Can You Guess Connecticut’s Must-Try Side Dish?

According to the folks at Stacker, every state in America has at least one side dish that locals claim as their own, something that feels like home the second it hits the plate. Side dishes aren’t just filler on the edge of the entrée — they’re part of our food identity.

Get our free mobile app

They’ve been around since ancient feasts where people piled the table with fruits, breads, vegetables, and sauces meant to balance out the meal. Fast-forward a few thousand years, and sides have become just as important as whatever protein is sitting in the middle of the plate.

Across the country, every region has its favorites. The South shows off with collard greens, fried okra, and creamed corn. The West Coast keeps things light with roasted veggies and quinoa salads. The Midwest leans comfort-heavy with casseroles, cheesy everything, and enough carbs to keep you warm through a blizzard.

Read More: I-95's Camping for Cans Brought Greater-Danbury Together for a Cause

But let’s talk about Connecticut — because we have a side dish that stands apart, and it’s not something you’ll find in the freezer aisle.

Stacker says Connecticut’s signature side dish is roast littleneck clams.

These beauties have deep roots here, originating in Guilford back in the 1940s at a legendary spot called The Place.

While that’s all fine and good… eh. Look, I’ve got nothing against clams — I actually enjoy them — but I’ve probably eaten them a grand total of ten times in my entire life. I’ve lived and worked in Connecticut my entire adult life, and I’ve had clams about as often as I’ve left the country, so maybe we can pump the brakes on treating them like our signature side.

It feels like every time there’s one of these state-by-state lists, the writers get to Connecticut and have no idea what to do with us. They just grab something random, slap our name on it, and move on. Connecticut does have an identity (or at least I think we do), but for some reason, no one seems to capture it.