The Pacific and Northwest area has been most heavily influenced by its natives and immigrants. The Spanish and Mexicans owned a large part of Southern California and the Chinese were given free passage to America to come and build the railroads. Other groups played a part in the cuisine of our regions, such as the Russians who owned Alaska and traded with the Indians of the Northwest. The Italians, Portuguese. and Greeks came to follow the fishing trade of their homelands. From the Tillamook. Yakima, and Klamath Indians of the Northwest, salmon was introduced and became part of the cuisine of the Northern Region's Cuisine.

Moving to the south toward San Francisco, which is now considered a Mecca of food, seafood is abundant, large variety of freshly grown and harvested produce is available. With a major seaport, refrigerated containers and jumbo jets, fresh produce and ingredients travel in and out of this region and have been incorporated into the food and restaurant industries. Many are familiar with the areas Fried Calamari, Cracked Dungeness Crab,  Pacific Salmon and Chop Suey.