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This is the sort of thing you don't want to eat for the first time later in life. I make tuna noodle casserole once a year in the winter because that's what mom did, though she made it twice. The Catholics had to eat something on Friday.
That's why my Mom made tuna noodle casseroles too.
Some other desserts that I believe are only found in America: Ding Dongs, Twinkies, and Moon Pies. Ding Dongs and Twinkies weren't made for a while, but Hostess got so many requests for them, they started making them again a few years ago.
Another one that I've never come across outside of the U.S. is salt water taffy. Google confims that it originated in america (back in the 1880s!). I think Peanut Brittle was first made during the American Civil War. And, believe it or not, according to Wikipedia, an American invented the first round donut with a hole in the center. Donuts were made in other countries before that, but we can claim the ones with holes as "American food."
Someone probably already mentioned this, but since I seem to be having a sugar fit right now, I'll do it again. There's also maple syrup and all of the maple syrup candies (of course, only made in the Northeast, and Canada could probably claim that one too).
Waffle House is not a national chain. It's a southeastern US chain. 132 locations in Atlanta. There are none in the northeast and none on the west coast.
Biscuits are everywhere since McDonald's has them but there are huge chunks of the country where biscuits and gravy are not a staple on every breakfast menu.
I'm kind of rolling my eyes at people who call regional food "American". Don't you people travel?
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Biscuits and gravy is not "regional food" only found south of the Mason-Dixon line except for McDonald's. I was grown before McDonald's even served biscuits and gravy, and we never ate at McDonald's anyway, but I sure did have biscuits and gravy growing up. I lived in Kansas/Missouri and also had relatives in more northern states and in California and Arizona and guess what? They served biscuits and gravy too.
The cities below seems to have a lot of non-chain places that serve biscuits and gravy. I don't have time to search menus or reviews for the entire United States, but I figure if these places have biscuits and gravy they are everywhere.
American kids from all ethnic backgrounds loved it!
Ugh, no.
I never could abide by sloppy joes. Where I grew up, people referred to it as "barbecue," leading me to believe that BBQ was gross, seasoned ground beef in tomato sauce. Fortunately, I grew up and moved to an actual BBQ-famed city, and learned the truth. Ugh, sloppy joe. Quintessential cafeteria food.
I also disliked and continue to dislike PB&J. Because of the J.
You can say that again! What's a movie without popcorn or Christmas without popcorn balls?
I love popcorn but don't really have a popcorn ball recipe. I remember my Dad making some delicious ones once using melted marshmallow/butter (rice krispie treats made with popcorn, basically). How do you do your popcorn balls?
That's why my Mom made tuna noodle casseroles too.
Some other desserts that I believe are only found in America: Ding Dongs, Twinkies, and Moon Pies. Ding Dongs and Twinkies weren't made for a while, but Hostess got so many requests for them, they started making them again a few years ago.
Another one that I've never come across outside of the U.S. is salt water taffy. Google confims that it originated in america (back in the 1880s!). I think Peanut Brittle was first made during the American Civil War. And, believe it or not, according to Wikipedia, an American invented the first round donut with a hole in the center. Donuts were made in other countries before that, but we can claim the ones with holes as "American food."
Someone probably already mentioned this, but since I seem to be having a sugar fit right now, I'll do it again. There's also maple syrup and all of the maple syrup candies (of course, only made in the Northeast, and Canada could probably claim that one too).
Now, please excuse me. I have to go scarf down a candy bar to calm my raving sweet tooth after writing all of this!
great list!!
the maple syrup always kinda mystified me,,,i read somewhere the indians...started it.
but no where else in the world ..made maple syrup no one in europe..??
the donut with a hole in it...was said to be started in maine
speaking of maine....the whoopie pie is a regional favorite.....im thinking this is unique..
and we have fiddleheads....but i have to believe other regions have them too (baby fern)
Speaking of pizza, my husband grew up in NY, home of Neopolitan and Sicilian pizza. The first time he visited my home state of Vermont, I introduced him to the unholy variety of toppings found on a Vermont pizza. He was both horrified and intrigued at my favorite: broiled trout with broccoli and lemon slices.
Black Americans don't eat pumpkin pie in general. We have sweet potato pie at Thanksgiving. And all African-American Thanksgiving meals feature macaroni & cheese and sweet potatoes/yams.
That is correct. Sweet potato pie is much preferred over pumpkin. However, more often than not, it is referred to as "potato pie" in many places in the South.
Biscuits and gravy is not "regional food" only found south of the Mason-Dixon line except for McDonald's. I was grown before McDonald's even served biscuits and gravy, and we never ate at McDonald's anyway, but I sure did have biscuits and gravy growing up. I lived in Kansas/Missouri and also had relatives in more northern states and in California and Arizona and guess what? They served biscuits and gravy too.
The cities below seems to have a lot of non-chain places that serve biscuits and gravy. I don't have time to search menus or reviews for the entire United States, but I figure if these places have biscuits and gravy they are everywhere.
I live in the northeast. I rarely see biscuits and gravy on a menu. They are everywhere, but they certainly predominate in the south. I think we all know that tho, its just people being argumentative.
There are lots of foods we call American but if you're coming here from another country, I believe the absolute must have food to search out is BBQ, the low and slow kind, from any region. They're all great. Second would be local seafood.
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I was grown before McDonald's even served biscuits and gravy, and we never ate at McDonald's anyway, but I sure did have biscuits and gravy growing up. I lived in Kansas/Missouri and also had relatives in more northern states and in California and Arizona and guess what? They served biscuits and gravy too.
