Burgoo stew is a common belly warmer in Kentucky. Originally, the little-bit-of-everything pot was filled with game like venison, squirrel and raccoon. Fret not, the version at the Promontory in Hyde Park is made with more common meats. Pork collar, elk sausage, rabbit leg roulade, lima beans, hominy, pickled okra swim in a smoked tomato broth.
As with any metropolis, many Chicagoans come from somewhere else. The diversity is what makes our food scene one of the best in the world. But it's not just the international fare being served in Polish restaurants and Pakistani restaurants that delivers the variety of flavor. Chicago has its own hyperlocal specialties, like a hot dog dragged through a garden, the Mother-in-law tamale sandwich, and the mixture of caramel and cheese popcorn. Likewise, there are many weird, wonderful and somewhat pornographic-sounding foods from our Midwestern neighbors, like the Juicy Lucy and Hot Brown. Here's where to find obscure American food locally.
