Does North Dakota Have Some Of The Worst Food In America?

Is the state of North Dakota culinary challenged?

That is definitely the outside perception. A recent online article on MSN caught my eye, "The Absolute 10 Worst States for Food in America."

I don't entirely agree with the comments and data presented in this article, but then again, I am a born and raised North Dakotan who is very content with my meat-and-potatoes lifestyle.

North Dakota is indeed one of the states with the worst food options in the United States.

In fact, we came in at #2, only behind Alaska. Here's what the article had to say about the Peace Garden State when it comes to our food options.

Even though North Dakota is known as the breadbasket of America with our proud farming tradition, most of our restaurants stick to basic foods like hotdish and tater tot casserole.

Again, I can't say I've seen "tater tot casserole" on many menus at eateries across the state. Sounds like a big reach to me. They also went on to say we have a lack of ethnic food options, and many towns lack even a single decent restaurant. YIKES.

They called us a "culinary wasteland", especially compared to Minnesota (who cares about Minnesota?). And finally, the fact that North Dakota's rural character means long drives to find a meal that isn't smothered in gravy (who doesn't love gravy?).

I guess I won't be inviting any of these food critics over to my deck for a barbecue anytime soon.

Ethnic foods rarely make it on my table, and that's the way I like it. Sorry, food critics. By the way, our neighboring states, South Dakota, came in at #4, and Montana at #5.

How about you? Do you think North Dakota is "food-challenged"?