You know how some foods transport you back to childhood the moment you take a bite? They might be the special meals your parents made you, or the seasonal snacks that you couldn’t wait to get your hands on every year. We’ve put together a list of foods that taste like pure Massachusetts, so have your grocery list handy and prepare to make dinner reservations.
- Frappes and Cabinets
Flickr/Austin Hill While the nomenclature can get a little confusing, here’s what you need to know: 1) A frappe is a made with ice cream, 2) A cabinet is usually a coffee-flavored frappe, 3) Both are classic Massachusetts treats, though cabinets and “coffee milk” also call Rhode Island home.
- Boston Creme Pie
Flickr/jeffreyw This is the official dessert of Massachusetts. Developed in 1856 at the Omni Parker House in Boston, this chocolaty, creamy cake is about as Massachusetts as pastries come.
- Fluffernutters
Flickr/Spam Raise your hand if you ever found one of these in your lunchbox. Actually, don’t bother – I know all of you have had more than a few brushes with this classic Bay State combo.
- Clam Chowder
Flickr/Elliot We’re talking New England style, which means no tomatoes and a thick, creamy broth. Yum. Sorry New York and Rhode Island, but ours is just better.
- Fried Clams
Flickr/MOTT Woodman’s in Essex claims to have invented the fried clam. The story goes that Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman tossed a few clam strips in the fryer in 1914, and was so impressed with the result that he started selling boxes of his new creation. With a little squeeze of lemon and some tartar sauce…I’m salivating just typing this.
- Grapenut Custard
Scargo Cafe Ah, grapenut custard… The little-known Massachusetts dessert that has been an underground favorite for years. Made with eggs, spices and a layer of grapenut cereal, this custard is great hot or cold. Pictured is the version found at the Scargo Cafe in Dennis, one of the few places this dessert is consistently served. Follow the link under the image for the recipe.
- Hoodsie Cups
Flickr/Mike Mozart This two-toned chocolate and vanilla ice cream cup is a staple of Massachusetts summers. Do you remember scooping out that delicious ice cream with the little wooden spoon?
- Dunkin Donuts
Flickr/Chiara Cremaschi You had to see this one coming. The state’s most popular coffee and donut chain is a practically its own food group to some residents. I’m not sure anything at Dunk’s qualifies as a “dish,” but it’s all pretty tasty.
- Marylou’s Coffee
Wikimedia Commons A large iced coffee from Marylou’s provides some stiff competition to DD’s coffee supremacy in Massachusetts.
- Pizza from Regina Pizzeria
Flickr/CameliaTWU Regina’s incredible pies and signature triangular boxes have been making mouths water in Boston’s North End and beyond since 1926.
- Fig Newtons
Flickr/Cromely Your grandmother’s favorite cookie was actually born in Newton, Massachusetts. Don’t pretend like you haven’t polished off a sleeve of these on the sly.
- Necco Wafers
Flickr/Jonathan Lidbeck Your grandfather’s favorite candy has been around since 1847. These wafers were actually issued to members of the military during WWII. When they returned home, the former soldiers became loyal customers. Bet you didn’t know that “Necco” stands for “New England Confectionery Company.”
- Boston Baked Beans
Flickr/Theryn Fleming There’s a reason they call Boston “Beantown”. And by “they,” I mean tourists. Boston baked beans are the perfect marriage of sweet and savory.
- Cape Cod Potato Chips
Atsushi Hyogo Another staple of lunch boxes across Massachusetts, Cape Cod Potato chips are perfectly crispy, salty and savory.
- Concord Grapes
Flickr/Kate Ter Haar Go to Concord, eat Concord grapes. A simple recipe for a great day and a great meal.
- Kelly’s Roast Beef
Flickr/KBR This Revere institution has been serving up absolutely heavenly roast beef sandwiches for over half a century. With five eateries across the state, this family-owned and operated business claims to be the inventor of the original roast beef sandwich.
How many of these have you tried?
Flickr/Austin Hill
While the nomenclature can get a little confusing, here’s what you need to know: 1) A frappe is a made with ice cream, 2) A cabinet is usually a coffee-flavored frappe, 3) Both are classic Massachusetts treats, though cabinets and “coffee milk” also call Rhode Island home.
Flickr/jeffreyw
This is the official dessert of Massachusetts. Developed in 1856 at the Omni Parker House in Boston, this chocolaty, creamy cake is about as Massachusetts as pastries come.
Flickr/Spam
Raise your hand if you ever found one of these in your lunchbox. Actually, don’t bother – I know all of you have had more than a few brushes with this classic Bay State combo.
Flickr/Elliot
We’re talking New England style, which means no tomatoes and a thick, creamy broth. Yum. Sorry New York and Rhode Island, but ours is just better.
Flickr/MOTT
Woodman’s in Essex claims to have invented the fried clam. The story goes that Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman tossed a few clam strips in the fryer in 1914, and was so impressed with the result that he started selling boxes of his new creation. With a little squeeze of lemon and some tartar sauce…I’m salivating just typing this.
Scargo Cafe
Ah, grapenut custard… The little-known Massachusetts dessert that has been an underground favorite for years. Made with eggs, spices and a layer of grapenut cereal, this custard is great hot or cold. Pictured is the version found at the Scargo Cafe in Dennis, one of the few places this dessert is consistently served. Follow the link under the image for the recipe.
Flickr/Mike Mozart
This two-toned chocolate and vanilla ice cream cup is a staple of Massachusetts summers. Do you remember scooping out that delicious ice cream with the little wooden spoon?
Flickr/Chiara Cremaschi
You had to see this one coming. The state’s most popular coffee and donut chain is a practically its own food group to some residents. I’m not sure anything at Dunk’s qualifies as a “dish,” but it’s all pretty tasty.
Wikimedia Commons
A large iced coffee from Marylou’s provides some stiff competition to DD’s coffee supremacy in Massachusetts.
Flickr/CameliaTWU
Regina’s incredible pies and signature triangular boxes have been making mouths water in Boston’s North End and beyond since 1926.
Flickr/Cromely
Your grandmother’s favorite cookie was actually born in Newton, Massachusetts. Don’t pretend like you haven’t polished off a sleeve of these on the sly.
Flickr/Jonathan Lidbeck
Your grandfather’s favorite candy has been around since 1847. These wafers were actually issued to members of the military during WWII. When they returned home, the former soldiers became loyal customers. Bet you didn’t know that “Necco” stands for “New England Confectionery Company.”
Flickr/Theryn Fleming
There’s a reason they call Boston “Beantown”. And by “they,” I mean tourists. Boston baked beans are the perfect marriage of sweet and savory.
Atsushi Hyogo
Another staple of lunch boxes across Massachusetts, Cape Cod Potato chips are perfectly crispy, salty and savory.
Flickr/Kate Ter Haar
Go to Concord, eat Concord grapes. A simple recipe for a great day and a great meal.
Flickr/KBR
This Revere institution has been serving up absolutely heavenly roast beef sandwiches for over half a century. With five eateries across the state, this family-owned and operated business claims to be the inventor of the original roast beef sandwich.
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