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New York Foods the Empire State Is Known For

Nothing screams "welcome to New York" quite like a slice of hand-tossed, thin crust pizza. Or a plate of spicy Buffalo wings. Or a satisfying pastrami on rye. Come to think of it, New York has quite a few claims to food fame..

New York-Style Pizza

You can't think of New York food without one thing coming to mind: pizza! The first pizzeria in the country, Lombardi's, was opened in Manhattan's Little Italy in 1905. It's been a Big Apple staple ever since.

New York-style pizza, a culinary contribution from Italian immigrants, is a variation of Neapolitan-style pizza. It's famous for its thin, hand-tossed crust that's topped with a thin layer of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Since it's thin and pliable, New York pizza is often sold in large slices that can be easily folded.

Some people believe that the crust gets its signature texture and flavor from minerals found in NYC's tap water.

Grandma Pizza

Grandma pizza can be traced back to Italian-American grandmothers living in Long Island in the 1970s.

The Sicilian-style pie is has a thin crust and it's cooked in a square pan. It's cooked in a rectangular pan coated with olive oil, topped with mozzarella cheese, and finished with a layer of tomato sauce.

Since it was created by home cooks, Grandma pizza is traditionally made without a pizza oven. It's cut into square pieces for serving.

Buffalo Wings

There are several unverified origin stories for Buffalo wings, but most can be traced back to the Bellissimo family at Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York.

The chicken wings — which can be fried, baked, or grilled — are usually separated into drums and flats. The flapper (or pointer) is often discarded, but sometimes it's left attached to the flat.

Traditional Buffalo wings are tossed in a buttery, cayenne pepper-based sauce that ranges in spiciness from mild to hot. They're often served with celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing, as these additions provide a cooling effect.

New York-Style Cheesecake

There's nothing more rich, decadent, or intensely satisfying than a slice of New York cheesecake. What sets this style apart? In NYC, heavy cream or sour cream is added to the filling to create a denser and smoother texture.

New York-style cheesecake usually features a graham cracker crust and is baked in a springform pan.

For a bit of extra oomph, top the elegant dessert with fruit sauce, chocolate syrup, fresh fruit, or whipped cream.

Pretzels

One of the many things that makes New York City great? The delicious street food on every corner.

Soft-baked pretzels made their way to New Amsterdam (a settlement on the Southern tip of Manhattan Island) via Dutch immigrants in the early 1800s. The salty snack has been a street food staple ever since.

It's easier than you think to make the knotted, savory snack at home. Top them with sea salt and serve with mustard for an authentic New York experience.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking