By Abigail Cattell
Forget burgers and hotdogs, the USA has a fantastic
diversity of cuisine thanks to its melting pot of different nationalities and
cultures. Join our journey of discovery as we explore the USA through our stomachs!
Best for… Succulent Seafood
New England is famous for
its fresh lobster, clam chowder and other seafood specialities. Discover why
its reputation is well deserved on a culinary adventure from Boston north to
Maine. At the Sebasco
Harbor Resort in Maine, take a kayak out and as you skirt around islands
thick with unspoilt forest, you'll skim past some of the lobster traps that
help make Maine the USA's top lobster exporter. At dinner you can eat lobster
that's freshly caught that day, at astonishingly good prices. Or stop by on
Route 24's Bailey Island, it has won best seafood restaurant in Midcoast Maine
for more than 10 years. Another popular shellfish in this neck of the woods
is clams, and there's no better way to try it than at a traditional clam bake
on the beach!
Best for… Awesome Oriental
San Francisco is home
to the world's largest Chinese community outside Asia and fabulous Chinese restaurants
abound both in Chinatown and beyond. Walk through majestic dragon gates at the
main entrance to Chinatown, Grant Avenue, and nip down a side street to discover
authentic sights and mouth-watering smells. Or go with a group - the Chinese
Cultural Center offers excellent cultural walks (Tue-Sat; 10am, 12pm, 2pm;
$18 adults, $12 children under 12) around Chinatown, stopping at temples, herbal
and tea shops, and food markets. Recommended restaurants around the city include
Jasmine Tea House (3253 Mission St) for excellent veggie and vegan Chinese,
R&G Lounge (631 Kearny St) for great Cantonese cuisine and Eliza's (2877 California
St) for Hunan and Mandarin specialities.
Best for… Choice Cajun and Creole
The Deep South offers
a cornucopia of cuisines thanks to its ethnic diversity. The mix of French,
Spanish and African cultures has created unique cooking styles that are rich
in spices. For example, Gumbo is a thick, tasty stew based around shellfish
and meat mixed with celery, peppers and onion. Try it at Galatoire's at 209
Bourbon St or Liuzza's by the Track (1518 N Lopez) where other New
Orleans specials also abound. Get a lunchtime Po Boy (French baguette sandwich)
stuffed with spicy butter-drenched shrimps or roast beef and horseradish mayo
and you're guaranteed to be full till dinner (and beyond). Other must-try dishes
include jambalaya, a Creole dish that vaguely resembles paella and etouffee,
another rich seafood stew.
Best for… Mexican
A Mexican restaurant is to Americans what a good curry house is to us Brits, so wherever you're holidaying you can find amazing Mexican food. But it makes sense that the larger the Mexican community the more likely you are to stumble upon the crispiest tacos, the freshest guacamole and the tastiest salsa. So to enjoy the most authentic and delicious Mexican food, head to South Western USA - Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. There you'll discover an abundance of restaurants serving dishes such as burritos (a soft, flour tortilla wrapped around refried beans, rice or meat with salsa, lettuce, cheese and guacamole), chimichangas (deep-fried burrito) and fajitas (a more Tex-Mex dish of grilled meat on a corn tortilla). All are best washed down with an ice-cold Pacifico beer!
Best for… Coffee and Cake
If you can't get out of bed without your morning cup of coffee, then you won't want to miss Seattle, the birthplace of Starbucks! Once upon a time (1971 to be precise) there was just one Starbucks, in Seattle's famous Pike Place Market. It's still there (1912 Pike Place) and it's the only chain shop allowed in this excellent produce market. And there are also countless local coffee shops and espresso carts on almost every corner so aficionados can get a very regular caffeine buzz while exploring the picturesque Northwest Pacific region. They include the local chains Caffe Ladro and Caffe Vita which are dotted all over the city. If you're dragging a tea lover about with you, head to the Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House (607 S Main St). Here you'll both be happy supping your separate brews and scoffing a slice of green tea cake.
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Abigail Cattell is a freelance travel journalist who has written for Wanderlust,
The Guardian, ASOS Magazine and TTG Luxury