Eat in All 50 States Without Leaving the Valley of the Sun: South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes, who comprise a significant portion of the population and historically dominated the entire territory. The state capital is Pierre.

South Dakota is an expansive, sparsely populated state where rolling prairies give way to the dramatic Black Hills National Forest. Black Hills is home to two historical monuments carved right into towering granite peaks: Mt. Rushmore, the iconic depiction of 4 revered U.S. presidents, and Crazy Horse Memorial, a long-in-progress tribute to the storied Native American tribal leader.

The state has a strong agricultural base. It is the largest industry in the state. South Dakota routinely ranks among the top 10 states for the production of hay, sunflowers, rye, honey, soybeans, corn, wheat and cattle. Tourism is also a significant contributor, bringing in about $2 billion, annually. The service sector, retail trade and manufacturing industries account for the majority of the state's employment.

South Dakota heritage is a combination of indigenous people and settlers who made their way to the region over the last few centuries. In South Dakota, you will find German, Scandinavian and Native American cuisine served side by side, resulting in a distinct regional cuisine specific to the state. Chislic, Kuchen, Kolaches, Wasna and Wojapi are among some of the native and unique cuisine of the state of South Dakota. Bison Burgers, mistakenly knows as Buffalo Burgers are naturally very popular in this state. Interesting enough, there is a small town named Bison in Perkins County, South Dakota, with population of less than 500 people. The town is named after the American bison which were once numerous in the area.

Chislic, Kutchen or other authentic dish served in the state of South Dakota is no where to be found in Arizona restaurants, however there are plenty of places around the valley that serve frybread. But wait! Was frybread inspired or originated in South Dakota? The answer is No. According to Navajo tradition, frybread was created in 1864 using the flour, sugar, salt and lard that was given to them by the United States government when the Navajo, who were living in Arizona, were forced to make the 300 mile journey known as the "Long Walk" and relocate to Bosque Redondo, New Mexico onto land that could not easily support their traditional staples of vegetables and beans.For many Native Americans, frybread links generation with generation and also connects the present to the painful narrative of Native American history. It is often served both at home and at gatherings. The way it is served varies from region to region and different tribes have different recipes. It can be found in its many ways at state fairs and pow-wows, but what is served to the paying public may be different from what is served in private homes and in the context of tribal family relations. Frybread can be eaten alone or with various toppings such as honey, jam, or hot beef. Frybread can also be made into tacos, like Indian tacos. It is a simple complement to meals. One may question that what does South Dakota have to do with frybread?

Frybread was made the official state bread of South Dakota when Governor Mark Rounds signed House Bill No. 1205 on February 25, 2005. The South Dakota Legislature approved a bill designating by frybread, an American Indian staple, as the official state bread. The house voted 64-3 to add frybread to the long list of state symbols that includes coyotes, honey bees and walleyes, making South Dakota the first in nation to choose frybread a state symbol. Supporters have said it is time for the state to officially recognize a symbol of Indian culture. "Does it represent our heritage? Does it represent our culture? Does it represent our history?" Asked State Representative, Larry Rhoden. He then said YES to all three.

There is a restaurant in Phoenix, AZ named Fry Bread House, a simple spot serving savory and sweet creations made from American Indian Frybread. Though the food in this restaurant is delicious and truly tasty, the cleanliness and the house keeping needs a lot of improvement.