Foods Joel Swanson Has Tried

The sweet Kiwi treat that represents a token reward.

Meat covered in gelatinous goo was once a classic American comfort food.

A completely delicious, nearly nutrient-free sandwich beloved by generations of New Englanders.

This cousin of root beer has a long history and a surprisingly minty taste.

A World War I sugar shortage led an inventor to make a very cherry soda that looks like wine.

The beef fat–fried version that first caught Ray Kroc's eye is now extinct.

Pastrami fans will find the taste of this Canadian spice blend very familiar.

An ancient cooking method still produces delicious, beachside feasts.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a classic Midwestern treat!

Spiced meat sauce meets spaghetti, shredded cheese, and beans in a Midwest cult favorite.

Roadside vendors in the Deep South soften fresh goobers with bubbling brine.

From humble meat-hybrid to Cincinnati favorite.

North Carolina's “poor man’s pâté” is rich in flavor.

These muscular organs are a crispy, chewy Southern favorite.

This pineapple soft serve has a cult following at Disney theme parks.

These entrails identified safe venues for Black musicians during the Jim Crow era.

The world's least practical and most delicious edible straw.

Preparing a traditional Māori feast requires a rock pit heated by fire or hot springs.

One of the world's least-loved liquors calls Chicago home.

Grown only on the volcanic soil of Hawaiʻi’s Big Island, this coffee is known for its subtle, rich flavor and hordes of unscrupulous imitators.

These Portuguese doughnuts have a fervent fanbase in Hawaii.

In Alabama, smoked meat gets dressed up in white.

Finns treat this rich, baked cheese like bread.

This cosmic-colored flavor is a Midwestern mystery.