SOUTHERN STATES

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

• Southern hospitality is a phrase used in American English
• to describe the stereotype of residents of the Southern United States
• as particularly warm, and welcoming to visitors to their homes or to the South in general

AFRICAN INFLUENCE ON SOUTHERN FOODS

• It was the African slaves who were the cooks on the large plantations.
• They were the ones who adapted the English recipes and incorporated their foods and cooking techniques
• The southern coastal area was mostly settled by the English

RICE

• Rice was such an important crop
• it became known as “Carolina Gold
• but its production required many laborers on the plantations.

MAIZE’S INFLUENCE ON SLAVERY

• When Columbus made his 4 voyages to the New World
• was particularly impressed with some of the foods
• He took maize (corn) back with him from his first journey

TRADITIONAL AFRICAN COOKING TECHNIQUES

• Although there were immigrants from every European country, the majority were of English decent
• On the plantations the African cooks were asked to adapt the English recipes
• but they also contributed the techniques of the cooking that they had used in Africa

FOODS NATIVE TO AFRICA

• Africans brought with them black-eyed peas, watermelon and okra
• Black-eyed-peas are the “cherished” New Year’s Day dish throughout the south eaten by people of all heritage
• Tradition states that the more peas you eat on January 1st the more wealth you will have in the New Year

HOPPIN’ JOHN

• is one of the oldest American dishes
• Tradition says that it received its name from the children hopping
• up and down in anticipation of eating this delicious dish

OKRA

• a vegetable served mainly in the Southern states but it can be purchased
• among the exotic vegetables in northern grocery stores
• This vegetable, which is close kin to the cotton plant

GUMBO

• Louisiana has a different history than the majority of the Southern states
• This area was inhabited by about 30 different tribes
• Native Americans when the Spaniards fist explored the area

RED BEANS AND RICE

• It is said that the Catholic religion is responsible for an interesting tradition in New Orleans
• S stated the settlers of this area are mainly of French
• Spanish heritage, both of whom were typically Roman Catholic

CATFISH AND HUSHPUPPIES

• On the plantations the Africans had their own gardens where they would grow vegetables
• They had their own pigs and chickens
• but they would also hunt wild game and fish from the rivers

PORK BARBECUE

• Pork is the favored meat of the South
• One of the favorite ways to prepare it is by cooking in a pit overnight
• adding a favorite barbecue sauce

COUNTRY AND SMITHFIELD HAMS

• In the early days plantations as well as small farms would have special smoke houses for the making
• Pork became so popular in the South due to the pig’s ability to root itself
• pig would grow to slaughter weight

BISCUITS AND CORNBREAD

• The Smithfield ham was often accompanied with beaten biscuits
• The Smithfield ham was often accompanied with beaten biscuits
• Prior to the invention of baking powder

MEAT AND THREE

• Vegetables are very popular in the South
• Small town restaurants might feature a “Meat
• plate where one would choose between three to five vegetables to be eaten