efflerruthy's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
The Original McDonald's French Fry
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Prepared Foods

The Original McDonald's French Fry

The beef fat–fried version that first caught Ray Kroc's eye is now extinct.
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Morkovcha
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Morkovcha

The Soviet-Korean carrot salad is a sweet-and-sour testament to a diaspora's resilience.
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Pure Kona Coffee
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Drinks

Pure Kona Coffee

Grown only on the volcanic soil of Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, this coffee is known for its subtle, rich flavor and hordes of unscrupulous imitators.
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The Christmas Pickle
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The Christmas Pickle

The holiday tradition of hiding an ornamental veggie.
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Chitlins
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Prepared Foods

Chitlins

These entrails identified safe venues for Black musicians during the Jim Crow era.
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Birch Beer
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Birch Beer

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.
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Clambake
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Clambake

An ancient cooking method still produces delicious, beachside feasts.
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Boston Baked Beans
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Sweets

Boston Baked Beans

In the 1920s, confectioners thought the public wanted candy that looked like legumes—and they were right.
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Real Wasabi
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Ingredients & Condiments

Real Wasabi

Most sushi fans have never tried this rare rhizome.
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Chili and Cinnamon Rolls
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Chili and Cinnamon Rolls

This savory-sweet pairing is a classic school lunch.
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Dorilocos
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Dorilocos

At last, a street snack that brings together Doritos, veggies, pickled pig skin, and gummies.
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Durian
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Fruits & Vegetables

Durian

The fruit so pungent it's banned from trains, hotels, and public places.
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Pocari Sweat
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Pocari Sweat

A pharmaceutical company developed this beverage as drinkable IV solution.
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Grasshopper
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Drinks

Grasshopper

This bright green cocktail doubles as dessert.
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Ramune
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Ramune

The Japanese soda still comes in a marble-stoppered bottle from the 19th century.
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Steam Beer
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Steam Beer

The unique style born out of the California Gold Rush blends the crispness of a lager with the flavor of an ale.
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San Marzano Tomatoes
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Fruits & Vegetables

San Marzano Tomatoes

Grown in the volcanic soil around Mt. Vesuvius, these tomatoes are one of only a couple varieties used in authentic Neapolitan pizza.
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Pizza Montanara
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Prepared Foods

Pizza Montanara

Its deep-fried crust is part of a longstanding Neapolitan tradition.
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Horlicks Malted Milk
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Ingredients & Condiments

Horlicks Malted Milk

This powder proved essential to Arctic exploration, war, and the ice cream parlor.
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 Vernors Ginger Soda
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Drinks

Vernors Ginger Soda

The Detroit favorite is one of the oldest sodas in the United States.
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Bonito Flakes
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Meats & Animal Products

Bonito Flakes

Some fish can dance.
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Glögg
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Drinks

Glögg

The aroma of this mulled wine has been compared to “a warmed-up bowl of Froot Loops.”
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Dutch Baby
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Prepared Foods

Dutch Baby

Fluffy, crispy, and large enough to share, it's no ordinary pancake.
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Superman Ice Cream
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Sweets

Superman Ice Cream

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a classic Midwestern treat!
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