American Food Culture in 50 Sandwiches

Critics of American food have long said that we have no unified culture - and in many ways, they are right, we are not France. But in our defense, we are much larger than France, and nearly every corner of America has some specialty food to call their own. With this idea in mind, design student Kelly Pratt set out to make 50 sandwiches - one representing each state's unique food culture. 

How does Pratt decide on each sandwich? She consults cookbooks, calls delis, asks tweeters, and scours the internet for the sandwich she thinks best represents each state. When she decides, she photographs it, eats it, and posts the decision on her website, "Stately Sandwiches." So far, twelve states are done (we are proud to announce that New York is the Reuben), but for the rest, she is still taking suggestions.

While Pratt's main motivation for the website was design (she is a design student looking for work), she has inadvertantly pointed out that food culture does exist in America, even if it is hidden in something as humble and practical as the sandwich. 

Stately Sandwiches: Design Student Kelly Pratt Creates a Meal for Each State from The Huffington Post