The most American Food

[sgtkwol]

I got inspired by the santa post http://www.thejapanesepage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=2941
Since we have quite a few people from different parts of the world in these forums, I figured I would ask what foods can you only get in America. I would personally say stuff like Buffalo wings (smothered in blue cheese) and a Philly cheese steaks are much more American than apple pie. I know you wont find these foods at traditional restaurants in other parts of the world, but I want to know if you can get them at (foreign) "American" restaurants.

[Sachi]

Ooh, buffalo wings and philly cheese steaks; you're making me hungry now, sgtkwol! ^^

Those are good examples. I can't think of any myself, but this could be interesting :p

[Takeo Saeki]

I'm with Sachi on this one. Now i'm craving buffalo wings and cheese steaks as well, and I also can't think of any examples but I agree that this could be interesting.

[keatonatron]

Fried Chicken?

Japan's definition of American food seems to be burgers and steaks...

[Takeo Saeki]

Burgers and steaks are definitely some of the most popular in the States, but those are made all over the world.

What about popcorn?

[Shibakoen]

The bottom line to American food is we take whatever food there is around the world and make it bigger and more fattening, and loaded with chemical preservatives. Examples: Pizza, hamburgers, "Mexican" food (no such thing as a burrito where I was in Mexico, if you think it is a Mexican food then you are a burrito [by the way, flour tortillas?? Come on!!]). I'm pretty sure the sandwich was invented long before the US existed, so just because we found a way to plop a sliced steak on some bread with a mountain of cheese doesn't make it an American creation in my mind. The only thing I can think of right now is the twinkie. There's an American food for ya (unless we ripped it off from someone else somewhere down the line)! Granted, the US hasn't been around for long so that kind of handicaps us in the 'originality' department. Popcorn is a very good point. Is corn indigenous to the Americas? I think it might be. But look at how we've 'improved' it; we drown it in butter, caramel, salt... basically whatever can give us diabetes the fastest. I guess you guys can tell I'm sick of American food and can't wait to have some nice Authentic Japanese food next week!!

[sgtkwol]

The main question is, can you get a philly cheesesteak or buffalo wings in an American restaurant that is in a different country?

[Shibakoen]

The main question is, can you get a philly cheesesteak or buffalo wings in an American restaurant that is in a different country?

I think I remember seeing them in the TGIFriday's in Yokohama, but I could be mistaken.

[sgtkwol]

Yeah, I guess I wasn't thinking about American national chains going overseas like that.

[keatonatron]

Shibakoen wrote:
I think I remember seeing them in the TGIFriday's in Yokohama, but I could be mistaken.

If you did, it was probably 55 gajillion yen. Gawd I hate that place.

[sgtkwol]

lol, you poor people that cant get wings from buffalo, 70 cents a wing (10-12 per order) is a high price for wings, and they are better than the expensive ones.

[TrilinguisT]

corndogs

[Shibakoen]

Ah, good one...but the hotdog which it's based on is nothing but a bastardized sausage. Would that be a ballpark frank? A Frankfurter, if you will... Just like the HAMBURGer, not American.

[Mukade]

I've never seen sloppy joes here.

[Shibakoen]

Dude. GOOD point. I was also thinking about cajun food... Mmmm... Gumbo, Jumbulaya, red beans n' rice... Oh man... N'awlins was good for that...

*edit* How can I forget Key Lime Pie. Now I did see Key Lime Pie flavored Kit-Kats in Japan, but never the actual pie. Yum...