Authentic American or Special American Food?
Replies
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queenliz99 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.
Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)
What's your point?
That the OP is looking for American food to try.
so pizza originates from NY?
Nope
We have lots of places that serve really good fish tacos and yes they are originally from Mexico. But so what. It's hard to describe American food
I never said that the fish tacos sold in the US are bad (they are good) but since the OP wants "real" or "authentic" american food, then, TACOS (of any kind) are not 'American' per se. That was my point.
CORRECTION Shell Tacos (like the ones sold at Taco Bell) are american indeed lol!....
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queenliz99 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.
Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)
What's your point?
That the OP is looking for American food to try.
so pizza originates from NY?
Nope
We have lots of places that serve really good fish tacos and yes they are originally from Mexico. But so what. It's hard to describe American food
I never said that the fish tacos sold in the US are bad (they are good) but since the OP wants "real" or "authentic" american food, then, TACOS (of any kind) are not 'American' per se. That was my point.
CORRECTION Shell Tacos (like the ones sold at Taco Bell) are american indeed lol!....
And that would be a bad example of a taco, IMO0 -
My family eats a lot of different kinds of food.
It varies a lot by region. Basically avoid chain restaurants. Smaller non-chain restaurants are probably good for finding regional favorites.
If you list areas you might visit you might get specific recommendations.
Eat some steak.
Go to a barbeque restaurant.
Try a Reuben sandwich.
Get a maid rite sandwich.
Try to get a fry bread taco somewhere.
Corn dog?
I have heard that we seem sandwich obsessed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_sandwiches
Some states are known for particular foods.
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/50-state-foods.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_foods
http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/comfort-foods-of-every-state-in-america-thrillist0 -
Definitely hunt down a soul food cafe.0
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queenliz99 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »If you are in So. Cal try fish tacos.
Which technically speaking are not american food, but mexican food (from Baja California)
What's your point?
That the OP is looking for American food to try.
so pizza originates from NY?
Nope
We have lots of places that serve really good fish tacos and yes they are originally from Mexico. But so what. It's hard to describe American food
I never said that the fish tacos sold in the US are bad (they are good) but since the OP wants "real" or "authentic" american food, then, TACOS (of any kind) are not 'American' per se. That was my point.
That's true. So much of what we eat is appropriated fare, lol. There isn't a whole lot that originated here. Corn, though! We got corn! 0 -
My family eats a lot of different kinds of food.
It varies a lot by region. Basically avoid chain restaurants. Smaller non-chain restaurants are probably good for finding regional favorites.
If you list areas you might visit you might get specific recommendations.
Eat some steak.
Go to a barbeque restaurant.
Try a Reuben sandwich.
Get a maid rite sandwich.
Try to get a fry bread taco somewhere.
Corn dog?
I have heard that we seem sandwich obsessed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_sandwiches
Some states are known for particular foods.
http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/50-state-foods.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_foods
http://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/comfort-foods-of-every-state-in-america-thrillist
Oh thanks for the links!
I forgot Reubens. I love Reubens. And Maryland crabcakes. Doh.0 -
A few more thoughts:
Shrimp and grits
Chicken and waffles
Fried chicken wings
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My two cents here...What about turkey?!....this species is native to the US and Mexico, so this is for sure authentic northamerican food, add some mashed potatoes, cornbread, apple pie, BBQ and you have yourself some real american food...at least that is my point of view.
BUT! Since the United States was founded by immigrants, specially european immigrants from places such as , Germany and Italy aswell as mexican immigrants , we can see a lot of that influence in the dishes the rest of world considers American such as Hot Dogs (german schnitzels and bratwurst) the NY and Chicago Pizza (from Italy), fajitas and shell tacos (Tex Mex cuisine, from Texas when it was part of Mexico) , Meatloaf (from Belgium and Germany), American cheese (which was originally made from Chedar from the UK), etc.
So, that is why it is hard to define "authentic" american food...it can be kung pao chicken or lasagna.0 -
It depends on where you are. The best food will be regional.
Sampling the different versions of BBQ is worth doing.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »It depends on the region you are going to...and really, American food is a hodge podge of all kinds of different cultural influences...Barbecue in Texas, Tennessee, Missouri, and the Carolinas
Cajun/creole food in Louisiana
Burgers and fries (or better, onion rings) from an authentic place, not McDonalds
Craft beer everywhere
Southwest food in, uh, the Southwest - Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, SoCal
these are good suggestions...
when I think truly authentic "American food" I pretty much think steak and potatoes....and a good burger from a real burger joint, not a fast food joint. it seems like just about anything else comes from somewhere else or was highly influenced by another culture.
This is true, but that's what American food is--our spin on other cultures that were influential in the particular region. So I wouldn't rule out tacos or the like.
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A really good hamburger and fries, not McDonalds, some place that will make a good one
Apple Pie, Blueberry Pie
Barbecue (find a good cookout to go to)
Hot Dogs
homemade macaroni and cheese
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Waffle House.0
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Has the OP come back? This may be easier to answer if they tell us what region(s) they are visiting0
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What nationality are you? Personally, I would have to try the Americans version of Chinese or Japanese food, if I was actually from there (you said Asian, so I'm guessing).
Going to add-if you're in NJ go to a diner! Get some cheese fries, a burger and top it off with pie and ice cream. Pretty American to me.
I'm a hong Kong Chinese Canadian0 -
What nationality are you? Personally, I would have to try the Americans version of Chinese or Japanese food, if I was actually from there (you said Asian, so I'm guessing).
Going to add-if you're in NJ go to a diner! Get some cheese fries, a burger and top it off with pie and ice cream. Pretty American to me.
I'm a hong Kong Chinese Canadian
What is your itinerary?0 -
(puts on flame retardant clothing)
national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
How 'bout Cracker Barrel though? I think they do a good job...
Cracker Barrel!
Oh no0 -
arditarose wrote: »(puts on flame retardant clothing)
national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
How 'bout Cracker Barrel though? I think they do a good job...
Cracker Barrel!
Oh no
Yeah, no. Definitely not.0 -
Since you're going to Chicago, you should check out some Italian beef sandwiches. It's my favorite thing to eat up there. Despite the name, the sandwich actually did originate in Chicago.0
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a
if you are going to be in Manhattan
http://www.nycbestbar.com/stumble/
order yourself a stuffed burger with onion rings
if you are trying to look for healthier less caloric dense food... our portions are pretty big. cut the dish in half and split it with another person OR between meals OH AND IF IT SAYS UNDER 500 CALORIES ITS A TRAP! paying extra money for half the dish >.> (cough applebees cough cough)0 -
(puts on flame retardant clothing)
national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
How 'bout Cracker Barrel though? I think they do a good job...
Cracker Barrel!
oh man i love this place! good thing I have to pay a toll and drive for an hour and a half before i hit one haha0 -
0
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where in NY are you going to? like niagra falls? New york city?0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »(puts on flame retardant clothing)
national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
How 'bout Cracker Barrel though? I think they do a good job...
Cracker Barrel!
Oh no
Yeah, no. Definitely not.
See, for me, it's a yes. When I travel to the states I look for really good restaurants and try things that I can't normally get here or that the area is known for (Chicago deep dish pizza, for example). But I also want to try places like this just because I've heard of them so much around these boards. It is kinda of "american" food because it is popular and well known.
On my last US trip I didn't know there was a Cracker Barrell right behind the airport hotel we stayed at. I was disappointed.
Other places like In and Out, Jack in the Box, Sonic are also on my want to try list. (I have tried In and Out).
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3dogsrunning wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »(puts on flame retardant clothing)
national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
How 'bout Cracker Barrel though? I think they do a good job...
Cracker Barrel!
Oh no
Yeah, no. Definitely not.
See, for me, it's a yes. When I travel to the states I look for really good restaurants and try things that I can't normally get here or that the area is known for (Chicago deep dish pizza, for example). But I also want to try places like this just because I've heard of them so much around these boards. It is kinda of "american" food because it is popular and well known.
On my last US trip I didn't know there was a Cracker Barrell right behind the airport hotel we stayed at. I was disappointed.
Other places like In and Out, Jack in the Box, Sonic are also on my want to try list. (I have tried In and Out).
Interesting. I will never forget my Cracker Barrel meals. Two times. Never again. I see what you're saying though about easily being able to sample something typical. It's just not great quality.0 -
I'll second beef sandwiches in Chicago. It's the best thing they've got going and some of those places do it better than anywhere else. 0
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3dogsrunning wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »(puts on flame retardant clothing)
national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
How 'bout Cracker Barrel though? I think they do a good job...
Cracker Barrel!
Oh no
Yeah, no. Definitely not.
See, for me, it's a yes. When I travel to the states I look for really good restaurants and try things that I can't normally get here or that the area is known for (Chicago deep dish pizza, for example). But I also want to try places like this just because I've heard of them so much around these boards. It is kinda of "american" food because it is popular and well known.
On my last US trip I didn't know there was a Cracker Barrell right behind the airport hotel we stayed at. I was disappointed.
Other places like In and Out, Jack in the Box, Sonic are also on my want to try list. (I have tried In and Out).
It just makes me sad because people go to places like that and then decide they are representative of American food.
There was a poster recently who stayed in NYC (from the UK, I think) and was going on about how all US portions were super gigantic and you absolutely could not get smaller, which puzzled me since I've eaten at plenty of places with less insane portions in NYC, given the diversity, and it turned out that basically the only place she'd been was, I think, Applebee's. In NYC! And it was being used as representative of what eating in NYC is like.
Made me both sad and defensive for US food and restaurants.
It's fine if people want to do the chains, then, but I'd hope they'd understand what they are, you know?0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »3dogsrunning wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »arditarose wrote: »(puts on flame retardant clothing)
national chain restaurant do an at worst decent job of grabbing some of America's favorite dishes and aren't a "horrible" choice for getting the "stereotype" of a lot of regionally authentic dishes.
How 'bout Cracker Barrel though? I think they do a good job...
Cracker Barrel!
Oh no
Yeah, no. Definitely not.
See, for me, it's a yes. When I travel to the states I look for really good restaurants and try things that I can't normally get here or that the area is known for (Chicago deep dish pizza, for example). But I also want to try places like this just because I've heard of them so much around these boards. It is kinda of "american" food because it is popular and well known.
On my last US trip I didn't know there was a Cracker Barrell right behind the airport hotel we stayed at. I was disappointed.
Other places like In and Out, Jack in the Box, Sonic are also on my want to try list. (I have tried In and Out).
It just makes me sad because people go to places like that and then decide they are representative of American food.
There was a poster recently who stayed in NYC (from the UK, I think) and was going on about how all US portions were super gigantic and you absolutely could not get smaller, which puzzled me since I've eaten at plenty of places with less insane portions in NYC, given the diversity, and it turned out that basically the only place she'd been was, I think, Applebee's. In NYC! And it was being used as representative of what eating in NYC is like.
Made me both sad and defensive for US food and restaurants.
It's fine if people want to do the chains, then, but I'd hope they'd understand what they are, you know?
Ah that's so sad!0 -
Hey, me and my family travel a lot to America but it's usually on an asian tour bus... I have yet to try some 'authentic' American food and I want to have the real deal! I hear that the food varies by state/area so feel free to list them! There's no need for the health factor either. I have heard of In N out burger but I've never tried it.
I've also seen American food on TV in Canada, looks so good!
What a good question. I've lived in about 8 different regions of the country and had close ties to a few others. There is such thing as authentic regional American cuisine but, you have to work a little to seek it out. Before going to a specific city or rural area, research it and find out exactly where locals say you have to go to get it.
I've been in Memphis Tennessee for twenty years and I'll just make 3 suggestions for Memphis. More than anything else, we're known for barbeque. But so is Texas, South Carolina, and Kansas City. It's not all the same though. Texas is beef, maybe brisket. South Carolinians seem to brag about their sauce. I don't about Kansas City because I can't get passed their insistence on putting cinnamon in spaghetti sauce.
But in Memphis barbeque is either slow smoked pulled pork shoulder, or slabs of pork ribs, either wet or dry.- Pulled pork shoulder should come from Central Barbeque. The meat should be piled on a hamburger bun with cole slaw on top of the meat, not on the side. Sweet tea or beer are the only acceptable beverages.
- Dry ribs have to come from The Rendezvous. You enter from an alley near Beale Street. The ribs are anything but dry. They are juicy and seriously addictive but they have a dry spice rub with sauce on the side. Have a side of beans too.
- Go to Corky's Barbeque for wet ribs. Wet means they're served with sauce on the ribs. It's in Memphis but not downtown and not as old school as The Rendezvous. Exactly 50% of Memphians say wet ribs are the only way to go and the only place get them is Corky's Barbeque.
When you get out of jail from your Beale Street adventures ask if The Cozy Corner restaurant has been rebuilt. It recently burned down and the local chefs took up collections and held benefits to pay for the rebuild. If somebody doesn't abscond with the money it might be open again by the time you get to Memphis. This was the kind of place that you knew had to be great or else why would that many cars be in this neighborhood.
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In Chicago you have to get a deep dish pizza!0
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