Connecticut

Connecticut was the fifth state to join the Union in 1788, and it has several nicknames, including the Constitution State and the Nutmeg State. This state's food culture blends New England classics, colonial influences, and innovative creations from its long coastline to its inland farms.

Seafood has a long history in Connecticut. Native Americans harvested clams in Connecticut before it became a state. That history is reflected in dishes like the unique New Haven white clam pizza and Connecticut-style lobster rolls, served warm with butter instead of a cold, mayo-dressed sandwich like in Maine.

Inland, the steamed cheeseburger, created in the 1920s, trades the grill for a steam cabinet, and sweet treats like the snickerdoodle cookie, dating back to early German-American settlers, and apple cider donuts are nostalgic traditions.