Travel opens people up to new experiences, such as trying different styles of cuisine. While international travel offers a wide variety of foods to sample, regional fare within the U.S. can also offer new dining experiences. These culinary explorations can even take place in the comfort of one's own home. For instance, people who would like to explore foods associated with the southeastern United States can try the following recipe for Southern-style buttermilk fried chicken from AllRecipes.com.

Southern-Style Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

2 cups buttermilk

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 whole chicken, cut into pieces

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

5 cups vegetable oil for frying

Directions:

1. Whisk together buttermilk, mustard, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a bowl.

2. Pour buttermilk marinade into a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken pieces, coat with marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours.

3. Combine flour, baking powder, garlic powder, and onion powder in another resealable plastic bag; shake to mix thoroughly.

4. Working with one piece at a time, transfer marinated chicken to the dry ingredient bag, seal the bag, and shake well to coat. After all chicken pieces are coated, repeat the process by dipping them in the buttermilk marinade and shaking in the dry coating again.

5. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Place chicken in the pan. Fry chicken in batches in hot oil, turning chicken occasionally, until golden brown and juices run clear. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the meat should read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.