Editing Northern Mariana Islands (section)

===Cuisine===
[[File:Beef tinaktak.jpg|thumb|left|Tianaktak, finely ground meat cooked in coconut milk with vegetables]]
[[File:Estufao.jpg|thumb|left|''Estufao'', a stewed meat dish similar to ''Kaddon pika'']]
{{main|Cuisine of the Mariana Islands}}
Much of Chamorro cuisine is influenced by various cultures. Popular foods of foreign origin include various types of sweet or savory [[empanada]], initially introduced by Spain, and [[pancit]], a noodle dish from the Philippines.

Archeological evidence reveals that rice has been cultivated in the Marianas since prehistoric times. Red rice made with [[Bixa orellana#Culinary uses|achoti]] is a distinct staple food that strongly distinguishes Chamorro cuisine from that of other Pacific islands. It is commonly served for special events, such as parties (gupot or "fiestas"), novenas, and high school or college graduations. Fruits such as [[breadfruit|lemmai]] (breadfruit), [[mango|mangga]] (mangoes), [[coconut|niyok]] (coconuts), and [[Averrhoa bilimbi|bilimbines]] (bilimbi, a fruit related to [[starfruit]]) are included in various local recipes. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and American cuisine are also commonly available.

Local specialties include [[kelaguen]], a dish in which meat is cooked in whole or in part by the action of [[citric acid]] rather than heat; ''[[tinaktak]]'', a meat dish made with coconut milk; and kå'du fanihi (flying fox/fruit bat soup). Fruit bats have become scarce in modern times on several islands, primarily due to the overharvesting of the species and loss of habitat; hunting them is now illegal even though poaching still occurs.

The Marianas and the Hawaiian islands are the world's foremost consumers, per capita, of [[Spam (food)|Spam]], with Guam at the top of the list and Hawaii second (details regarding the rest of the Marianas are often absent from statistics). Spam was introduced to the islands by the American military as war rations during World War II.

Spam is considered a "default" meal or snack and is often incorporated into recipes such as Spam sushi, Spam pizza, Spam and eggs, and Spam-fried rice.<ref name="Arin Greenwood">{{Cite web |author=Arin Greenwood |title=Gadfly Online. Isle of Canned Meat |url=http://www.gadflyonline.com/home/06-10-02/ftr-spam.html |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Gadflyonline.com |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202134402/http://www.gadflyonline.com/home/06-10-02/ftr-spam.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The food is popular on other islands also including Guam and Hawaiian islands, and one popular flavor is hot and spicy spam.<ref name="Arin Greenwood" />