Informational on regional cuisine of the USA

1. Regional Cuisine of theRegional Cuisine of the
United StatesUnited States
International & RegionalInternational & Regional FoodsFoods

2. Historical OverviewHistorical Overview
 Food customs of the US are asFood customs of the US are as
diverse as its inhabitants.diverse as its inhabitants.
• People who live in the US have rootsPeople who live in the US have roots
that stretch around the globe because ofthat stretch around the globe because of
immigration.immigration.
• The USA is commonly referred to as aThe USA is commonly referred to as a
melting pot etc.melting pot etc.

3. Coming to AmericaComing to America
• After 1492 people began to leave theirAfter 1492 people began to leave their
homelands for the New Worldhomelands for the New World
– Escape debtEscape debt
– Religious prosecutionReligious prosecution
– Famine and diseaseFamine and disease
• Some came as forced laborers and othersSome came as forced laborers and others
in search of fame & fortunein search of fame & fortune
– With them came their customs and cultureWith them came their customs and culture

4. The Native AmericansThe Native Americans
 Food customs began with the NativeFood customs began with the Native
AmericansAmericans
 Native Americans were great farmersNative Americans were great farmers
 First to cultivate potatoes, pineapples, tomatoes,First to cultivate potatoes, pineapples, tomatoes,
peppers, and other fruits and vegetablespeppers, and other fruits and vegetables
 During the time of Christopher Columbus:During the time of Christopher Columbus:
 Beans, corn, squash, nuts, berries, fish, game meatBeans, corn, squash, nuts, berries, fish, game meat
 The high nutritional diet made many NativeThe high nutritional diet made many Native
Americans healthier than the EuropeansAmericans healthier than the Europeans

5. The First Colonists
• British
• Jamestown and Plymouth
• Spanish
• St. Augustine
• French
• Louisiana and along the St. Lawrence
River
• Dutch
• New Netherland Colony (now New York)

6. The First ColonistsThe First Colonists
 Struggle for survivalStruggle for survival

Shelter, food, prevent sickness, getShelter, food, prevent sickness, get
along with the Native Americansalong with the Native Americans

Native Americans taught them how toNative Americans taught them how to
plant corn, squash and beans, and howplant corn, squash and beans, and how
to fish and huntto fish and hunt

7. The First ColonistsThe First Colonists
 As the colonists knowledge grewAs the colonists knowledge grew
 Addition of lobster, crab & seafoodAddition of lobster, crab & seafood
chowderschowders
 Pumpkin pies, puddings and cakesPumpkin pies, puddings and cakes
 Corn used to make johnnycakes, hastyCorn used to make johnnycakes, hasty
pudding and succotashpudding and succotash
 Fruits for cobblers and puddingsFruits for cobblers and puddings

8. The ImmigrantsThe Immigrants
 Communities sprung up on the east coastCommunities sprung up on the east coast
 Settle on fertile lands inlandSettle on fertile lands inland
 Many stayed together in regionsMany stayed together in regions
– British, German, French, Dutch in theBritish, German, French, Dutch in the
NortheastNortheast
– British, French and Spanish in the deep SouthBritish, French and Spanish in the deep South
– Other Spanish settlers chose the SouthwestOther Spanish settlers chose the Southwest

9. US Regional Cuisine
 New England
 Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island
 Mid-Atlantic
 New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware
 South
 Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia,
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Mississippi, Florida

10. US Regional Cuisine
 Midwest
 North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska,
Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio
 West and Southwest
 Idaho, Montana, Texas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona,
New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming
 Pacific Coast
 Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska

11. USA 1800’s - Today
 Many people came in the 1800’s in search of
economic opportunities
 Came with very little tangible items but a wealth of culture
 Most went to cities
 New York, Chicago, Detroit
 These new immigrants brought their native food customs
which is why today we have such cuisines as Italian,
Chinese, Irish, polish and Indian in America.
 2000’s - Making the old, new again!