New England Cuisine probably ranks highest among my most cherished types of food, making that area one of my favorite parts of the the U.S. Its wide variety of delicious seafood has always been my first choice of entrees. Five out of the six states which makeup New England have the Atlantic Ocean for their Eastern borders, making it a treasure trove for seafood lovers like myself.
Seafood Falmouth & Black Beans with Cumin from Platter Talk.
New England Cuisine
New England Cuisine naturally includes an abundance of shell fish such as clams, oysters and scallops which are available in assorted varieties. Have you ever had the chance to try fried belly clams? You have not LIVED until you have bit into the intensely rich, sweet, sea flavored morsel, of a crispy, breaded belly clam. Please don’t confuse these yummy delights with breaded, fried clam strips.
Steamed Clams in White Wine, from Cooking with Mary and Friends.
The later is made with large, shredded ocean clams that often have no choice then to have the texture, taste and tensile strength of a rubber band. Often with a little sand added for good measure. Speaking of clams, let us not forget about clam chowder. Be it creamy, clear or tomato based, it’s all delicious but my favorite is the creamy New England clam chowder.
New England Clam Chowder, from A Family Feast.
The New England States
Connecticut
Rhode Island
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Vermont
Maine
Lobster Roll, from Moore or Less Cooking
When I think of New England and New England Cuisine, I think of lobster traps and little seafood shacks lining the shore. Maine produces 90% of the US markets lobster supply and if you ever get the chance be sure to enjoy the freshly caught abundance of marine crustacean. They are often 1/2 the price that you might have to pay in other parts of the country and often come with a cob of corn and a portion cup of melted butter. Once, while driving thru New London CT, I stopped at a McD’s (I know… but I was thirsty and had to catch the ferry). To my surprise and delight, lobster rolls were offered on the menu!
Cod Cakes from Platter Talk.
Cape Cod, is named after the dense white fleshed, delicately flavored fish that abundantly live in it’s surrounding waters. Very close to cod in appearance and flavor is haddock and the 2 can be used pretty much interchangeably. Scrod is the name given to a small cod or haddock. These fish are commonly found prepared as fish in chips, either battered or breaded then deep fried. Cod is also often dried and salted, to later be reconstituted and made into fish cakes or other dishes.
New England Cuisine
These varieties of fish are always happy to jump into a pot of seafood chowder or stew, too. Delicious, when baked with a variety of herbs, spices, wine, lemon and butter, the diversity is almost endless. The trick to preparing really good seafood is to not overcook it. Once the translucent flesh appears opaque, it’s done. A very hot oven temperature provides the perfect environment to achieve this goal, along with a short cooking time.
Cranberry Nut Bread Recipe from Platter Talk
Moving on from my almost pathological love of seafood, New England Cuisine also includes other foods. These include cranberries, (Massachusetts #2 provider in the US), apples, maple syrup (Vermont #1 provider in the US), cheese and other dairy products. Vermont is home to Ben and Jerry’s. I’ve never had the chance to visit B&J’s home, but I’ve seen pictures that friends have taken. Ginormous sundaes and other ice cream creations are offered there so you might want to go on an empty stomach. Just ‘saying.
Boston Brown Bread, from Cooking with Mary and Friends.
Johnny cake was thought to originate in the NE, a culinary gift of the American Indians who generously introduced the recipe to the new comers from England. Originally called Journey Cakes, as it traveled well and provided needed nutrition, especially when combined with maple syrup butter. Boston is called “bean town” on account of it’s famous baked beans. They were started on Saturday in a cast iron pot hung above a fire. The pot contained beans, salt pork, molasses or maple syrup and served on Sunday, often served with it’s famous brown bread or Johnny cake.
Boston Baked Beans from Cooking with Mary and Friends.
New England Cuisine
New England is also famous for New England Boiled Dinner. Usually composed of Corned Beef, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, turnip, parsnips and onions. Often served with brown bread and Indian pudding. This delicious dinner is also known as Corned Beef & Cabbage, the dinner we all love to eat on St. Patrick’s Day.
New England Boiled Dinner from A Family Feast.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this virtual culinary journey through New England. Do you have a favorite food from New England Cuisine? We would love to hear what it is. As always, we thank you for reading Platter Talk, it means the world to us. – Chef Kat
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Sarah @ Champagne Tastes says
This made me soooo hungry! I LOVE seafood and New England food is AMAZING. But that weather.. no thanks lol
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Sarah, I agree with you on the weather but summer and fall are quite wonderful there.
Chris @ thinlyspread says
I’ve never visited but now I want to! That cranberry nut bread and those Boston baked beans are calling to me!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Heck Chris. Make the recipes now and go visit it during the summer of fall. You will fall in love.
Kate @ Veggie Desserts says
Thanks for the fab culinary tour of New England. I’d love to go one day and indulge my love of cranberries, maple syrup and Ben and Jerry’s!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Now is a great time of year to indulge in maple syrup. It’s the time that it’s being made.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I ate the best food when I was travelling around New England a few years ago, so this is bringing back some great memories.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Yes. I am in complete love with seafood and New England is also beautiful.
Christine says
What a great post! I reside in New England and LOVE seafood. I agree the trick is to not overcook it!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
I’m glad you liked the NE post. Where do you live in NE- are you near the ocean?
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
Oh, I miss the NE! I lived in Philly for a year and loved going up to Vermont and New Hampshire — I am hoping in the next few years I can take my son there in the fall for a long trip.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Nothing like New England in the Fall!
Adriana Lopez Martn says
Fabulous pictures describing how yummy New England food is! I personally love the clam chowder and the lobster roll. I must visit soon =)
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
If your a seafood lover, it is an excellent place to visit for a culinary experience. It’s also a very beautiful part of the good ‘ole USA.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Yes coming from a Canadian point of view….New England does rank up there with yummy food. Total love creamy clam chowder. Unfortunately I don’t live by the water, so I have to rely on frozen seafood. DOES not compare…I don’t care who cooks it. You guys are so lucky to have awesome fresh seafood.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
This is very true. I’m not in New England now but make some linguini with white clam sauce last night, and the clams were fresh, too!
Dannii says
This post has really made me is New England. I enjoyed so much good food there.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
I miss New England, too.
Just Jo says
Oh I would love to see New England one day, it certainly is on my bucket list. Thanks for including the map – as much as I know about the area, I am just useless at the layout out of the individual states in America so this is right handy lol! And now I have a better idea of what to expect food wise thanks to your great post when I do eventually get to visit 😀
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
You’re very welcome. Anything to help out a fellow foodie. I plan on covering the entire US in the next few months so keep tract!
The Food Hunter says
this brings me a lot of memories! I loved visiting this area growing up.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Me, too. This time of year tho, I have no longing to be there. LOL
Kristine says
Oh my goodness! I kinda want to eat every single one of these! What a great roundup!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
That’s how I am with fresh seafood, too!
Sarah says
Being a New Englander {born here, raised here, never leaving here!}, I think this list captures us and our food perfectly! We seriously have some of the best eats! …I may be bias, but you can’t beat lobster, cod, clams and cranberries 🙂
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
I consider your comment to be a huge honor! Next, I’m going for the Mid-Atlantic steaks. I know what I need but am having a difficult time getting providers to produce AUTHENTIC food, to the area. I know it’s out there, tho. ( :
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
I would always associate sea food with New England, but it is always great to see a good selection of tasty dishes.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Well put.
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry says
I really want to go to New England. These recipes look delicious. My husband would love the Boston baked beans
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Thanks for reading!
Elizabeth says
What a gorgeous collection of recipes! Despite growing up in Eastern Canada I never did make it to New England (where part of my line comes from – I’m descended from the defeated Loyalist Captain John Hatfield!).
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Well, Elizabeth, the good news is you can live there vicariously through some of these recipes!
Rebecca | Let's Eat Cake says
Thank you for the tour! I miss New England cuisine now that I’m on the West Coast. And I crave a good bowl of clam chowder on our chilly winter nights, so I’ll have to check out that recipe!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Don’t they have clams out your way? I know they have some might fine oysters there!
Velva- Tomatoes on the Vine says
Beautiful, beautiful and beautiful again. New England cuisine is part of the very fabric of our American food history.. Thank you for sharing.
Velva
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the read! Going to go across America. Mid-Atlantic is next.
Tiffany says
I LOVE New England cuisine! I will never forget the first time I had a New England lobster roll and of course, I can never get enough of delicious clam chowder!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
I visited a friend on Cape Cod for a week and had seafood, 3 meals a day the entire time. Breakfast was always leftovers from the day before. Loved it.
Igor @ Cooking The Globe says
Thanks for such an interesting write-up. I love seafood so New England looks like a perfect place for me!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Try it sometime. You won’t be sorry!
Tracy | Baking Mischief says
What a great tour of New England cuisine! Being from the west coast, I don’t have a lot of experience with New England cuisine, so this was fun to read. Those lobster rolls and cod cakes look amazing. They kind of make me want to hop on a plane right now. 😉
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
It’s pretty cold there right now but the rest of the seasons are great!
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
I live in Wisconsin, and I certainly miss these New England foods—especially the chowder and lobster rolls!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Lake Perch and Walleye, for you!!! They’re delicious, too.
Anjali says
Nice to read about the culinary details of new england!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Thanks!
swayam says
This is so delicious! Everything you showed here made me want to reach through the screen. I think me and New England food would be very happy together 😛
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
It’s very easy to get along with ; )
Revathi says
My hubby is a huge fan of sea foods and New England cuisine will surely make him happy. I especially love a nice, rich and hearty bowl of chowder 🙂 Beautiful pics.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
That makes 2 of us!
April J Harris says
Oh my this post brought back delicious memories! We used to vacation in Maine when I was a kid, and I adore New England cuisine. I have such wonderful memories of eating clams with my late Dad. Mom wasn’t really a fan of clams but she loved lobster, and lobster rolls are such a favourite of mine. That’s so cool they had them at McD’s. Looking forward to checking out the recipes in this post!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
If you enjoy seafood, New England is the place to be!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I’ve never been to New England but it’s definitely a part of the world that’s on my list! Looks like they have a great selection of foods.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
They do, especially if you want to know what fresh seafood tastes like. Plus, NE is beautiful.
Heather | All Roads Lead to the Kitchen says
Oh my gosh, every food you showed looks incredible. I’m a fan of all of the New England fare I’ve tried and made so far, but I hope to actually get to the source one day…eat authentic and copious amounts of fresh seafood dishes!
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Heather, I know that you would really enjoy a road trip thru New England. Go for it!
Michele @ Flavor Mosaic says
Thank you for the new England culinary tour. Being from Texas, I have not had much of this type of cuisine, except for the Clam Chowder but that was on the West Coast, not the East Coast. Thanks for sharing.
Chef Kat from Platter Talk says
Michele, I’m glad that you enjoyed the tour!