The little-known personal stories behind the invention of 10 iconic dishes from around the world

New York City, USA

Is there any moment that makes you feel more like a New Yorker than eating a classic NY slice and sipping a cold Coke while you walk through the streets? The very first pizzeria in America opened in Little Italy at the turn of the 20th century, when Italian immigrants brought a taste of their homeland to the city. These original pizzas were inspired by Neapolitan-style pies, which had thin (but not crispy) crusts and were topped with only a simple tomato sauce, fresh Mozz, basil and olive oil. The New York pie as we now know it builds on the classic, featuring a more herbaceous sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of pepperoni or “regular.” Get a taste of NYC history at Ignazio’s, an old-school pizzeria that’s still serving up classic slices at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge. A New York Recipe for Magic? Walking the bridge at sunset while you eat your slice (folded!) and sip an ice-cold Coke.

Quebec, Canada

Sometimes, a meal that makes a mess is half the fun. Just consider the likely history of poutine, that decadent dish of French fries, cheese curds and gravy. A French-Canadian delicacy most likely from Warwick, Quebec, it seems to have originated in the 1950s at Le Lutin Qui Rit, when owner Fernand Lachance noticed his customers ordering a side of cheese curds with their more traditional fries and gravy. When they asked to combine them, what was Lachance’s response? “Ca va faire une maudite poutine.” Translation? “That’s going to be a dreadful mess.” You can’t get your fry fix at Le Lutin Qui Rit any longer, but you can create your own messy moment at Chez Victor, where they serve up Coca-Cola and poutine piled high with duck confit, spicy Buffalo chicken or even vegan cheese.

Los Angeles, USA

Two L.A. restaurants lay claim to this popular sandwich, which consists of sliced roast beef served on French bread and eaten “au jus,” or dipped into a bowl of the flavorful meat drippings left over from roasting. According to one story, restaurateur Philippe Mathieu invented the sandwich in 1918 when he accidentally dropped a French roll into a juice-filled roasting pan, and the customer said he’d eat the soggy sandwich anyway. The restaurant Cole’s, however, maintains it created the sandwich 10 years earlier for a customer with sore gums who requested that the crunchy bread be somehow softened. Both restaurants are still thriving, so you can taste this contested history for yourself. Head to Philippe the Original with your crew, share two Beef double dips (that’s both sides dipped in jus, please) and see if they taste like the first French dip ever. A Recipe for Magic: Double date. Double dip. Ice-cold Coca-Cola.

Chicago, USA

Sure, the original dish—lightly floured and fried kasseri cheese—was already a Greek restaurant staple, but this variation actually originated in middle America. (And not even in cheese-obsessed Wisconsin.) In 1968, a patron suggested that Chris Liakouras, the owner of Greek eatery Parthenon, set fire to the brick of cheese tableside. In addition to a splash of Brandy and a Bic lighter, the ritual required customers to yell “Opa!” as the plate was being ignited. That’s how a new way of enjoying deep-fried, flambé goodness—and cooling that fire with an ice-cold Coke—was born. While Parthenon is no longer standing, you can head to Chicagoland’s Greek Islands restaurant to get your fire-and-ice fix. We can’t think of a more iconic way to celebrate a Recipe for Magic than by shouting “Opa!” at the table.

Bangkok, Thailand

Pad Thai’s origins are, interestingly, political. The dish was devised during World War II by a politician. Best known as Phibun, the prime minister was concerned about the country’s high rice consumption amid shortages. He encouraged citizens to eat more noodles, which Chinese merchants were selling at that time. This combination of Chinese rice noodles and native Thai flavorings paved the path for what is now known as pad thai. Head to Baan Pad Thai, whose pad thai is beloved by locals and tourists alike, to taste it for yourself. Their 18-ingredient sauce is a secret recipe, just like Coke’s—but you don’t need to know the secret to find this Recipe for Magic. Street food tour. Secret sauce. Ice-cold Coca-Cola.

Delhi, India

Among some of India’s most popular dishes, one of the all-time favorites—and the second-most searched Indian dish globally—is actually a newer arrival. Butter chicken originated in the 1950s at the Moti Mahal restaurant. Famed for their tandoori chicken, the cooks would recycle the leftover chicken juices in the marinade trays by adding butter and tomato. Then, they’d toss the tandoor-cooked chicken in the juice and serve up the reddish-orange dish. In an effort to reduce waste and save on ingredients, they created a hit sauce by pure chance. Try today’s butter chicken at Gulati, where they serve up one of the very best versions in Delhi. Pair it with a masala Coke, which mixes Coke’s classic taste with chaat masala, to create a totally unique Foodmark experience. Butter chicken is comparatively mild, so spice up dinner with some spicy convos—and then cool down again with an ice-cold Coca-Cola.

New Mexico, USA

Where did this ubiquitous dish—a tortilla rolled up with eggs and some combination of potatoes, bacon and cheese—begin? It has long existed in New Mexican cuisine, but the term was popularized at Tia Sophia’s, a Santa Fe diner, in 1975. Although “breakfast” is in its name, one of the best things about a breakfast burrito is that it’s ideal for any meal. You can enjoy it with OJ at breakfast, or pair it with a Coke for a satisfying meal anytime. Tia Sophia’s is still open today, so you can try the original breakfast burrito for yourself. We like it as much at sunset as we do at sunrise, when you can wake up early to toast to Santa Fe’s stunning skies with a bottle of Coca-Cola.

San Francisco, USA

How did New England chowder end up served in a bread bowl on the West coast? The story starts with San Francisco’s famous sourdough. Distinctively flavored by local wild yeast, the boules baked in the city have a flavor unlike any other. Boudin Bakery, which opened in 1849, still uses their mother dough, which came from a gold miner’s starter; to set their chowder apart, they began serving it in a hollowed-out loaf. The creamy chowder and crispy bread come together for a distinctive meal that lets you eat like it’s the 1800s, best experienced sitting on the wharf with a Coca-Cola in hand.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Fusion cuisine has given the world unique flavor combinations—and plenty of memorable Foodmarks—that wouldn’t otherwise exist. Top among them is the banh mi sandwich, which can be traced back to the French colonial period in Vietnam in the late 1800s. The French introduced the crispy baguette, and the Vietnamese began to fill it with their own ingredients—namely grilled pork, pickled vegetables, a spread of mayo and a drizzle of umami-rich soy sauce. Grab a banh mi and a Coke from one of the many vendors (they’re almost always served to go) and enjoy an eclectic taste of history as you have a lazy lunch along the Saigon River. Ho Chi Minh City’s Recipe for Magic: Memory to last. Sandwich to go. Ice-cold Coca-Cola.

Boston, USA

Kelly’s, a seaside takeout joint that’s been open on the North Shore since 1951, claims to have invented the roast beef sandwich. Is it true? Well, the English might have something to say about that. Whatever you choose to believe, Kelly’s roast beef is in a class of its own. The meat, a 25-day aged beef, is sliced paper thin, seasoned only with salt and pepper and served piping hot with your choice of toppings (we like it with BBQ sauce, mayo and white American cheese, but follow your heart). No matter what you top it with, a roast beef sandwich pairs perfectly with a fizzy fountain Coke. Create a Recipe for Magic by bringing your sandwich and Coke across the street to the beach, where the feeling of sand beneath your feet has been thrilling Kelly’s lovers for more than 70 years.