Topic: Culinary Regions of California (North Coast Highlands)

Edited 12/31/2013

The Smith River.

A lighthouse in Trinidad.

The area covering Del Norte County and Humboldt County north of McKinleyville is what I consider to be the North Coast Highlands culinary region of California.  I have designated and named all of these regions, because I don't know of any official regions for cuisines within California.

The area in red is the North Coast Highlands culinary region.

The region is characterized by an abundance of fish and shellfish from both inland and marine waters, and a strong influence by the Native American community.  Smoked salmon from northern Humboldt County, trout from the Smith River, and dungeness crab result from this.  Also, meats and local produce shipped from the North Coast Lowlands, the Shasta Cascades, and parts of Oregon are considered commonplace.

Crab cakes are popular here.

Smoked salmon.

I'll be talking about the geography of smoked salmon in California on the next post, then move on to another culinary region.