AMERICAN FOOD = REGIONAL FOOD
There is no ONE American cuisine. Because of America's diversity there is no national cuisine. We do, however, have regional foods.
Regional food is based on two factors:
1. The geography of a region, and the foods that are able to
grow there.
2. The immigrants who settle in a particular region.
Immigrants tend to settle according to nationality. They
bring their traditions with them and then adapt them to
the foods that could be found locally. By combining
regional ingredients with Old World traditions, special
American regional foods have been created.
The main regional food categories are:
Region |
Food |
| NORTHEAST |
Cranberries, Oysters, Rhubarb, Apples, Cheese-steak |
| SOUTHEAST |
Grits, Collards, Biscuits, Peaches, Shrimp, Tomatoes, Okra |
| SOUTHWEST |
Chilis, Tortillas, Corn, Beans, Oranges, Grapes, Lettuce, Avocados |
| MIDWEST |
Corn, Beef, Grains, Kielbasa, Pierogie, Pasta, Pizza |
| NORTHWEST |
Salmon, Clams, Cheese, Apples, Strawberries |
Following is a list of some of our states and foods for which they are noted:
State |
Regional Food |
| ALABAMA |
Shrimp |
| ALASKA |
Salmon |
| CALIFORNIA |
Grapes, Oranges, Strawberries, Lettuce, Artichokes, Spinach, Rice, and a wide variety of other fruits and vegetables |
| COLORADO |
Trout |
| CONNECTICUT |
Nutmeg, Eastern Oyster |
| FLORIDA |
Oranges, Grapefruits, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Sugarcane |
| GEORGIA |
Peaches, peanuts, pecans, vidalia onions, strawberries |
| HAWAII |
Leads the nation in the production of pineapples and is the second largest producer of sugarcane, behind Florida. |
| IDAHO |
Potatoes |
| IOWA |
Leads the nation in the production of pork, corn, soybeans and eggs. |
| LOUISIANA |
Crawfish |
| MAINE |
Lobster, potatoes |
| MARYLAND |
Blue crabs |
| MASSACHUSETTS |
Cranberries |
| MISSISSIPPI |
Oysters |
| NEBRASKA |
Corn |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE |
Striped bass and brook trout |
| NEW JERSEY |
Tomatoes, blueberries, sweet corn |
| NEW MEXICO |
Chili peppers |
| OKLAHOMA |
Watermelons |
| OREGON |
Chinook salmon, pears, hazelnuts, berries, Dungeness crabs |
| RHODE ISLAND |
Quohog clams, oysters |
| TEXAS |
#1 in the nation for cattle, sheep, goats, and processed spinach |
| VERMONT |
Maple sugar |
| VIRGINIA |
Ham and peanuts |
| WASHINGTON |
Apples |
|
