Is Nacho Cheese With Breadsticks an Indiana Thing?

Is Nacho Cheese With Breadsticks an Indiana Thing?

Long before I moved to Evansville, I was already familiar with the area. My girlfriends and I came over often for girls’ night out at the Funny Bone. We had a ritual. We would order breadsticks from Mancino’s Samuel Italian Eatery next door and champagne.

I don’t really remember if we were just too broke to order full meals or what, but we feasted on carbs and sugar and had absolutely no regrets at the time.

Even though the Funny Bone is gone and Mancino’s closed in Evansville, those breadsticks have lived rent-free in my head ever since. The bread was always warm, golden, and just a little underdone inside. And they came with two very distinct sides, marinara and nacho cheese.

Breadsticks With Nacho Cheese Just Felt Normal

Who knows, maybe one of my friends always ordered the nacho cheese separately, but I clearly remember dipping breadsticks into that gooey cheese. So I was genuinely shocked to learn recently that not everyone knows how amazing nacho cheese is with a hot breadstick.

A Facebook page called Chicagobeer posted a video about an Illinois guy having dinner with his wife’s family from Indiana. They ordered breadsticks and, naturally, they came with nacho cheese. In the video, he asks, “Is this an Indiana thing? Is my wife’s family strange? Or is this just something I didn’t know?”

I was surprised. I know it’s not traditional Italian fare, but I’ve been dipping breadsticks in nacho cheese since I was ordering Little Caesars with my parents in elementary school.

So I went straight to the comments.

The Consensus on Nacho Cheese and Breadsticks

Nacho cheese with breadsticks is absolutely an Indiana thing, but it is not universal across the entire state. It is common in central and southern Indiana, especially at places like Greek’s, Pizza King, and Noble Roman’s.

In Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan, marinara still tends to rule, which explains the confusion and mild culture shock. Where you are from in Indiana strongly affects what you expect to dunk your breadsticks into.

What Hoosiers Are Saying

Laura Riffel:
“Lived in Indiana my entire life and had never seen anybody use nacho cheese on breadsticks.”

Nova Carden:
“Down in southern Indiana I think it’s a thing. My husband does it, but he’s from that part of Indiana that may as well be KY.”

Amanda Deiser Johnston:
“It’s also definitely a thing here. Pizza places here will ask which you prefer.”

Kara Edge:
“NWI & SWMI cheese with breadsticks vs marinara is most definitely a thing.”

Moira Ashlock:
“I’m in NWI and I’ve not ever been given nacho cheese instead of marinara.”

Sarah Kline:
“Indiana woman here. Went to Florida in high school for our senior trip. My girlfriends and I ordered breadsticks with both sauces and the waitress immediately said, ‘You ladies must be from Indiana.’ She told us only people from Indiana ask for marinara and cheese. Sadly, they didn’t have nacho cheese.”

Michelle Rogers:
“Strictly Indiana. I’ve done extensive research. However, a cheese and marinara combo is ideal.”

Destiny Desiree:
“It’s an Indiana thing. It stems from our love of giant pretzels.”

Double-Dipping Welcome

So whether you’re team marinara, team nacho cheese, or proudly double-dipping, just know this. If you’ve ever dunked a breadstick into nacho cheese without a second thought, there’s a good chance you’re from Indiana. And if you think it’s gross, well you are just wrong. Oh and if you are wondering where to go to get your nacho cheese fix, I love Mama Roma’s and Little Caesars. But I’d love to know where you go for the best breadsticks and nacho cheese!

Chime In on Your Thoughts

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