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.