CHICAGO
ALASKA
NEW JERSEY
GEORGIA
NEW ENGLAND
Pizza, Bratwurst and Sausage- Most people of heard of Chicago style pizza, but have you ever had Bratwurst pizza? Actually, we're just kidding - Chicago is known for both great pizzas and Polish bratwurst and sausage.
Salmon- Looking for the rich taste of wild salmon? Consider a fishing trip in Alaska where you can charter a small boat and guide to catch some of the best salmon in the world. Many of the salmon charters are associated with rustic lodges that provide the full outdoors experience. After catching your fish, they will prepare the fish for shipping including filleting, smoking and canning. When purchasing salmon at the store, you will have choices between 'farm raised' and 'wild' or 'organic' salmon. So what is the difference? First is the color. Farm raised salmon is a lighter pink where a
harmless synthetic additive is fed to the farm-raised salmon to turn their flesh pinkish orange, a color wild salmon get the same way flamingos do -- by eating crustaceans. Another is the taste - wild salmon's texture and flavor is superior to the fatty, neutral-tasting farmed variety. Third is the health risk recently associated with PCBs found in farm-raised salmon. Some may find wild salmon too strong and prefer the farm-raised, while others are not willing to pay the large price difference for wild salmon. Either way, salmon is a very healthy fish, high in Omega-3, which can be enjoyed by everyone.
Tomatoes- "The Jersey tomato, long treasured at home for its tanginess and succulence, is making a move for the big leagues". Grown organically (not in hot houses), these tomatoes are tasty, juicy and far superior to anything you would buy at the supermarket (although supermarkets in states near New Jersey will carry fresh Jersey tomatoes in season). The best choice is to stop buy a local farm stand as you cruise on your way to the Jersey shore or head home. The best tomatoes are allowed to mature on the vine and not picked early for long distance shipping. Jersey tomatoes can be eaten like an apple and are delicious, but be sure to have a napkin handy!
Peaches and Pecans- Although 3rd in production of peaches in the U.S., Georgia peaches are still the tastiest. If you are in Georgia during peak harvest from May to August, buy yourself a fresh picked basket of peaches to bring home or enjoy during your stay. Pecans is another famous product of Georgia - the top producing state with an estimated 100 million pounds grown in 2007. Pecans are harvested in November, but are available all year long. Besides your local store, you can purchase pecans and the many products created from pecans from Georgia produce outlets. Pecans are my favorite nut because they are sweet and contain the best nutritional value of all the yummy nuts available. We put them in salads, cereal, pancakes and on top of ice cream Mostly I just eat them plain! Visit the many farm stands or purchase fresh Georgia peaches and pecans on-line.
Clam Chowder- What could taste better on a cold winter day than a steaming bowl of New England clam chowder? This is the white creamy version (not to be confused with the red Manhattan variety) and New Englanders pronounce the name "chowdah". Typical ingredients include clams, potatos, bacon, onions and cream or half and half. The chowder is served with oyster crackers on the side - add a cold beer and you are in culinary heaven. Many places boast the best chowder around as when we visited Martha's Vineyard. We tried the clam chowder in several restaurants and although some were spicier or thicker, all of them were delicious! Even American novelist Herman Melville loved chowder so much he dedicated a chapter in Moby Dick to the wonderful dish.
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