Regional US Foods

Kentucky is perhaps best known for thoroughbred horse racing, mint juleps, and — lately — its national championship-winning college basketball teams. But the state is quite a foodie haven with a rich culinary tradition.

Thanks to the many ethnic influences on its cuisine, Kentuckians have developed a diverse array of foods over the last few centuries that make the state a worthy destination for Derby Day and beyond. Take a minute to learn more about some of the state's delicious offerings.

Burgoo: While this stew was not invented in Kentucky, the state has molded the dish into something all its own. There was a time when burgoo derived its main ingredients from whatever meat was available (squirrel, opossum, raccoon, and venison were popular choices), but today you'll find most restaurants fill their hearty pots with pork, chicken, and mutton.

Mutton barbecue: Western Kentucky was once the state's center for wool production, so mutton became a popular meat. However, the most widely available sheep were often older and their meat tougher and too strongly flavored. Slow-cooked barbecue became an efficient way to soften and season the meat. Today, Owensboro, KY, is still renowned for its delicious mutton barbecue.

Keep reading to see more Kentucky favorites.

Like Leonard's Bakery and Rainbow Drive-In, Matsumoto Shave Ice is a can't-miss if you're visiting the Hawaiian island of Oahu for the first time.

From Honolulu, head up the Kamehameha Highway to the slower paces of the island's North Shore. Eventually, you'll hit M. Matsumoto Store, a general store with an unassuming presence that belies its international frozen dessert fame.

The only thing that might give it away? A long line of hot, thirsty customers, eagerly waiting their turn to order. For a better background on this regional favorite, read on.

When it comes to dining in Honolulu, don't eat on the overpriced, underwhelming Waikiki strip. Instead, take a short drive (or a lengthy stroll) to Kapahulu Avenue, a nearby street dotted with some of Oahu's most memorable institutions, like Leonard's Bakery and Rainbow Drive-In.

The latter recalls a different time: an era when cars, chocolate ice cream floats, and chitchat happily convened in the same parking lot. Today, the takeout joint — open since 1961 and the last of its kind, now that drive-ins have passed their heyday — remains a favorite for locals and tourists alike. See why when you continue reading.

Maybe you're familiar with tuna poke, plate lunches, and other culinary contributions from Hawaii, but have you ever heard of a malasada? I hadn't — that is, until I visited Honolulu and was told that they can't be missed.

Much like a sugar doughnut, a malasada is a confection of fried yeast dough that's been showered in granulated sugar. I enjoyed plenty of them during my stay, but the best were from Leonard's Bakery, an institution known far and wide to have the best fried puffs in town. It lived up to its hype: the hot-out-of-the-fryer malasadas were crackled — almost bruléed — on the outside, and just barely cooked in the center, with a moist, custard-like flavor.

Learn more about the famous fried specialty and Leonard's Bakery when you keep reading.