Posted in South Dakota Dining February 09, 2021 by

Here Are 8 Bizarre South Dakota Food Facts That You May Not Know

South Dakota is known for its down-home foods that can be as innovative as they are delicious. While kuchen, hot beef sandwiches, and walleye are well known throughout the Mount Rushmore State, you may not know that we have an official state food or that we have our very own potato capital, which is why we are bringing you this list of 8 bizarre South Dakota food facts that you may not know:

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1. Let's begin with the official South Dakota state food, which, when it comes to dessert, is, of course, kuchen!
Flickr/Der Toco
What else would it be? 
2. Did you know that we even have our own state bread? Can you guess what it is? 
Flickr/supafly
If you guessed mouthwatering fry bread, you would be correct! 
3. As mentioned in the introduction, South Dakota has its very own potato capital.
Flickr.J. Stephen Conn
The spud-tastic town is none other than Clark, which hosts an annual Clark Potato Day complete with mashed potato wrestling. 
4. Kuchen may be the official state dessert, and fry bread may be our favorite bread, but only one food can be dubbed South Dakota's "official nosh."
Gomboc2008/Wikimedia Commons
What nosh is so delicious that it is officially the best? Chislic (deep-fried meat cubes on a stick).
5. There are a whopping 31,169 farms in the Mount Rushmore State.
Flickr/J Swanstrom (Never enough time...)
Even more impressive is that our rich farmland covers a whopping 43,666,403 acres, which accounts for 90% of the state. 
6. Milk is the official state drink of South Dakota.
Flickr/Guy Montag
Because state drinks are really a thing. 
7. One of the biggest influences in SoDak cuisine is our area's various cultures.
Flickr/Michele
From the Lakota Sioux, we have wasna (dried buffalo meat, cranberries, and grains) and wojapi (a mixed berry dipping sauce). From our European ancestors, we have the aforementioned kuchen and another local favorite: kolache (pictured). 
8. Last but certainly not least, the World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell is comprised of more than 275,000 ears of corn. 
Jonathunder/Wikimedia Commons
C'mon, you knew we couldn't have a list of bizarre food facts without mentioning the one and only Mitchell Corn Palace!

Do you have a favorite place that you would like to see featured on Only in South Dakota? Nominate it here! For even more food fun, check out these 10 Iconic Foods in South Dakota That Will Have Your Mouth Watering.

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