A Tribute To All of the Food That Made Parks and Recreation

By Food & Wine

Updated July 06, 2017

Credit: © Ryan Liebe

Tonight is the series finale of Parks and Recreation, one of the funniest shows on TV. It taught us the importance of small-town values, treating ourselves and tiny horses. Over the course of seven seasons, food played a significant role in the show. To pay tribute to a show we will all miss, here are the foods that played a pivotal role in Parks and Rec, with the funniest clips and some recipes to help with your withdrawal.

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Pawnee Foodies

Credit: © AF archive / Alamy

“Zerts are what I call desserts. Tray-trays are entrées. I call sandwiches ‘sammies,’ ‘sandoozles,’ or ‘Adam Sandlers.’ Air conditioners are ‘cool blasterz.’ I call cakes ‘big ol’ cookies.’ I call noodles ‘long-ass rice.’ Fried chicken is ‘fry-fry chicky-chick.’ Chicken parm is ‘chicky-chicky-parm-parm.’ Chicken cacciatore? ‘Chicky-cach.’ I call eggs ‘pre-birds,’ or ‘future birds.’ Root beer is ‘super water.’ Tortillas are ‘bean blankets.’ And I call forks ‘food rakes.’” - Tom Haverford (watch the full clip here)

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Calzones

Credit: © Christina Holmes

Try this calzone recipe

When Ben lost his job and spiraled into depression, he started creating calzones, one of his favorite foods. When he hits his all-time low, he comes up with the idea to open a restaurant chain called Low-Cal Calzone Zone. "Calzones are pointless. They’re just pizza that’s harder to eat. No one likes them. Good day, sir.”