As with most other states in the Midwest, Nebraska's traditional cuisine is made up of classic American recipes (like pot roast, meat loaf, and apple pie) and cooking methods. But the Cornhusker State is not limited solely to mainstream menus. While the foods of the Midwest have greatly contributed to America's overall culinary culture, Nebraska definitely has its own unique fare, which has been influenced by various ethnic groups that have migrated to the area throughout history. Another highly influential factor when considering Nebraska's foods is the state's agriculture. Various well-known brand name foods have also gotten their start in Nebraska.
Pioneering Provisions
Finding food in the uncharted territory that is now the state of Nebraska was no easy task for early European settlers. As the Cornhusker State's wilderness was being developed, pioneers had to learn to live off of the land. During their westward quest across the United States, the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 made note of the various foodways they discovered during their journeys through Nebraska. Elk, buffalo, deer, catfish, and other fish, as well as different kinds of fowl like grouse and duck, were among the edible items available to them. A few native plants also made it onto the pioneers' menus, including wild grapes, plums, gooseberries, and wild cherries.
Fur trappers were among the first to settle in the state. They learned many of their culinary practices from the nomadic Native Americans in the area. Much of the trappers' diets consisted of basic food items and ingredients like salt pork, coffee, unbleached flour, and sugar. With the construction of the railroads in mid-1860s came the migration of tens of thousands of homesteaders. Life for these migrants was very difficult as they adapted their food preparation styles and diets to fit with what kinds of rations were available.
Nebraska eventually became a part of the American farm belt providing wheat, beef, and other staples for the military as well as for urban areas.
Made in Nebraska
A number of popular food products have originated in the state of Nebraska, ranging from savory sandwiches to delicious desserts.
Nebraska Runza Sandwich
Among the many people who migrated to Nebraska in during the 17th century were German-speaking Russians. These immigrants brought with them their own ethnic cooking styles and traditional recipes, including the Runza sandwich. Runza sandwiches, also called Bierocks, are pockets of yeast bread filled with beef, cabbage or sauerkraut, onions, and seasonings. Though baked in various shapes (half moon, round, square, etc.), traditional Nebraska Runzas are generally rectangular. The Kansas Bierock, on the other hand, is baked in the round shape of a bun. This German-Russian dish, often served to field workers for lunch, was passed along by early settlers from one generation to the next.
Throughout Nebraska there are eateries called "runza," often with a specific place name, specializing in these unique sandwiches. The first Runza Drive-Inn was opened in Lincoln by Sarah "Sally" Everett and her brother, Alex Brening, in 1949. Donald Everett, Sally's son, purchased the trade name in 1964, and in 1979 he began franchising Runza Restaurants. Today vacationers can sample one of these savory sandwiches at Runza chain restaurants and other eateries.
Popcorn Folklore
You can't talk about Nebraska cuisine without mentioning corn, specifically popcorn. Nicknamed the Cornhusker State, Nebraska is one of the top producers of popcorn in the country. As some stories go, popcorn was discovered one summer when it got so hot that corn began popping off its stalks in the fields. A number of Native American legends claim that usually quiet spirits live in corn kernels and when their houses were heated they'd become angry and shake their kernels. When the heat became overwhelming, the spirits would pop out of their kernels in a puff of steam.
Popcorn balls are a particularly popular recipe in Nebraska. Local folklore has it that popcorn balls orginated during the "Year of the Striped Weather," when a mile-long strip of blazing sun sat next to a mile-long strip of rain. Supposedly, one farm in particular had both kinds of weather, and where the sun was shining on the cornfield the corn began to pop. Where it was raining, the rain-washed syrup from the sugarcane down a hill into the cornfield in the valley and over the popped corn, creating giant popcorn balls.
Places to find popcorn balls and other popcorn products in Nebraska include B.K. Heuermann's Exclusive Popcorn, Colby Ridge Popcorn (which claims that people come from far and wide to "satisfy their Colby Ridge Popcorn cravings"), and Nebraska Popcorn Inc.
Omaha Steak Company
In 1917, Latvian migrants J.J. and B.A. Simon founded the Table Supply Meat Company, which became the Omaha Steaks company in 1966. Headquartered in Omaha, this family-owned business distributes, markets, and manufactures beef, seafood, and other goods such as pork, poultry, side items, and desserts nationwide. Omaha Steaks ships their products all over the country in insulated coolers packed with dry ice to keep them fresh. If Omaha is on your list of places to visit while in Nebraska, stop by Omaha Steaks to see firsthand the workings of one of America's top beef companies.
Goodrich Ice Cream
A popular sweet treat among the Baby Boomer generation, the first Goodrich brand ice cream was introduced at the Goodrich dairy store in 1932 in Nebraska. Goodrich quickly became a dessert icon throughout the Midwestern region, as going out for ice cream was a popular family pastime. By the 1980s, there were more than 50 dairy store chain outlets throughout the Midwest, including Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Now, Goodrich Ice Cream Shops provides such dairy dessert items as milk shakes, floats, ice cream, and more. Goodrich ice cream is manufactured at a facility in Norfolk, Nebraska. While visiting the Cornhusker State, vacationers will find Goodrich ice cream parlors throughout Nebraska.
Other Products of Nebraska
In addition to the Nebraskan food products mentioned above, you may recognize other brand names from the Cornhusker State, like Weaver's Potato Chips, which was founded in 1932 in Lincoln by Ed Weaver. Others include Pear's Coffee and Herman's Nut House, founded in Omaha in 1915; Nebraska Steaks; and Eileen's Colossal Cookies, which began in Hastings.
Finding the Fare
The majority of the restaurants in Nebraska serve up classic American cuisine and Midwestern regional cuisine. You'll find foods like hamburgers, steaks, barbecue, and other hearty eats. As well, there are a few ethnic food places with African, Mongolian, and Persian fare on the menu.
In addition to Nebraska's restaurants, the Cornhusker State has two food festivals at which you can sample local fare. The Taste of Omaha is a "festival of great foods and entertainment." Held in June, Taste of Omaha offers a wide selection of foods from Omaha's favorite restaurants. Health-conscious travelers will enjoy sampling the produce at the Applejack Festival in Nebraska City, which is known for their apple orchards. The weekend-long event includes an apple pie baking contest, a parade, the Apple Jam Fest, barbecues, dances, craft shows, and pancake feeds.
Founded on the food findings of Nebraska's early pioneers, the Cornhusker State's regional culinary styles and products have evolved to become an important part of this country's food culture. From hearty all-American cooking to popular brand name food items and agricultural eats, Nebraska serves up plenty of savory fare.
