Utah’s “Weird” Food Is An In State Favorite

Like many, I suppose, I have my fair share of comfort foods that I consume when I want, well, comfort. For example, the other night I wasn't feeling all that well, and the only thing that would fit the bill for me on that night was a bowl of tomato soup. My probably favorite comfort food is a chili size (for the un-initiated chili burger). I recall many a happy childhood day having a chili size with my dad.

Now, those may be comfort foods to me, but some of you may be thinking, “those are really weird.” I won't dispute that. What are treasures to some are worthless to others. So to each his own.

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And, by the same token, to each state its own, too, as far as I am concerned. And so when the folks at LoveFood.com came out with their list of wierdest dishes in every state that no one else understands, it didn't surprise me that Utah had not one, but two entries.

Now, before I get into Utah's weird dishes, how about some of the states around us.

In Nevada, LoveFood.com picked the Cotton Candy Burrito as the food most unique to the Silver State. The dish had its beginnings at the Creamberry Ice Cream Parlor in Las Vegas, and you can get one there, and now in other places around Vegas.

Over in Colorado it was Rocky Mountain Oysters that made the list. If you know, you know. A word of advice, don't let a native Coloradan order your dinner for you if you don't want to be the brunt of a mostly harmless food prank.

And up in Idaho, it was a creation from the West Side Drive In from Boise that made the LoveFood.com list. While it may sound weird, I for one would love to try an Ice Cream Potato. It's all ice cream by the way, so how could you go wrong?

Other states have their unique foods also. For example in Hawaii, the weird food is the Moco Loco. Does a fried egg on top of brown gravy on top of a hamburger steak on top of rice sound disgusting? Try one! I find them to be delicious.

So what made the list from our beloved Beehive State? Would you believe Funeral Potatoes? Yep. Funeral potatoes one of our favorite comfort foods here in Utah is considered weird by LoveFood.com, but they say although they may have a weird name but they are delicious. We concur.

The origins of funeral potatoes can be traced back to the heart of Mormon culture, where large families and community bonds necessitate hearty, easily prepared dishes that can feed a crowd. The simplicity of the ingredients—many of which are pantry staples—combined with the ease of preparation, make it a go-to recipe for those looking to provide comfort and sustenance during difficult times. This dish exemplifies the essence of communal support, offering warmth and solace through its familiar flavors.

So that doesn't seem all that weird to me, but then again I'm here in Utah.

But you may be thinking, didn't you say that Utah had two dishes on the list? Indeed it does, and I must say I've never heard of the second one. I'm told to best experience the second weird Utah dish, I'm going to have to travel over to the Sunglow Restaurant and Motel in Bicknell to have a piece of their.....Pickle Pie.

Now at first hearing the name my thought was, "no thanks." But reading the recipe, maybe I'll make the trip over to check it out.

However, I also noticed that the Sunglow also serves a dish called the Pinto Bean Pie.

O.K. Now that's weird.