Nevada

These recipes showcase just some of the foods that Nevada is famous for. "The Silver State" was the 36th state to join the U.S.A in 1864. It doesn't have as robust of a food culture as other states in this series, partly because it is the driest state in the country with only around 10" of rainfall a year! Not as much water means not as many settlers, not as many crops, and consequently not as much food history with close ties to the state.

But that doesn't mean you can't find great food there! Las Vegas is famous for its over-the-top buffets and swanky restaurants backed by celebrity chefs. It's one of those places where you can find almost anything you want at any time of day and gluttonous buffets keep you coming back for more.

Some of the most iconic foods with ties to Las Vegas include Shrimp Cocktail (allegedly invented in Las Vegas in the 1950's and frequently served in a martini glass with the shrimp hanging around the rim) and a big indulgent slice of succulent Prime Rib Roast. I included Onion Rings because onions are one of Nevada's top crops.

And to round out my Nevada menu, I included some Basque favorites like Gateau Basque and Paella for the immigrants who came to Nevada from the Basque region of Spain in the mid-1800's for the mining after the discovery of the Comstock Lode and stayed for mining (Nevada leads the nation in gold production even though its silver mining is what originally put Nevada on the map) and sheepherding. You can find Basque restaurants throughout the state to this day!