Pacific Coast States
Settlers Spaniards first to settle
Missionaries Made a practice of collecting and planting seeds in new areas
Mustard seed – marked the California Mission Trail
Mission Gardens Basis for the exciting eclectic cuisine of California today
Planted various crops Wheat, olives for oil, oranges, grapes for wine, and tomatoes
Food in Mission Mixture of Mexican, California Indian, and Spanish
From Mexico Tortillas, beans, avocados, pumpkins, vanilla, chocolate, chili peppers, sweet potatoes, corn
From Spain Chick peas, wine, sugar, wheat, oranges, sweet spices, beef, lamb, and domestic poultry
Indians didn’t make a lasting contribution to Pacific cuisine
Fresh Beef Couldn’t ship to east
Hides and Tallow Significant for trade Salted, dried hides used in shoe factories Tallow used for soap and candles
Ranchero Beef Tough, stringy beef Cooked over open fire – BBQ, first seen in Haiti, Spaniards added spices
Hang town Fry Oyster omelet Made because 49ers could only afford eggs and oysters
Chop Suey Miners wanted whatever cook had leftover Has roots to Chinese-style hash
49er’s Typical Diet Salt pork, beans, hardtack, coffee, and flapjacks
Cioppino Seafood stew with tomatoes
Abalone Giant Pacific snail
Crabs Oysters Shrimp
With irrigation, new foods Dates, figs, artichokes, broccoli, tomatoes, eggplants, garlic, nectarines, apricots
Southern California Informal, outdoor living Salads popular – Green Goddess, Caesar, Cobb
Oregon Sourdough starters Pears – Bosc, Comics, Forelle, Anjou, Bartlett
Other Oregon foods Peaches, walnuts, apples, plums, berries Dairy industry - cheeses
Washington Grow 25% of nation’s apples Delicious, Golden Delicious, Rome Beauties, Jonathans, and Newtons
Other Washington foods Clams Oysters Salmon
Alaska Too Young for a distinctive flavor Pioneer spirit is strong
Live off land Hunt big game: elk, reindeer, caribou, and moose
Fish for salmon and trout Mushrooms, blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, sourdough bread and pancakes, lettuce, root vegetables, rhubarb, peas, broccoli, and cabbages
Hawaii Food is a mixture of Polynesia, Japan, China, Korea, America, and Europe
Polynesian Influence Sweet-sour sauces Tropical fruits
Chinese Influence Rice Soybeans Chinese Vegetables
Japanese Influence Hibachi Grill Teriyaki Sauce
Korean Influence Kimchi – Pickled cabbage
Other Polynesian Influences Pig, sweet potatoes, bananas, breadfruit, taro root
Other popular foods Pineapple Sugar Cane
Classic Native Feast Luau – main course – whole roast pig cooked in underground pit
Poi – Hawaiian staple of pounded taro root Baked bananas, sweet potatoes, coconut pudding, pineapple, mangos, papayas