Culinary Differences across the Country
It doesn’t matter where you live, in the lower 48, Alaska or Hawaii, when you think of the year-end holidays, there’s a traditional food that comes to mind. Sometimes it’s a confection…Arizonans love a good flan, and Christmas in Kentucky usually means bourbon bread pudding. In other parts of the country, it’s about the centerpiece of the holiday feast…Alaskans savor crab legs, while Hawaiians crave kalua pig and cabbage. Let’s take a look at some of the iconic dishes that make the holidays across the United States.
New England
Not surprisingly, many of the most popular holiday cuisines in the Northeastern United States were brought here by early settlers from England. That includes the classic roast goose, often garnished with apples, oranges and lemons, with a little bit of thyme and sage. Most New Englanders can’t imagine a Christmas without an eggnog or two. For dessert, there’s almost always mince pie and often Christmas pudding as well.
The Midwest
Holiday fare throughout the Midwest is heavily influenced by the Dutch and Scandinavian immigrants who have come here over the past few centuries. No Christmas table would be complete without a green bean casserole, but don’t be surprised to find other types of casserole or “hot dish” among the staples, including Tater Tot casserole or cheesy broccoli hot dish. Rutabaga and turnips are often an adjunct to (or a replacement of) the classic mashed potatoes. For your sweet tooth, sample the many different flavors of kringles, fruit or nut-filled pastries that melt in your mouth.
The Mid-Atlantic
Depending on where you are, you might have crab cakes on the table or it might be a country ham pie. Oysters are a tradition along the shoreline and biscuits are a part of most holiday feasts in the southern part of the mid-Atlantic. There’s plenty to satisfy a sweet tooth…Shoofly pie is a classic Pennsylvania Dutch holiday treat and Smith Island Cake is the go-to dessert in Maryland.
The South
Pork is traditionally the centerpiece of a holiday feast below the Mason-Dixon line, though you might see shrimp and other types of seafood along the Gulf Coast. More often than not, it’s a “country ham,” but spit-roasted pig is common in many parts of Florida, where there’s a strong Latino and Spanish influence. Not surprisingly, since Georgia is the “Pecan Capital of the World,” pecan pie is the Southern dessert tradition.
The Southwest
Looking for a truly unique holiday feast? This year, serve Christmas tamales, long a tradition in the American Southwest. They might be stuffed with meat, cheese, beans, vegetables or even fruit. They’re not easy to master, though. You may opt instead for empanadas with red or green chiles. At the end of the meal, bring out the biscochitos, a crisp butter cookie typically flavored with cinnamon and licorice.
