Among Friends

[sarahpanda]

 While at the dentist office a few days ago, the assistant and I were discussing things that people in the southern area of the country that are different from the northern area.  I mentioned that I use to float peanuts in my Coke bottle - she'd never heard of that but told me about 'coffee syrup' that people use in the north that we in the south have never heard of.  I know I haven't.  There were other things in the convo that I found interesting. Do you use 'coffee syrup'???

[catter70]

I live in the north east, but have never heard of coffee syrup. I Googled it and it's to enhance the flavor of coffee, tea, beverages, cake and even ice cream. I'm sure there is more you can do with it. BTW, never have heard of the peanut in the coke bottle. What's that about?

[Desertdi]

I think food varies more by CITY than north/south.

[Starpolisher]

I'm from NJ. I've floted peanuts 🥜 in my coke 🥤and beer 🍺 in the 70's. 😄 The first time I'd ever heard of coffee ☕️ syrup was 14 years ago at a good friend's, daughter's wedding. They had a coffee bar.

[PhilaLady1]

I lived in Philadelphia most of my life, and then over a decade living 3 miles outside of the same city. I'm in my late 60s and I've never heard of coffee syrup or floating peanuts in Coke. And aren't there regions of the country that call any carbonated drink of any flavor Coke?

[candys mine]

OK, Northern girl here,  My curiosity has gotten the better of me.

I "Get"  Coffee syrup.  I used to use it like Hershey's in a glass of milk way back when.

But Peanuts In Coke?  What am I missing???

[Desertdi]

---

@candys mine wrote:

OK, Northern girl here,  My curiosity has gotten the better of me.

I "Get"  Coffee syrup.  I used to use it like Hershey's in a glass of milk way back when.

But Peanuts In Coke?  What am I missing???

---

@candys mine 

Well, *I* would surely CHOKE if there was a peanut in my beverage...   di

[vermint]

Southern Girl here...my friends use to put peanuts in their Cokes, but I never saw the appeal, though I love an icy-cold Coke! I've never heard of coffee syrup, but I don't like anything "coffee", so maybe I just didn't notice. I never liked iced tea, either.

I've lived in the South since I was 7 y/o, and never heard anything but a Coke called a Coke. Generic term for us was "soda" or "drink". And actually Coke was very often called "Co-cola".

[CalminHeart]

Every area has different foods and condiments. I've been to 47 states and they all differ in some ways. 

I've never seen grits, crawfish, mud pie, Po' Boy, low country boil, and a lot of other southern dishes on a menu in my home state but have when I was traveling.

[amyb]

Interesting topic. Definitely differences, "regionally" in our cooking, family/regional traditional foods.

One thing that came to my mind first (I'm in CT)

I follow Brenda Gantt on Facebook, love her videos, and to watch her "deep south" Alabama life...because it's so different from my own Northeast, "Yankee", New England, suburban, Italian/American traditions. I love both.

But one thing I noticed, regionally....a lot of ingredients for her regular cooking, or brands, I find are not prevelent in my area, such as "White Lily" flour (I tried it during Covid, when EVERYone seemed to be baking so my Fresh Market actually had it available then, not since...it really WAS the best, lightest, silkiest flour I've ever used!) Also, buttermilk not as easily found in my grocery...sometimes, not always or regularly. Brenda uses buttermilk almost everyday, in so many of her "fried" recipes, which she does a lot! I think buttermilk is rarely used up here. Not never, but much less cooking with it....much less fried food cooked regularly up here. Although we love going out for our summertime fried New England seafood up here!!

Butter beans, not so much. Found a can once in my grocery, loved them...not since. 

On the other hand....to "Miss Brenda"...a lot of the mediterranean ingredients, so common up here, aren't used or are "foreign" to her down there.

To me...all the regional differences, ways of cooking, eating, (and I know I'm not saying anything groundbreaking here)...are "what make this country" what it is, and fun, and interesting.

I have heard of the peanuts in Coke, (though never tried...but then, I'm not a Coke drinker...never was a Cola lover), I'd think it's the sweet/salty thing?

I've NEVER heard of coffee syrup?!