Upstate NY beats out Minnesota in the bland food category, all they have is buffalo sauce w/ bleu cheese. Most of the restaurants I go to don't even salt the food, at least Campbell's cream of mushroom is packed full of sodium. Sponge candy is bland, they used to produce brown beans that everyone acknowledged needed to have ingredients added to give them flavor, and even the hotdogs have a weird texture because they're ground so fine and not smoked. Don't even get me started on salt potatoes or garbage plates.

[–] Robert_Kennedy_Jr@hexbear.net 27 points 4 months ago (5 children)

garbage plates

I have never seen a more aptly named dish in my life.

[–] FactuallyUnscrupulou@hexbear.net 20 points 4 months ago

What frustrates me so much about garbage plates is how inferior they are to typical Midwest summertime grilling meals. Gimme some brats and sloppy joes with coleslaw or pasta salad and a pile of Old Dutch ripple chips to scoop up any loose bits.

[–] Sulvor@hexbear.net 15 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Good god wtf is that

[–] Robert_Kennedy_Jr@hexbear.net 13 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Just going off visuals here, oven roasted potato, macaroni salad with a dash of paprika, yellow onion and extra mayo, with maybe some mozzarella cheese sprinkled on top and then melted under some unseasoned hamburger.

[–] FactuallyUnscrupulou@hexbear.net 11 points 4 months ago (1 children)

There is a burger patty or hotdogs under the melted cheese. That stuff on top is called meat sauce in Rochester, it's skyline chilli but locals will get mad at you if you say that.

[–] IronJoe1984@hexbear.net 10 points 4 months ago

There are vegan versions as well with portobello mushrooms and lentils. Both are solid, but only when your drunk at 3 in the morning.

[–] Sulvor@hexbear.net 9 points 4 months ago

Don’t forget the ketchup, really seals the dish lol

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 4 months ago

If those potatoes are fried/deep fried i am absolutely into it

[–] CocteauChameleons@hexbear.net 9 points 4 months ago

Honestly Id smack on that if the meat is seasoned right

[–] Flyberius@hexbear.net 6 points 4 months ago

It almost explains the constant wars

[–] ElChapoDeChapo@hexbear.net 14 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

Depends on what you mean by upstate, anything between NYC and Albany tends to still be good but go north or west of Albany and it's gonna get as bad as you said

[–] autismdragon@hexbear.net 22 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Well yeah obviously Albany food is going to be good. They invented steamed hams.

[–] FactuallyUnscrupulou@hexbear.net 9 points 4 months ago

I don't spend much time in the Hudson valley, but I can assume proximity to the coast would improve the quality. I think it's overall an issue with restaurants not using much butter or salt due to folks being more health conscious. Food like chicken riggies and spiedies are generally something I enjoy but only if I make it myself and add those rich ingredients.