US Melting Pot Influences Best Foods to Eat in Each State

The US melting pot often influences the best foods to eat in each state. (Pictured) Fried green tomatoes in Alabama. (AP Photo)

From fried green tomatoes in Alabama to cheese curds in Wisconsin, the US melting pot influences a list of the best foods to eat in each U.S. state.

Drawing on recommendations from locals, Business Insider came up with the list, which also includes foods that can’t be found elsewhere in the country. Here’s a sampling.

California
The top food in California — a fish taco — is undoubtedly influenced by Mexico, its neighbor to the south as well as its large Latino community. California is home to the largest Hispanic population in the nation.

Fish tacos served at the Santa Cruz pier in California. (Photo by Flickr user m01229 via Creative Commons license)

Delaware
In Delaware, it’s all about vinegar French fries. The potatoes are soaked in vinegar and then refrigerated before being fried.

Thrasher’s fries (Photo by Flickr user bigbirdz via Creative Commons license)

Hawaii
In Hawaii, where 16.7 percent of the population is of Japanese ancestry, spam musubi is the delicacy to try. Hawaiians were introduced to spam during World War II, and the Japanese who lived there used the pre-cooked, canned meat to develop this sushi roll made of grilled Spam, sticky rice, and nori seaweed.

Spam Musubi (Photo by Flickr user BDT via Creative Commons license)

Louisiana
New Orleans’ working-class specialty – the “Poor Boy” sandwich, is said to have been invented in 1929 to feed striking trolley car workers – the original “poor boys.” Generally known as the po’boy, the sandwich can be stuffed with roast beef and gravy, fried oysters or shrimp, spicy smoked sausage or any variation you can imagine.

Fried Oyster Po’ boy sandwich (Photo by Flickr user buck82 via Creative Commons license)

Missouri
Toasted ravioli is said to have originated when someone dropped ravioli in the deep fryer. No one knows for sure who invented it, but most believe this fried ravioli dish originated in “the Hill,” the Italian neighborhood of St. Louis. Today, less than 4 percent of the state’s population claims Italian ancestry, according to Ancestry & Ethnicity in America.

Toasted ravioli (Photo by Flickr user Liza Lagman Sperl via Creative Commons license)

Oregon
This state is known for its berries. In particular, the marionberry’s complex flavor makes it a popular choice for pie fillings.

Marionberry pie (Photo by Flickr user Chelsea Nesvig via Creative Commons license)

South Carolina
Shrimp and grits — fresh shrimp served with simmered milled corn — is a staple dish in South Carolina. Originally eaten for breakfast, there are several variations of the popular dish which can be served with different ingredients including bacon, garlic, lemon, mushrooms, sausage, tomato, butter sauce or a fried egg.

Shrimp and grits with scallions, mushrooms and bacon over cheese grits, served at the Hominy Grill in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Flickr user Wally Gobetz via Creative Commons license)

South Dakota
Kuchen — the German word for “cake” — is the official state dessert of South Dakota. There are several varieties of this dish, including pie-like pastries, coffee cakes, cheesecakes and rolled pastries. People of German ancestry account for almost 44 percent of the state’s population.

Kuchen and coffee (Photo by Flickr user Gourmandise via Creative Commons license)

Wisconsin
All cheese starts out as curds. In Wisconsin, these curds are deep-fried in beer batter and served with dipping sauces. Immigrants from Switzerland, Germany and other places in Europe, brought their cheese-making traditions with them to Wisconsin, which is the leading producer of cheese in the United States.

Fried cheese curds at the Wisconsin state fair (Photo by Flickr user Connie Ma via Creative Commons license.)

To see the complete list of the best foods to eat in each U.S. state, head over to Business Insider.

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