American Food

The United States is a country built on immigration and immigrants from all over the world have brought their own cultural traditions, resulting in a melting pot of ideas. American food therefore, is a mixture of influences from Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. In our global society today, American culture is widespread and American food exported itself throughout the world. It would be grossly unfair however, to dismiss US cuisine as hamburgers and fries. Regional cooking in America is so much more than that. Any visitor to Maine wants to try the lobster there and Maryland restaurants serve up a tasty crab. Traditions have been taken and adapted to US tastes and recipes have been invented on American soil but which reflect the cuisine of other countries.

Even the hot dog and hamburger, so associated with the USA, has its origins in Germany. Southern cuisine is distinctive from the rest of the country with its Creole, Cajun and soul food dishes. There are regional differences within the South too with Louisiana being noted for its French influences and its hot sauces. Texas is known for its barbecue sauces and Oklahoma for its bean based dishes. North and South Carolina use rice a lot in their food. A typical Southern breakfast would consist of bacon, grits and pancakes and any trip to the South would bring the smell of fried chicken.

Tex-Mex is a familiar term on menus across the world, a type of American food that originated in Texas, taking inspiration from Mexican ingredients. The staples are beef, spices, beans and tortillas. Some well known dishes, such as Chilie con Carne, are Tex-Mex inventions and not authentic Mexican dishes. However, fajitas and tortilla chips dipped in salsa are universally popular.

The Italian community has made a big impact on the eating habits of Americans. Once again, ingredients and recipes have been adapted instead of slavishly following the old ways. American - Italian dishes tend to contain more tomatoes and meat. Lasagna and Frittata, a type of omelet with potatoes, peppers and asparagus, are two popular meals. Spaghetti and Meatballs are a purely American invention. Italian food is usually washed down with a bottle of Chianti. Pizza of course, is everywhere with the most popular being the New York style and the Chicago style.

American-Chinese food is also made up of invented or adapted dishes. Chinese restaurants and take outs are extremely popular with Chop Suey, Chow Mein and Wonton Soup being favorites on the menu. Japanese Sushi bars are also a common sight in cities. American food means so many different things, from a New York steak to a blueberry muffin to a Waldorf Salad.