Regional Eating in the United States Infographic
The food that a region grows often has a big influence on the cuisine of that region, so it’s no surprise that shrimp and gumbo are popular along the Gulf Coast, and Key Lime Pie is a classically Floridian dessert. But what about Chicago Deep Dish pizza and Seattle coffee? Tomatoes don’t grow well in the Midwest, and coffee beans are not partial to the damp Pacific Northwest. At the same time, it would be ridiculous to claim that Seattle isn’t famous for its coffee, or that Chicago deep dish anywhere besides Chicago is half as good as the real thing (I know. After spending college in Chicago, I got addicted to it, and haven’t been able to find anything that compares outside of the Windy City).
Sometimes, what’s locally grown and locally eaten don’t always mesh. It’s always better to eat locally-grown food, but every now and then, we like to sample some local cuisine, even if it’s based on imported ingredients. After all, ingredients are only half of the food equation; the rest is tradition and culture. Cuisine and taste is often as regional as fruits and vegetables. Tomato sauce, so characteristic of Italian cooking, isn’t even made from a plant originally found in Europe, after all.
Just for fun, here’s a simple survey of some regional meals, courtesy of Recipe-Finder.com. Some of them are based on what food is locally available, and some are just local flavor.
Of course, making any of these dishes with locally grown produce and meats would make that much more homegrown, and that much more delicious.
Enjoy!
Great post! Regional food faves play such an important role in our nation’s varied culture!
BBQ Smoker Site´s last [type] ..Ziggy Dick’s BBQ Cookoff and Festival