What practical advice is offered for finding lesser-known 'hidden gem' regional favorites?

Answer

Ask bartenders, librarians, or shop owners about what their family eats for an everyday special meal

To bypass the well-publicized classics and discover the true depth of local flavor, a practical step involves engaging locals outside the typical restaurant industry. Hidden gems are often known through word-of-mouth and represent the most direct link to a historical diet before commercialization took hold. Therefore, seeking recommendations from bartenders, librarians, or shop owners—individuals deeply embedded in the community but perhaps not directly in the food service industry—is suggested as a method to uncover hyper-local favorites that remain unstandardized.

What practical advice is offered for finding lesser-known 'hidden gem' regional favorites?
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