WISCONSIN
Cheese- Residents from Wisconsin aren't called 'cheese heads' for nothing. The state has been producing cheese for over 160 years with more than 600 varieties, types and styles of American, international-style and original cheeses. Their cheeses have won more awards than any other state or country. The rich land made farming, particularly dairy farming, very successful. To handle the storage of abundant amounts of milk, the farmers converted it into cheese. Soon cheese factories were built and eventually the cheese industry evolved. Some of the more popular Wisconsin cheeses include Brick and Colby, original to the area. While visiting Wisconsin, stop in and sample their cheeses or purchase their many products online at one of many gift sites.

NEW ORLEANS
Jambalaya, Po-Boys, Black beans over rice and Crawfish- Craving a different kind of food? If you are looking for spicy or unusual, consider trying one of the many classic  foods of New Orleans. Known for Cajun and creole cooking, there are a variety dishes which will tempt your tastebuds. Jambalaya is a mixture of crawfish, andouille sausage, peppers, onions and rice. My favorite is black beans and rice, a moderately spicy dish which isn't too high in caleries and provides good protein. Po-Boys are a submarine style sandwich commonly made with seafood, but  you can find variations with lunch meat, roast beef and even french fries.  A cousin sandwich is the muffalatta, which is a Southern version of the Northern "hoagie" or sub. Not to be forgotten is crawfish, a shell fish similar to shrimp, but smaller. Crawfish can be eaten plain, but are also found in many dishes mixed with other ingredients notably rice and andouille sausage.  Especially popular is crawfish etoufee, which is served at many of the finer establishments in New Orleans. There are great recipes for creating these New Orleans dishes in your own home if you don't have the time to visit their famous origins.

KANSAS CITY / MEMPHIS
Barbeque- Uniquely Southern, barbecue is something for which there is no real substitute. Hundreds of different recipes for the "perfect" barbeque have been proposed and published over the years- but one thing is certain- the most authentic, most tasteful and delicious barbeque can be found in the Southern states. Pork or beef are the most common foods cooked in the barbeque process. Kansas City and Memphis both claim to have the "best" barbeque in the world- but the varieties will often surprise you. The marinade (sauce) in which the pork or beef is basted can differ widely from region to region. Some barbeque sauces have more of a tomato base...others more of a mustard base...still others are a combination of a wide variety of spices, herbs, pork drippings and other "secret" ingredients. In fact, some people cherish their recipes so much- they keep them hidden from all but those involved in the cooking process. Nonetheless, you can experience barbeque at its best in Kansas City, Memphis and many other Southern cities, including regional varieties such as "Texas BBQ" and Arkansas barbeque...enjoy!!

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