Roadfood: Discovering America One Dish at a Time

Chicago, IL

24 min

African American influence in Chicago cannot be overstated, stretching from music to food to much more. Jazz and Blues, as well as South Side BBQ, are just a few examples of how African American culture has shaped the Windy City.

Brownsville, TX

24 min

Brownsville, Texas, on the border of Mexico, is where you'll find some of the best tacos in the U.S., both in variety and quality. It's also a place where border politics have direct and immediate consequences.

Barberton, OH

24 min

Booming economic growth and rapid industrialization in the early twentieth century drove immigration from Europe to Ohio, and that immigration brought the now hyper-regional dish of Barberton fried chicken to the area.

Detroit, MI

24 min

As African Americans migrated from the south up to Detroit, they brought their culture, traditions and cuisine with them. Collard greens, a soul food staple, tells the story of how African Americans have shaped the Motor City.

New Bedford, MA

24 min

Booming economic growth and rapid industrialization in the early twentieth century drove immigration from Europe to Ohio, and that immigration brought the now hyper-regional dish of Barberton fried chicken to the area.

Eastern Shore, VA

24 min

Virginia's Eastern Shore is one of timeless tradition and continuous environmental change. Discover Tangier Island, a fishing village that is sinking into the ocean, and aqua farmers on the Shore supplying the country with shellfish.

Southern Louisiana

24 min

Gumbo, originally from Louisiana, came out of the great diversity of cultures that were present in the area at the time. With African roots, the dish has evolved over time, drawing from French, American, Spanish, and Caribbean influences.

Phoenix, AZ

24 min

For many Indigenous people, frybread has a complicated and controversial past - a symbol of perseverance and pain, but also a part of their culinary story. Now, some tribal members are finding that looking back is the best way forward.

Oklahoma/Route 66

24 min

Invented during the Great Depression as a way to offset the cost of beef, the onion fried burger has become a beloved staple of El Reno, Oklahoma. The restaurants serving this iconic dish have served as the heartbeat of the community.