The most iconic food in every state

From Maine's famous lobster rolls to Tennessee's Nashville hot chicken, every state is known for an iconic dish.Rabbitti/Getty ImagesEvery state has an iconic dish, whether it was invented or popularized there, or drives the local economy.Maine and Connecticut are both famous for their lobster rolls, though they prepare them differently.Other states have famous sandwiches, stews, or dips.From seafood staples and regional sandwiches to hearty stews and decadent desserts, every state has a dish that reflects its history, culture, and local ingredients.We identified each state's most iconic food based on its regional or national recognition, historical or cultural ties to the state, and its enduring place in the state's culinary identity.Several have become nationally famous, including Illinois' deep-dish pizza and Tennessee's Nashville hot chicken, served by restaurants such as Hattie B's.Others are beloved regional specialties, including Maine's famous cold lobster rolls with mayonnaise and Colorado's over-the-top Fool's Gold sandwich.Some are also tied to major industries that support jobs, tourism, and local economies within their states, such as Alaska's salmon, Wisconsin's cheese, and Virginia's oysters.Here's the most iconic local dish from every state.ALABAMA: Chicken with white barbecue sauceChicken with white barbecue sauce.Jacek Chabraszewski/ShutterstockAlabama's famous white barbecue sauce, which is made with mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and ground black pepper, is described as both creamy and tangy.The sauce, which is said to have been invented in the 1920s by Bob Gibson of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Alabama, often comes served on a sandwich or with grilled or fried chicken.ALASKA: Smoked salmonSmoked salmon.Frank Perry/AFP via Getty ImagesAlaska is famous for its salmon, though locals may disagree on the best way to prepare it — whether that's smoked, grilled, or pan-seared.For a classic Alaskan meal, serve the fish with seasonal vegetables, or enjoy smoked salmon on a bagel with cream cheese.ARIZONA: ChimichangasChimichangas.Ezume Images/ShutterstockYou might not know that chimichangas were invented in Arizona.As Tucson Foodie reported, two restaurants in Tucson claim to have originated the dish, a large meat burrito filled with vegetables and spices, deep-fried, and topped with cheese and sauce.ARKANSAS: Fried picklesFried pickles.Kay Ecker/ShutterstockFans of fried pickles have Arkansas to thank for the iconic snack. The first fried dill pickles ever sold anywhere first appeared on the menu of the Duchess Drive-In in Atkins, Arkansas, in the summer of 1963, Encyclopedia of Arkansas reported.CALIFORNIA: Avocado toastAvocado toast.Alexander Spatari/Getty ImagesCalifornia is famous for its avocados, so it should come as no surprise that avocado toast is one of the most popular and famous local dishes in the Golden State. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that California residents have been making avocado toast for more than 130 years.An issue of The Daily Alta California from 1885 lists a recipe that suggests spreading avocado "on slices of bread, and season with salt and pepper."COLORADO: The "Fool's Gold" sandwich"Fool's Gold" sandwiches.Karl Gehring/The Denver Post/Getty ImagesThe now-closed Colorado Mine Company restaurant in Denver invented the original Fool's Gold sandwich: a hollowed-out loaf of sourdough stuffed with peanut butter, blueberry jam, and a pound of bacon.The over-the-top sandwich became legendary after Elvis Presley reportedly loved it so much that he flew his private jet to Denver and back in a single night just to eat one.CONNECTICUT: Warm lobster rollsLobster roll.Rebecca Fondren Photo/ShutterstockCulture Trip reported that the first documented lobster roll was served at a Milford, Connecticut, restaurant named Perry's in 1929.Although you may be more familiar with Maine-style lobster rolls served cold with mayonnaise, Connecticut has its own signature take.A traditional Connecticut-style lobster roll features warm lobster meat lightly dressed with melted butter and served on a split-top bun.DELAWARE: Peach piePeach pie.zoryanchik/ShutterstockDelaware's official state dessert is peach pie, and peaches are an integral part of the state's agricultural industry.According to the Delaware government, peaches have been an important part of the state's agricultural heritage since their introduction during Colonial times, when they became a major industry in the 19th century.At the industry's peak in 1875, Delaware shipped about 6 million baskets of peaches to market.FLORIDA: Cuban sandwichesCuban Sandwich.Old Republic Kitchen and Bar/YelpWhile these sandwiches can, of course, be traced back to Cuba, what we know now as a "Cuban sandwich" is largely thanks to Cuban immigrants in Tampa, Florida.Thrillist reported that the sandwiches made in Cuba and the United States had a few key differences when it came to ingredients.The Florida version, which sometimes used imported I

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