• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
State of Dinner
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Tips
  • State Dishes
  • Start Here
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Tips
  • State Dishes
  • Start Here
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Kitchen Tips
    • State Dishes
    • Start Here
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » State Dishes » Famous Food from Michigan

    Famous Food from Michigan

    Published: Oct 27, 2020 · Modified: Oct 9, 2021 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    • Share
    • Twitter
    Pinterest Pin: Famous food from Michigan, paczki and coney dogs.

    Guest post by Tera Rowe

    Detroit is the epicenter of the auto industry, Michigan's largest city, and the birthplace of both of our recipes of famous food from Michigan. Henry Ford’s high $5 a day was a huge draw for African American immigrants during the Great Migration, as well as immigrants from central and eastern Europe. Greek brothers and Polish bakers inspire the featured recipes of our famous food from Michigan.

    Beyond the city of Detroit, Michigan is an excellent place to grow food. The Great Lakes provide plenty of water, a good climate, and great growing conditions. This makes Michigan #2 in agricultural diversity. Many food producers such as Kellogg’s cereal, Ballpark Franks, and Gerber Baby Food call Michigan home.

    Jump to:
    • Coney Dogs
    • Paczki
    • Famous Food From Michigan Menu
    • Michigan State Facts
    • About the Author
    • Reviews

    Coney Dogs

    Greek and Macedonian immigrants spread the Coney Dog across the eastern US in the 1900s and 1910s. It’s not clear exactly where the birthplace is. But if you go just by sheer numbers and the longevity of the restaurants, Michigan is a likely answer. The origin might be disputed, but what a coney dog consists of is not. A coney dog is a beef hot dog in natural casing, served in a soft steamed bun. The hot dog is topped with an all-meat chili (no beans), diced white onions, and yellow mustard. The chili is usually slightly sweet and a little bit spicy thanks to its Greek roots.

    In Detroit, Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island have been in a friendly sibling rivalry for over 80 years! Greek sheepherders from Dara founded the diners to serve hot dogs to auto workers. Both claim to be the first opening in the early 1910s.

    The longest continually open coney restaurant is in my hometown, Kalamazoo! It’s been operating since 1915. My grandma grew up near Flint and would not eat at the Flint location because it just wasn’t the same. She was always ready for a coney dog when she returned to Flint or Detroit to visit family, but she wouldn't touch the ones closer to her new home. The coney dog is so ingrained in our food culture that people even top their bowls of chili with onions and mustard!

    Two coney dogs with French fries behind them.

    Paczki

    Paczki (pronounced “pohnch-key”) is a donut-like pastry that is filled with custard or jam. Traditional jam flavors are prune and rose. Now you will find raspberry, cherry, even dulce de leche! Paczki came to Michigan thanks to Polish immigrants that settled in Hamtramck and Poletown in the 1880s. They needed a way to use up sugar and lard leading up to Lent and created this delicious donut. Now they are served as a pre-Lenten treat.

    Fat Tuesday is lovingly referred to as "Paczki Day" across Michigan. It is the only time you can find these tasty treats. Bakeries go all out with different flavored fillings, each one will have at least 15 different varieties to choose from. Everyone has a favorite bakery that they claim makes the best paczki. They get in line early or even pre-order to be sure they get their favorites. One year my son and I visited the 5 bakeries in our area that serve paczki. Surprisingly our favorites were from a bakery inside a gas station!

    Three paczkis on a plate with strawberry jam, custard, and dulce de leche filling.

    Famous Food From Michigan Menu

    • Coney Dogs
    • Paczki

    Michigan State Facts

    • Michigan was the 26th state in the US
    • The only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the US is in Holland, Michigan
    • A one-mile stretch of road in Detroit is the location of the world's first concrete-paved road, poured in 1908
    • Two-thirds of the world's supply of tart cherries come from Michigan, making it the number one producer in the world
    • Michigan has more miles of freshwater shoreline than any other state
    • Famous people from Maine include: Henry Ford, Gilda Radner, Madonna

    About the Author

    Tera Rowe is the creator of Your Everyday Heirlooms. She collects vintage recipes from her family and around the country. You can connect with Tera on Facebook at Your Everyday Heirlooms.

    If this is the first state dinner you have enjoyed with us, check out our journey from the beginning, starting here.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Erin Gierhart

    Welcome! I'm Erin: Wife, mom, lover of great food, and former food safety administrator. I am passionate about cooking mostly from scratch recipes that bring comfort, without spending all day in the kitchen. Most recipes on this site can be made in under 30 minutes! This approach to cooking allows me to provide delicious meals for my family while freeing up time to spend with those I love.

    Let's Get Started→

    Popular Recipes

    • Using a whipped cream dispenser to pile whipped cream in a jar.
      Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe for a Dispenser
    • Pulling a serving of casserole from the pan, with chicken dripping off the server.
      Sour Cream Enchilada Casserole
    • Overhead of a bowl of pork green chili on a plate with a lime wedge.
      Colorado Pork Green Chili
    • Pillowy whipped cream in a bowl with a spoon.
      How to Stabilize Whipped Cream with Cream of Tartar
    • Basket of air fryer boneless chicken wings with ranch dip, carrots, and celery.
      Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Wings
    • Stack of 3 no bake peanut butter buckeye bars with a plate of bars in background.
      No-Bake Peanut Butter Buckeye Bars

    Easter Favorites

    • Plate of parsley garnished lamb chops, onr chop has a piece sliced off showing medium-rare center.
      Best Air Fryer Lamb Chops with Garlic & Rosemary
    • Scooping out some mashed potatoes with a wooden spoon, leek, garlic, and gruyere in background.
      Gruyere and Leek Mashed Potatoes
    • Close up of a kale salad with stainless serving tools, topped with shaved parmesan and almonds.
      Kale Crunch Salad (Chick-Fil-A Copycat)
    • A sweet potato roll cut in half, showing the soft inside, and sitting on more rolls in a bread basket.
      2-Ingredient Sweet Potato Rolls
    • Strawberry salad on a plate with a second slice on a plate along with the pan of pretzel salad.
      Strawberry Pretzel Salad Without Cool Whip
    • Side view of 3 mini egg cookies shingled on white parchment with broken candy pieces around, a stack of cookies and a jar of milk in background.
      Soft Mini Egg Cookies (No Chill)
    • Close up of cherry pie with cream cheese filling in a graham cracker crust.
      No-Bake Cherry Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
    • Side angle view of a rich and fudgy brownie square topped with chocolate egg candies and more brownies in background.
      Mini Egg Brownies (One Bowl!)

    As Featured In

    Logos of the various publications where State of Dinner has been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Get Started Here
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

    Accessibility

    • Accessibility Policy

    Let's Work Together

    • Collaboration

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 State of Dinner