United States Cuisine
Guide to Good Food Chapter 27
First Inhabitants
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Native Americans first inhabitants
Excellent farmers & hunters
vegetables, fruits, beans, corn squash,
game, berries, nuts, fish
European Settlers
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This is reflected in our cuisine. The
American diet will continue to change as
does its population.
First colonists British-Plymouth, MA &
Jamestown, VA
Spanish-St. Augustine, FL
Later- French- Louisiana
Dutch-New York
Culture of Immigrants
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The United States used to be known as
the “Great Melting Pot”. Why?
Recently it has been referred to as “The
Salad Bowl”. Why?
People of Habit
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Processed and prepackaged foods
came about in WWII.
Women had to work and time/money
was tight. Fast food was born!
Despite health concerns, processed and
fast food continue to be a staple in the
Amercian diet.
Daily diet
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Large breakfasts (Yankee breakfasts)
are popular.
Farmers and cowboys needed hearty
and filling foods to keep them full while
working hard outside and away from the
home all day.
Soup, salad and sandwiches for lunch
Dinner eaten together followed by a
sweet snack
New England-ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI
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British- corn beans squash- keep during
winter
harsh winter, rugged, rocky coastline,
forests
Native Americans- cornmeal- made into
mush (Hasty Pudding) and cornbread
(Jonny or Journey cakes)
Coastline made fish available
New England
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Everyone had a fireplace- used one
large pot for cooking (Dutch oven)
salt and dry, corned beef, beets
succotash, baked beans,cod salted and
dried, clams (chowder)
brown bread (cornmeal/molasses)
maple syrup, blueberries
Mid-Atlantic-NY, PA, MD, DE, NJ
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Dutch, German, Swedish, British
Better farmland, milder climates
NYC founded by Dutch
Immigrants landing in Staten Islandsettled there- foods from all over the
world can be found
Many Jewish immigrants- bagels
Pennsylvania Dutch
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Germans escaping Europe for religious
freedom- also-Amish, Mennonites
Plain, healthy food- home grown, thrifty
Pork, sweets, pickling, canning
scrapple, bloodpudding, stuffed heart,
pig feet, tongue, bologna
soup, baking, sausages, noodles
7 sweets/7 sours
South- AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, TN, KY,
WV, VA, NC, SC
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Native Americans- corn & beans
English & French- rice & cotton
Africans- economy & traditions
seafood/shellfish, chicken, pork, sweet
potatoes, okra, chilies, peanuts
Cajun- African/Caribbean- spicy, soupy,
usually with rice
Creole- French & Spanish
South
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Year round farming
sugarcane, rice, peanuts, fruit, corn
catfish, turtle, crayfish, shrimp
squirrel, turkey, chicken, pork
West & Southwest-ID, MT, WY, CO, UT,
NV, AZ, NM, TX
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Old mining towns, ranches, deserts,
mountains, oil fields
Tex-Mex- Former parts of Mexicoborder states
tortilla bases topped with cheese
Barbecues
Native Americans- breads, chilies
lamb, wild game, pheasant, corn, beans
W & SW
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Simple
homemade breads
beef - all parts
stews- beef stew, chili
chuck wagons- coffee, potatoes
Midwest- ND, SD, NE, SK, OK, MN, IA, MO,
WI, IL, MI, IN, OH
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Breadbasket
Flat land, fertile soil, rivers/lakes
Farm products, eggs, wild game
Family, community (church) “potluck”
dinners- everyone brings food to share
religious groups settled “Bible Belt”
Midwest
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Soybeans, pork, lamb, beef, corn,
wheat, fish, dairy, fruit, grains,
vegetables
fairs, festivals, picnics
hash browns, hot cereals, coleslaw,
corn, apple pie, steak, bake potato
Pacific Coast-CA, AK, OR, WA
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Fusion of Asian, American,
Mediterranean- healthy
Diverse geography
Tree fruits, pineapple, sugar cane,
citrus, cherries, olives, grapes
Cold water fish- salmon, shellfish
Warm water- mahi-mahi, tuna,
swordfish
Pac Coast
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Simple and natural
Native American, Asian, Mexican
Gold Rush- prospectors brought
Sourdough
Wild game, berries, freshwater fish
Hawaii
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South Pacific roots
Japanese, Indian Polynesians
Newest state- 1959
King Kamehameha-caputured all islands
Poi- paste from taro root
Pineapple, sugarcane, tourism, fish
Rice, soybeans, curry, banana, seaweed
Luau- Kalua puaa (pig) in imu (pit)
Canada
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2rd largest inhabited country
smaller pop. than California
10 provinces- varied geography
Great Lakes & St. Lawrence rivercoastlines, rainy, snowy
Constitutional Monarchy- Queen
Elizabeth II/Michaelle Jean
Aboriginals (First nations/Inuit), French,
British
Canada
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Some of the best wheat in the world
fruit, cattle, cod, maple syrup, caribou,
berries, potatoes, salmon, dairy
hardtack, fiddlehead fern, one pots
meals
pickle, canning, baking, poaching
Canada
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British Columbia- English tea, California
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Albertafarming
Vancouver- Asian
Quebec- still speaks French