Colonial Cuisine In Colonial America

Colonial cuisine was heavily influenced by the English at first, but soon developed its own style. Much of the food that was available in the colonies was uncommon in Great Britain and other areas of Europe, which led to adaptation problems with many of the people. The colonists did not have the equipment that people in Europe did, which led to new techniques and unique utensils. Throughout the different colonies, the food was usually unique to that area, because of the differences of economical and environmental factors that inhibited certain types of food from being available or grown in that colony. Unlike the prestige hierarchy of chefs in France, the colonies were very relaxed and it wasn’t as big of an occasion as it might be in a wealthy …show more content…
The colonists were weary at first to adapt the ways of the natives, but realized that without them they wouldn’t survive. The food of America was unknown and many worried that it was poisonous. The colonists were unwilling to risk consuming unfamiliar foods; which lead to them dividing up the remaining food supplies from England including hardtack, dried fish, cheese, and beer. In one instance, the Dutch were impressed by the size of the lobsters, but the Plymouth settlers thought that the abundance of lobster mean that it was for the poor. Even the Governor of Plymouth, William Bradford, humiliated by the fact that the only, “dish they could presente their friends with was a lobster… without bread or anything els but a cup of fair water.”1 Foods that were easy to adapt into their European-styled meals, such as pumpkin and squash, were the first native foods to be used. Native beans and corn were also easily transitioned in to replace European items that could not be found in America. Eventually Native American foods and cooking styles were transported to Europe spreading them across the globe. The Native’s weren’t the only one’s who impacted the cuisine of the colonies or had different views of the offerings of America. Each distinct culture brought their own style to the table, which is why the colonist’s techniques and variety of food were …show more content…
New England had mastered providing for itself the best. They had livestock, fish, crops, games, and much more. New England was self-dependent and did not have many slaves or servants working for them. Virginia was heavily dependent on their source of tobacco and frequently exported it to Europe and became one of their biggest sources of income. Massachusetts had bountiful amounts of cod and other fishes, which were their biggest export to Europe. Apples grew wild throughout the colonies. They were one of the most popular fruits in all of the colonies, as they were used for a number of things, such as ciders, dumplings, and pies. Apple pie was a classic American dish even in colonial days. Cooks would make many pies filled with all kinds of berries in the late fall and then freeze them to bake later in the winter. Pies could be served for any meal and they weren’t just for dessert, there were mince pies and custards filled with meat. 6 The meals were very plain and used little seasonings until later, a common meal would be roast beef accompanied with boiled potatoes, macaroni or rice, and a tapioca pudding. Other original American meals included johnnycakes, hasty pudding, and corn mush. Water was an unreliable drinking source in the colonies, making alcohol very popular, with beer and hard apple cider as the two of the most popular beverages in the colonies.