Historic Tampa Cuban Sandwich” was designated as the “signature sandwich of the city of Tampa” by Tampa’s city council. And lastly, Oklahoma’s Chicken Fried Steak is new because it can be found at almost any diner across the Sooner State.  

Get ready for the full bracket’s release on May 9 so you can fight for your state! The bracket will narrow down the winner of the 2016 Taste of America trophy, to be presented on June 23 at the Congressional Baseball Game .  


Get breaking news alerts and more from Roll Call on your iPhone or your Android.