North & South
In France, depending on whether you live in the North or the South, the foods that you typically eat will tend to vary. (Just as someone in the south US enjoys sweet tea with dinner, a Northerner is accustomed to unsweetened tea.) The Northern United States cooking (I'm thinking New Jersey and New York area) is based off a heavy use of olive oil due to all the Italian immigrants and descendants in those areas. On the other hand, Southern United States LOVES butter. In the south, where I am from, we love to fry everything and cover it in butter. Out west (like California) all food is tailored to fit to their "on the go" culture and is also very healthy which corresponds to their energetic life style. Below we will explore some more specific traits of regional French and American food.
Listed below are some customary regional American foods. Enjoy!
Listed below are some customary regional American foods. Enjoy!
North: New Jersey
Due to its geographic location, New Jersey has been very culturally influenced from surrounding cities such as New York and Philadelphia. New Jersey, similar to the United States, is divided into two geographic regions with people having different ethinic roots, cultural traditions, and food tastes. Highway I-195, running west to east from Trenton to Belmar, is considered the dividing line, between north and south Jersey. Pizza, bagels, pastrami, submarine sandwiches, and hot dogs are very popular in this divided state.
To the upper-left is a traditional New Jersey hot dog which is sometimes called "the ripper." It is deep fried in oil until the casing rips open, giving it its name, "the ripper." Popular toppings are spicy mustard, onions, and meat sauce.
Everyone knows New Jerseyans love their food and the most popular sandwich in New Jersey is the Italian sandwich, although it's not called the Italian sandwich, depending on what part of the state you live in, it is called the Hoagie, Hero, or Sub. The southern Italian immigrants brought with them the Italian sandwich, made with baked crusted bread stuffed with cured meats and cheese. Later on, this tasty sandwich became sought after by Americans and other ethnic groups and they began to include additional varieties of meat, vegetables and cheese. It wasn't until the end of World War II that the Italian sandwich caught on outside the Italian-American community and began to achieve widespread popularity. At that time, the typical Italian sandwich was made with baked crusted bread, provolone cheese, Italian hard salami, lettuce, tomatoes, oil and vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.
To the upper-left is a traditional New Jersey hot dog which is sometimes called "the ripper." It is deep fried in oil until the casing rips open, giving it its name, "the ripper." Popular toppings are spicy mustard, onions, and meat sauce.
Everyone knows New Jerseyans love their food and the most popular sandwich in New Jersey is the Italian sandwich, although it's not called the Italian sandwich, depending on what part of the state you live in, it is called the Hoagie, Hero, or Sub. The southern Italian immigrants brought with them the Italian sandwich, made with baked crusted bread stuffed with cured meats and cheese. Later on, this tasty sandwich became sought after by Americans and other ethnic groups and they began to include additional varieties of meat, vegetables and cheese. It wasn't until the end of World War II that the Italian sandwich caught on outside the Italian-American community and began to achieve widespread popularity. At that time, the typical Italian sandwich was made with baked crusted bread, provolone cheese, Italian hard salami, lettuce, tomatoes, oil and vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper.
North: Chicago Style Pizza
Chicago, also called "The Windy City" is famous for its deep-dish pizzas! There are three different types of pizzas in Chicago, they are the deep-dish pizza (as shown to the left), the stuffed pizza, and the locally popular crispy thin crust pizza. One of Chicago's most popular restaurants, Giordanos, made these three types of pizza so popular. There is a link listed below.
http://www.giordanos.com/
This pizza is far from the roots of an original Italian pizza. It does not include thin crusts or delicate toppings, but rather it is made with a heavy, thick crust and large amounts of cheese, sauce and ingredients.
http://www.giordanos.com/
This pizza is far from the roots of an original Italian pizza. It does not include thin crusts or delicate toppings, but rather it is made with a heavy, thick crust and large amounts of cheese, sauce and ingredients.
South: Low Country Cuisine
Low country cuisine is the cooking traditionally associated with South Carolina and Georgia coast. Low country cooking is very diverse due to the variety of seafood from coastal estuaries (a body of water mixed with fresh and salt water). It is richly concentrated in the cities of Charleston and Savannah, giving it a colorful Caribbean kick.
To the left is a picture of shrimp and grits. Shrimp and Grits is an ethereal dish, and whoever has the pleasure of eating it always finds this dish very comforting. You need nothing more than sweet dayboat shrimp (with their shells to make shrimp stock or butter), real country ham or smoked bacon, minced onion or shallots, a knob of butter, and a pot of hot grits to make this a memorable dish.
South Carolina is also famous for their oyster roasts.Traditionally, these gatherings are typically held most often during the winter months, and the taste of these plump creatures is at its best. This cultural institution has been happening for hundreds of years.
One method of roasting oysters is steaming them. As seen in the picture on the left the oysters are loaded onto a large grill and are steamed from the smoke. After they are on a large rack, the cooks cover them with a large wet bag. A burlap feed sack is the kind generally used. After a few minutes, the cook shovels them out of the fire and unloads a pile of whole oysters on to your table. After that its up to you to crack the shell open to find the meat.
Every summer my cousins and I (Paige Mellinger) go to a large oyster roast in Charleston, South Carolina. It is a big family trip thats lots of fun. After you open the oyster shell, most people eat the meat on a cracker with cocktail sauce and lemon juice. From my experience, oyster roasts have always been a fun gathering!
To the left is a picture of shrimp and grits. Shrimp and Grits is an ethereal dish, and whoever has the pleasure of eating it always finds this dish very comforting. You need nothing more than sweet dayboat shrimp (with their shells to make shrimp stock or butter), real country ham or smoked bacon, minced onion or shallots, a knob of butter, and a pot of hot grits to make this a memorable dish.
South Carolina is also famous for their oyster roasts.Traditionally, these gatherings are typically held most often during the winter months, and the taste of these plump creatures is at its best. This cultural institution has been happening for hundreds of years.
One method of roasting oysters is steaming them. As seen in the picture on the left the oysters are loaded onto a large grill and are steamed from the smoke. After they are on a large rack, the cooks cover them with a large wet bag. A burlap feed sack is the kind generally used. After a few minutes, the cook shovels them out of the fire and unloads a pile of whole oysters on to your table. After that its up to you to crack the shell open to find the meat.
Every summer my cousins and I (Paige Mellinger) go to a large oyster roast in Charleston, South Carolina. It is a big family trip thats lots of fun. After you open the oyster shell, most people eat the meat on a cracker with cocktail sauce and lemon juice. From my experience, oyster roasts have always been a fun gathering!
South: Memphis Barbeque (BBQ)
Memphis is nationally famous for its barbeque. The city claims to have the best in the world and have become famous for it. From world renowned restaurants like The Rendezvous to the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest, barbecue is an important part of the culture in the "Bluff City".
Though just about any meat can be used, traditional Memphis barbecue is usually smoked pork served in one of two forms: ribs on a slab or pulled. True Memphis barbeque chefs use only the highest quality of meat and let the slow smoking process enhance its natural flavor. This results in pork that is tasty and tender, even without rubs and sauces.
Though just about any meat can be used, traditional Memphis barbecue is usually smoked pork served in one of two forms: ribs on a slab or pulled. True Memphis barbeque chefs use only the highest quality of meat and let the slow smoking process enhance its natural flavor. This results in pork that is tasty and tender, even without rubs and sauces.
West: California "On the Go"
California's popular on the go culture has widely
contributed to the popularity of the classic and modern drive-through
restaurant. In the picture to the left is a logo of a popular fast food buger
joint called "In-n-Out" burger. The extremely well-known burger
chain, McDonalds, also got its start in California.
California is blessed with a variety of mirco-climates, dominated by a very mild Mediterranean climate. Generally, Californians are very health conscious in their diet and life-styles. They promote the production of organic fruits and vegetables and fresh meats.
Northern California is a popular wine country where the world famous Nappa Valley is located. Today Napa Valley features more than four hundred wineries and grows many different grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, and other popular varietals. Napa Valley is visited by as many as five million people each year. Northern California cuisine is also inspired by a variety of foreign cultures such as: French, Italian, Mediterranean, and Asian. Many restaurants use locally grown ingredients, which support Californians’ healthy life style. Seafood is also bountiful in California, which is also an important part of the Californian cuisine.
Even though fast food is popular in this state, battered and fried foods are not as common as they are in other regions. There are some exceptions such as: fish tacos, tempura, and French fries.
As you can see California has a wide variety of cuisine, which has been influenced by cultures all over the world!
California is blessed with a variety of mirco-climates, dominated by a very mild Mediterranean climate. Generally, Californians are very health conscious in their diet and life-styles. They promote the production of organic fruits and vegetables and fresh meats.
Northern California is a popular wine country where the world famous Nappa Valley is located. Today Napa Valley features more than four hundred wineries and grows many different grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Zinfandel, and other popular varietals. Napa Valley is visited by as many as five million people each year. Northern California cuisine is also inspired by a variety of foreign cultures such as: French, Italian, Mediterranean, and Asian. Many restaurants use locally grown ingredients, which support Californians’ healthy life style. Seafood is also bountiful in California, which is also an important part of the Californian cuisine.
Even though fast food is popular in this state, battered and fried foods are not as common as they are in other regions. There are some exceptions such as: fish tacos, tempura, and French fries.
As you can see California has a wide variety of cuisine, which has been influenced by cultures all over the world!