Having lived in a number of different areas of the country, I was just thinking about some of the foods that you can get just about anywhere when you live in a certain region, but then have to search for when you go somewhere else. 

What made me think of this is I was just making some Pastina for lunch.  Pastina actually means little pasta in Italian, and is very popular in the NY, NJ area where I grew up.  Usually given to babies and kids, I still love it, but can't find it anywhere around here, so I have to have my relatives ship it to me.

Then I lived in Florida for quite a while and loved grits (had them almost every morning), hush puppies, and deep fried finger catfish.  Can't find any of those either, with the exception of maybe some instant grits at Denny's.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this same problem of moving to a new area and just not getting the food you love?

(p.s. - I have less and less family left in NJ, so I may need a new Pastina supplier soon!)

Here's one for you Lucky, being from NJ, ever have Drink-a Toast? I have googled it & evidently it's only available in south Jersey. It's that stuff that you mix with water or carbonated water to make a drink that tastes like .....? Very unique taste, if you've ever had it, you'd know! I live in CA now & I sure do miss NJ food, especially pizza, the upside of that is, I've lost 85 pounds!

I miss my green chile from New Mexico. Grew up on the spice stuff and am finding the little places here in Tacoma that have sume of the real food. But it is not the same. When I go back that is all I eat.

soda bread ,love it ,had it in northern ireland ,u get a good feed over their .also get loads of chips with every meal .

What g, no haggis?

aye haggis also , deep fry the haggis ,its ace .

The only food my "new" little home town is missing is Fast Food! Everytime I go out of town the first thing I hit is McDonalds! Although our little Italian place does try to make Cantonese on Wednesdays.

Don't remember "Drink-a Toast", or maybe just the name I don't remember.   I know what you mean about the pizza, hard to find a good one out here.  The first thing I do every time I go to NY is grab a hot dog from a street vendor on the way to the nearest pizza parlor for a slice.

a wild haggis ,b4 and after .

i'm from Italy and living in Ireland i miss most of the cured meats (parma ham & salami ye can find but's not the same... and overpriced) especially the regional specialities, and cooking/grilling sausages.
also miss the chance of buying loose wine from the producers, ye can get very good stuff at very good prices in the ole country.

LOLOL

i loves haggis, and i never tasted the real deal, i believe

italy have the best food ,pizza pasta's all the meats ,love italian food , i had marzetti the night .

marzetti ,its past with a tomato sauce ,mushrooms, and cheese .simple and it great .

oh,.. and choped onions .

ya, straight ta the point!
i wouldn't go near tomato sauce without frying a little onion and garlic in it tho.

EDIT: ya bate me ta it LOL

just throw in a tin of tomato soup ,lol, and some chicken if u want .

give it a good stir up ,GREAT ,love to play about wee ma food ,use to be a chef a slumberger oil company .made a great all day breakfast panini .was the left over sausages n bacon ,lol

naw, i've eaten already, guess what?!
spaghetti bolognese!

FINE !!

WAZ IT PORK OR COW MINCE ?.

ya'll never guess...
'twas vegetarian mince, made of soya *shame*
what can ye do?! the mot is vegetarian!

Chicken Lips and Snake Hips is one of my favorites, it's a local Swamp Platter..................

must be a joke .

snakes hip's lol