Whether you've traveled the world or still live in the town you grew up in, chances are you've tried the regional cuisine of a distant place.

One great thing about the United States is that it's a country with so much culinary diversity. Some of our signature dishes come from far-flung places, while others are home-grown inventions, but all have a unique American flavor that reflects the evolving and enterprising nature of our country.

Regional cuisine is about more than just food; it tells a story. Of course, it depends on the availability of certain meat or produce in a given area, but that's not all. Each regional dish exists in part because of immigration, innovation, wars, and other historically significant conditions. In that way, food is a large part of the American story.

On a lighter note, it's lots of fun to cook regional dishes. It can be a great way to break the monotony of the everyday meal, and maybe even learn about a new spice or two.

You might want to make a romantic night of it. Let your man join you in the kitchen and cook up some steamy, delicious treats. Then light a few candles, turn on some music, and enjoy a romantic getaway that requires only some simple ingredients and your imagination. In the recent economic climate, who couldn't use a little "vacation"?

For example, who wouldn't love an evening in Miami, one of Florida's most popular cities and the home of some of nation's best nightlife and restaurants?

Cuban food is the star of Miami's culinary scene. Thousands of Cubans have made Miami their home in the last half-century after fleeing their homeland in protest of Fidel Castro's communist regime. They brought with them the mouth-watering recipes that have become a staple of Miami's cultural landscape. Cuban food is a type of fusion cuisine, blending elements of African, Spanish, and Caribbean cooking. A typical Miami Cuban meal might include spicy roast pork, rice and beans, mashed plantains, and beer.

Another Miami Cuban favorite is the Batido, a cold, creamy milk-based drink that's as different from your average milkshake as Miami's energy-charged nightlife is from an afternoon at your local strip mall. Batidos can be made with a variety of tropical-inspired main ingredients, including banana, papaya, and this tempting, super-simple mango version:

Batido de Mango

(Recipe adapted from Glenn M. Lindgren, Jorge Castillo, and Raul Musibay)

1 cup fresh ripe mango cubed

1 cup whole milk

3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

3 tablespoons sugar (to taste)

1/2 cup crushed ice

Put everything in the blender except the ice and process until frothy. Add the crushed ice and process until the ice is ground fine and the batido is thick and rich. NOTE: The condensed milk is a very Cuban addition. You may omit this ingredient to your taste.

While the Cubans were busy making their home in Miami, the Chinese immigrants to San Francisco were enjoying the community they'd been building since the mid-19^th century. San Francisco's Chinatown boasts the largest Chinese population in North America and some of the oldest and best Chinese eateries in the United States. Legend has it that Chop Suey was invented there when a belligerent gold miner stormed into a Chinese restaurant at closing time and demanded a meal. With only a few leftover kitchen scraps, the quick-thinking cook whipped up the now famous dish.

Chop Suey is a still a fast and easy stir fry to throw together in a pinch. Simply take some thinly sliced meat strips and cook them in a wok with frozen or canned Chinese vegetables and seasoning. Throw in a few teaspoons of soy sauce and a teaspoon of sugar and you've got one quick and tasty meal.

The "Maine" Dinner Event

Maine is best known for its lobster, but there are other delicious regional dishes that come to us from this rugged New England state.

In Maine, the local fare is heavily influenced by French Canadian cooking, which combines the sensuality of French cuisine with the rustic feel of the North woods. This combination produces what might be the world's best comfort foods. Get plenty of exercise before delving into the French-Canadian Maine cookbook, because the meat-and-potato-heavy recipes are made to be fuel for rough winters.

Poutine is a junk food lover's dream of French fries with cheese curds and gravy. It may not sound pretty (and it isn't) but those who taste it quickly become addicted. It's even become a trend among upscale New York restaurants.

Minnesota Meals to Make

Traditional Minnesota regional cuisine features Midwestern potluck favorites like corn dogs, Jell-O salad and casseroles. This is the food your grandma probably made, and it can be a yummy diversion from the everyday. You can make a fun, lighthearted evening of preparing these classics.

As an alternative, you can explore the updated twist on Minnesota cooking, which focuses on healthier, more natural food with a strong Scandinavian influence.

(Adapted from recipe on Cloudberry Quark Blog)

700 g (11/2 lb) salmon fillets, with skin
75 g (21/2 oz) prepared horseradish
2 egg yolks
75 g (21/2 oz) breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
butter for frying

Cut the salmon into serving-sized pieces and remove bones. Salt lightly. Mix the horseradish paste and egg yolk on a plate and the parsley and breadcrumbs on another. Dredge the salmon, skin side up, first in the horseradish and then in the breadcrumbs.

Fry the salmon in a bit of butter, breaded side down, on a medium-hot pan, for about 3 minutes. Transfer to a baking tray, skin side down, and bake in the oven at 180°C (350°F) for 6-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets.

American regional cuisine is generally easy to prepare because the ingredients the recipes call for can be found in most grocery stores. Use your imagination when choosing a regional cuisine to try. Think back to your childhood. Do you recall any vacations, road trips, or visits to far-off relatives where you tasted something new and different? What tastes do you and your family prefer? Do you like things spicy? Try Southwestern. If your kids are cheese fanatics, they'll love Wisconsin.

Remember to have fun, and keep it as simple or as complicated as your skill and budget allow.