David,
I understand the food traditions and honor them. I had to try them. I may even go back someday. Here in LA, we have Philippe's French Dip. We took a trip downtown for these sandwiches a couple years ago. Not an especially memorable sandwich, but it's the founding place of the French Dip sandwich. I try to hit the historic food joints when possible.
I will say that the Peking duck we had in the supposed founding restaurant in Bejing was excellent.
NY pizza...just ok. Eastcoast Italian in general, the best I've ever had.
