The focus ofParks and Recreation was on Leslie Knope's desire to make the fictional town of Pawnee a better place through the efforts of the parks and recreation department. Along the way, viewers became familiar with Leslie's politics, in-office romances, and friendships among colleagues.
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Another small aspect of the show was the characters' love of food. Tom Haverford rambled about all of the nicknames he has for food (“Zerts are what I call desserts. Tray-trays are entrées. I call sandwiches ‘sammies...'") and Leslie treated JJ's Diner like a five-star restaurant. From waffles to meat tornadoes,Parks and Recreation had amazing food moments.
Ben & His Calzones
When Ben was unemployed and still living with April and Andy, he spent his time in the kitchen focusing on his love of calzones. Or as he called it, the "calzone zone." His love of calzones and Leslie's love of waffles made the pair one of TV's best couples.
Nevertheless, Ben showed Chris how he created his calzones and furthered his love for them throughout the series. He defended them against pizza at a police function, chose them for his wedding with Leslie, and he submitted a calzone in the pie contest. Ben and his calzones could not be separated.
Every Order At JJ's Diner
JJ's Diner is a staple in Pawnee and one of Leslie's favorite restaurants because of their waffles and whipped cream. The owner of JJ's even said Leslie was his favorite customer because she spent over $1,000 in a year on waffles alone.
Some of the best foodie moments have been shown at JJ's. Ron and Leslie frequented JJ's to eat while discussing business strategies. In fact, their love of food is what made Leslie and Ron such a great duo. Ron loved JJ'sThe Four Horse-Meals of the Egg-Pork-alypse, while Leslie stuck with her waffles. Either way, every food scene at JJ's was a favorite.
The Wedding Menu Tasting
Ben and Leslie became one of the best couples on the show when they finally started dating. After a rocky start to their relationship—and a minor break—everything made sense when they got engaged.
While planning the wedding, one of Ben's jobs was to pick the caterer for the wedding. Knowing that Leslie and their friends were foodies, Ben had Tom, Ron, and Chris help pick the meals since they all had different tastes. Chris raved about the vegetables, Ron only cared about the meat, and Tom was focused on the presentation. Together, they were an unstoppable foodie crew.
"The Swanson"
Ron Swanson had some incredible quotes throughoutParks and Recreation, especially when they focused on his love of food. As a carnivore, Ron showed pride in his meat in 'Freddy Spaghetti.'
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At the outdoor event, Ron was seen holding a turkey leg wrapped in bacon. When Tom asked him about it, Ron told him the food truck called it a "Swanson" and took a huge bite out of it. The pride and excitement on his face while carrying around this charred meat item was hilarious.
A Trip To The Health Food Store
In the third season, Chris asked Ron, April, and Andy if they wanted to go to Grain'n Simple for some fresh ingredients for their burger cook-off (more on that below). No one had heard of the health food store except for Chris.
While Chris called the store "nirvana" and knew all of the employees by name, April, Ron, and Andy were in another world; a world they didn't want to be in. Andyhad no idea what basic fruits and vegetables were andRon wanted nothing more than to trash vegan bacon. Seeing the three characters out of their element around food was humorous (although Chris was concerned).
Andy & Ron's Meat Tornado
One of the saddest things about Andy is that he didn't know what to do with his life. Fans of the series know that he eventually found his calling with performing for children, but before that, he had a string of odd jobs at city hall.
While covering for April as Ron's assistant, he encouraged Ron to get lunch from Big Head Joe's. Ron wasn't sure about trying somewhere new but when Andy said they had a meal called the Meat Tornado, Ron was hooked. The two happily ate their large, greasy meals in Ron's office, bonding over food and sports.
The Burger Cookoff
When Chris tries banning red meat from city hall's cafeteria, Ron objects to his decision and dares him to a burger cook-off. Ron and Chris would both cook their idea of the perfect burger. If Ron's burger won with the judges, Chris would have to keep meat on the menu.
Chris's turkey burger was a hit with the judges, but Ron's burger ended up winning everyone over. Fans related to Chris Traeger by wanting to be healthy but succumbing to the deliciousness that is a normal burger.
Ron's Favorite Steak Location
In season 3, Ron and Leslie were the best on-screen duo as they planned on making a pitstop in Indianapolis to eat at his favorite restaurant, Charles Mulligan's Steakhouse. Ron loved "Mulligan's" so much that he had a scrapbook showcasing the meals he had there (pictures included).
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Sadly, when he and Leslie arrived at the steakhouse, Ron found out the restaurant had closed for good. He felt duped and heartbroken over never having his favorite meal again. Hungry, angry, and sad,Ron and Leslie went to Chris's to eat dinner instead. But when Ron found out Chris was making mushroom burgers instead of real burgers, his foodie night was ruined.
The Creation Of "Salgar"
After coming clean to Chris and the city of Pawnee about her romantic relationship with Ben Wyatt, she was suspended for two weeks before being allowed back at work. Leslie was not good at lounging about, so in the meantime, she created a seasoning called salgar - a combination of salt and sugar.
Ben asked Leslie what foods one could add salgar to, to which Leslie said margaritas and butterscotch pudding. She was seen throughout the series adding salgar to various foods, including pasta.
The Moment Ben Gave Leslie Her Favorite Waffle In The Hospital
'Flu Season' was one of the most important Ben and Leslie episodes because it showcase a glimmer of hope for a potential love connection between the two.
With Leslie sick in the hospital, Ben showed up to make sure she was okay, and he didn't show up empty-handed. Not only did he make her homemade chicken soup but he also brought her waffles from JJ's Diner. This proved how well he actually knew Leslie and that he quietly cared for her. Seeing Leslie munch on a massive waffle while in the hospital bed was also a highlight moment.
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