From Maine's lobster roll to Pennsylvania's Philly cheesesteak, certain sandwiches are so closely associated with a place that they've become part of its identity.
In Virginia, that honor goes to a Southern staple.
Tasting Table named the country ham sandwich Virginia's most iconic sandwich in its recently updated list, which identifies one signature sandwich for every state. The food publication based its selections on sandwiches connected to states through local ingredients, preferences, history or culinary traditions.
Virginia country ham is known for its salty, deeply cured flavor, with the tradition particularly associated with Smithfield and southeastern Virginia. The sandwich keeps things simple, typically pairing thinly sliced country ham with a biscuit or bread, making the ham itself the star.
Tasting Table's list stretches well beyond the country's most famous sandwiches, highlighting regional creations that may be unfamiliar outside their home states.
Iowa's selection is the Maid-Rite, a loose ground beef sandwich without the tomato-based sauce associated with a Sloppy Joe. Kentucky gets the open-faced Hot Brown, topped with turkey, bacon, tomato and Mornay sauce, while Massachusetts is represented by the Fluffernutter, made with peanut butter and marshmallow spread.
Other selections include the Italian beef sandwich in Illinois, the pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana, the walleye sandwich in Minnesota, the green chile cheeseburger in New Mexico and the pastrami sandwich in New York.
The rankings were updated Aug. 25.
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