Some people refer to the Midwest as America's tummy -- fine, no one calls it that,
but they should, both because of its central location and its residents' fondness for combining cheese and carbs in as many permutations as possible.
And yet, viewing the food of the region solely through a dairy-coated, meat-and-potatoes-laden lens is a mistake. Not only will it be difficult to see, but you'll fail to notice the many different cultures contributing to the Midwest gastronomy and you'll miss the inventive chefs who are capitalizing on the bounty of local ingredients. Look, we can't help that a ton of those ingredients also happen to be meats and cheeses, OK?
During our epic arguments to determine the 50 dishes that best represent the Midwest, the five of us -- Midwesterners all -- wanted to make sure this list acknowledged the many food traditions that have helped define where we come from, as well as newer classics that have become emblematic in their own rights. Now grab a Jucy Lucy -- or a slice of Chicago-style deep dish, or any other iconic Midwestern dish that you will never tire of -- and dig in. https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/best-midwest-foods/food-and-drink
