Take a trip to Massachusetts, however, and not a chili pepper nor a tortilla will you find in a traditional meal. Influenced by the cold climate and the English-speaking people who settled there, the New England kitchen gives off the aromas of soups and stews and of meat that roasted for hours in the oven. Potatoes, carrots, and turnips were popular, because these root vegetables grew well in the region and could be stored all winter long in the days before supermarkets and refrigerators, English-style puddings and pies are the traditional desserts, rather than the fresh fruit one often gets in the Southwest.
Whereas beef and chicken appear in many New Mexican recipes, in Massachusetts fish is very popular because of the nearby seacoast. New England is famous for its clam chowder, lobster, cod, scallops, and fish cakes. English herbs and spices are the seasonings used in New England dishes, which might taste rather bland to people accustomed to hot and spicy New Mexican food