North AmericaNorth America

Food and Cuisine of the United States Food and Cuisine of the United States and Canadaand Canada

North American CuisineNorth American Cuisine What are some dishes or recipes that you consider What are some dishes or recipes that you consider

“American”?“American”? What types of food do you think are eaten in What types of food do you think are eaten in

Canada?Canada? What typical American ingredients are native to the What typical American ingredients are native to the

region?region? Unit ObjectivesUnit Objectives::

Compare and contrast how different cultures meet family responsibilities Compare and contrast how different cultures meet family responsibilities (11.2.F)(11.2.F)

Gain a broad understanding of how food impacts culture, agriculture and Gain a broad understanding of how food impacts culture, agriculture and religion around the worldreligion around the world

Some Staples NOT from AmericaSome Staples NOT from America

Beef, chicken, and peanuts.Beef, chicken, and peanuts. Wheat, modern white riceWheat, modern white rice Apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, Apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries,

watermelon, bananas, lemonswatermelon, bananas, lemons Zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage,

romaine lettuce, parsleyromaine lettuce, parsley Cow’s milk and cow based dairy productsCow’s milk and cow based dairy products Tea, coffee, and sugarTea, coffee, and sugar

American FoodAmerican Food

The modern American diet is an amalgam of The modern American diet is an amalgam of foods from around the world. foods from around the world.

Our culture and our food has been described as Our culture and our food has been described as a “melting pot” or a blending of cultures from a “melting pot” or a blending of cultures from around the world.around the world.

Few foods in our diet are truly North Few foods in our diet are truly North American in nature. Most foods we eat are American in nature. Most foods we eat are inspired by foods from other countries or at inspired by foods from other countries or at least use ingredients least use ingredients notnot native to North native to North America.America.

Native American CuisineNative American Cuisine

Beans, corn and squash (“three sisters”)Beans, corn and squash (“three sisters”) Wild game and fishWild game and fish Nuts and berriesNuts and berries Regional fruits and vegetablesRegional fruits and vegetables

New EnglandNew England

Originally settled by British, Dutch, Originally settled by British, Dutch, German and French immigrantsGerman and French immigrants

Region—rocky, mountainous, forested Region—rocky, mountainous, forested with long severe winterswith long severe winters

Preserved foods to survive winter Preserved foods to survive winter (drying and salting)(drying and salting)

One-dish meals, hearty, hearth cookingOne-dish meals, hearty, hearth cooking Soups, stews were popularSoups, stews were popular

Mid AtlanticMid Atlantic Settled by Dutch, German, Settled by Dutch, German,

Swedish and BritishSwedish and British Milder climate, fertile Milder climate, fertile

farmlandfarmland Pennsylvania Dutch Pennsylvania Dutch

(German)(German) Successfully adapted farming Successfully adapted farming

techniques to Pennsylvania techniques to Pennsylvania soilsoil

Excellent bakersExcellent bakers Cuisine—rural, hearty and Cuisine—rural, hearty and

inventiveinventive

Ingredients Indigenous to Ingredients Indigenous to Eastern North AmericaEastern North America

NorthEast: turkey, deer, geese, lobster, crab, clams, NorthEast: turkey, deer, geese, lobster, crab, clams, corn, maple syrup, blueberries, cranberries, corn, maple syrup, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, chives, turkey, concord grape, squash & pumpkin, chives, turkey, concord grape, squash & beans.beans.

Corn Acorn Squash

Winter Squash

Cranberries

Blueberry

Concord GrapesPumpkins

SouthSouth

Immigrants from France, Immigrants from France, England, Ireland, Scotland England, Ireland, Scotland and Spainand Spain

Once established, brought Once established, brought slaves from Africa to work slaves from Africa to work plantationsplantations

Mild climate, waters and Mild climate, waters and forests forests

Southern Cuisine—Soul FoodSouthern Cuisine—Soul Food

Combines the customs of African Combines the customs of African slaves, Native Americans and slaves, Native Americans and Europeans.Europeans.

Developed around foods that were Developed around foods that were readily available to all 3 groupsreadily available to all 3 groups

Popular dishes include rice and Popular dishes include rice and beans, corn bread, chitterlings, beans, corn bread, chitterlings, greens, soups, stewsgreens, soups, stews

Southern Cuisine--CreoleSouthern Cuisine--Creole

Based in New Orleans, LABased in New Orleans, LA Combines techniques of French with ingredients in Combines techniques of French with ingredients in

African, Caribbean, Spanish and Native American African, Caribbean, Spanish and Native American dishesdishes

GumboGumbo soup with meat, seafood, poultry, soup with meat, seafood, poultry,

okra and other vegetables, thickened with roux.okra and other vegetables, thickened with roux. Jambalaya--Creole rice dishJambalaya--Creole rice dish Beignets, Café au lait, pralinesBeignets, Café au lait, pralines

Southern Cuisine--CajunSouthern Cuisine--Cajun

““Backwoods” cookingBackwoods” cooking Acadian, French, Native American, African Acadian, French, Native American, African

and Spanishand Spanish Southern Louisiana based cuisineSouthern Louisiana based cuisine Crawfish, okra, rice, pecans, beansCrawfish, okra, rice, pecans, beans Heavily spicedHeavily spiced Often made from what was available and Often made from what was available and

leftoversleftovers

Key Ingredients in Southern CuisineKey Ingredients in Southern CuisineSouth: squirrel, goose, turkey, seafood, sweet South: squirrel, goose, turkey, seafood, sweet

potatoes, sugarcane, rice, peanuts, corn, pork, potatoes, sugarcane, rice, peanuts, corn, pork, chickenchicken

Trout Sugarcane

Crawfish Turkey

Wild Greens

Wild Rice

Sweet Potato

MidwestMidwest

The “bread basket” of the The “bread basket” of the nationnation

Rich soil, good climate and Rich soil, good climate and advanced farmingadvanced farming

Cuisine—hearty and Cuisine—hearty and uncomplicated (“steak & uncomplicated (“steak & potato”, brownies, apple pie) potato”, brownies, apple pie)

On the surface, seems most On the surface, seems most “American” in “American” in style/ingredientsstyle/ingredients

Midwestern Ingredients and Midwestern Ingredients and RecipesRecipes

Corn, wheat, soybeansCorn, wheat, soybeans Beef, pork, lamb and poultryBeef, pork, lamb and poultry Lakes & streams—variety of freshwater fishLakes & streams—variety of freshwater fish Wisconsin & Minnesota—DairyWisconsin & Minnesota—Dairy Small farms—fruits and vegetablesSmall farms—fruits and vegetables Potluck & Buffet dinnersPotluck & Buffet dinners Fairs, festivals and picnicsFairs, festivals and picnics

West and SouthwestWest and Southwest MT, WY, CO, NM, TX, ID, NV, UT, AZMT, WY, CO, NM, TX, ID, NV, UT, AZ Deserts, mountains, plateausDeserts, mountains, plateaus Simple cuisineSimple cuisine Dependence on beefDependence on beef

Chili, Chuck Wagon beans, son-of-a-gun Chili, Chuck Wagon beans, son-of-a-gun stewstew

Native American, Spanish and Mexican Native American, Spanish and Mexican influenceinfluence

Hot and sunny—many fruits and Hot and sunny—many fruits and vegetablesvegetables

Common ingredients in Common ingredients in Western/Southwestern cuisineWestern/Southwestern cuisine

West: corn, squash, beef, buffalo, wild rice, West: corn, squash, beef, buffalo, wild rice, corn, various beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, corn, various beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, prickly pear.prickly pear.

Tomatoes

Chili peppers

Lima BeansTepary Beans

Corn

Chayota Squash

Pacific & NorthwestPacific & Northwest Pacific Coast—rich, fertile soil Pacific Coast—rich, fertile soil

& warm sunny climate & warm sunny climate Fruits & vegetables in abundanceFruits & vegetables in abundance Fish and shellfishFish and shellfish California cuisine—easy, few California cuisine—easy, few

rules or traditionsrules or traditions OR & WA—tree fruits, berriesOR & WA—tree fruits, berries Immigrants from Mexico, China, Immigrants from Mexico, China,

Japan, Korea and South PacificJapan, Korea and South Pacific—Asian & Mexican influence in —Asian & Mexican influence in cuisinecuisine

Pacific & NorthwestPacific & Northwest

AlaskaAlaska Artic region—long, frigidArtic region—long, frigid

winterswinters South—milder with South—milder with

vegetable, grain and dairy farmsvegetable, grain and dairy farms Caribou, reindeer, bear and rabbitCaribou, reindeer, bear and rabbit Icy clear Pacific—Alaskan king crabIcy clear Pacific—Alaskan king crab Lakes & streams—salmon and troutLakes & streams—salmon and trout

Pacific Northwest—Ingredients Pacific Northwest—Ingredients and Recipesand Recipes

Citrus fruit, papaya, pomegranates, datesCitrus fruit, papaya, pomegranates, dates Avocados, Chinese cabbage, tomatoesAvocados, Chinese cabbage, tomatoes Tuna, salmon, lobster, crab and shrimpTuna, salmon, lobster, crab and shrimp Peaches, apples, apricotsPeaches, apples, apricots Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries,

blueberriesblueberries

Hawaiian IslandsHawaiian Islands

Polynesian, followed by European settlers Polynesian, followed by European settlers (1800s)(1800s)

Asian influence—Chinese and JapaneseAsian influence—Chinese and Japanese Early food customsEarly food customs

Men prepared foodMen prepared food Men and women—separate tables and ovens!Men and women—separate tables and ovens!

Hawaiian Ingredients and Hawaiian Ingredients and RecipesRecipes

Pineapple and sugarcane—major cropsPineapple and sugarcane—major crops Poi—smooth paste made from starchy root of Poi—smooth paste made from starchy root of

the taro plant.the taro plant. Limu—seaweedLimu—seaweed Luau—elaborate outdoor Luau—elaborate outdoor

feastsfeasts

CanadaCanada

World’s longest coastlineWorld’s longest coastline Atlantic--Heavy rain and snowAtlantic--Heavy rain and snow Pacific—warmer, heavy rainPacific—warmer, heavy rain Aborignals—First Nations &Aborignals—First Nations &

InuitsInuits British & French—1600sBritish & French—1600s

Canada—Agriculture & CuisineCanada—Agriculture & Cuisine

Heavy European, New England influenceHeavy European, New England influence Wheat, barley, apples, berries, potatoesWheat, barley, apples, berries, potatoes Dairy & fishingDairy & fishing Canadian cuisineCanadian cuisine

Once seasonal, now industrialOnce seasonal, now industrial Apples—cider, apple butter, dessertsApples—cider, apple butter, desserts Maple Syrup—made locally each springMaple Syrup—made locally each spring Berries & tree fruit—fruit piesBerries & tree fruit—fruit pies