You automatically think of junk food when you hear “Made in USA” food. In reality, when you think of the American diet, especially if you’ve never been, you probably think of fast food or enormous calorie binges as portrayed in movies or TV shows, as well as a high obesity rate that considerably exceeds that of Europe.
There is much truth in it, but there are also many preconceptions that keep us from recognizing what are the actual gastronomic characteristics of this vast region within the American culinary culture.
Given the vastness of its borders and the diversity of ethnic groups present on US soil, American dishes do not have a true linear tradition in the way that other countries’ dishes do, but rather it is a collection of many traditions that intertwine and each bring their most valued peculiarities to create recipes and dishes that are known and tasted throughout the United States.
Without a doubt, each region has its own traditional or well-known foods, but some dishes, in particular, are well-known over the world and should be known and tried at least once in one’s life, both to widen one’s culinary horizons and to relish their unique flavour.
However, before you begin, we urge that you put this music on in the background and listen to it as you allow yourself to be tempted (even if just aesthetically) by these delights. Which one do you want to try right now? Which one does not pique your interest and that you would gladly discard?
But what are the foods that, despite not being a nutritious dinner, you simply cannot pass up and must have at least once in your life? Let’s examine what the 10 most characteristic American dishes are that deserve to be classified as US gourmet specialities.
Here is our list!
1. Mac and Cheese
Who hasn't heard of macaroni and cheese? To hear it called, all you have to do is watch a movie or a TV show. It's a small pasta dish covered with a cheese sauce made from a variety of cheeses. A meal beloved by youngsters in the United States (and elsewhere) that can only rank among the most tried on our list!
2. Buffalo Wings
Another dish that must be eaten entirely with your hands. The use of forks and knives is prohibited at the table. Buffalo wings (chicken wings) are a must-have for watching football games, and they're best served with an ice-cold beer and a basket of French fries. That's a little more stereotypical.
3. Corn Dogs
A typical meal from a "Carnival" or amusement park. These sausages are skewered first, like our fritters, to make them "street food," and then topped with a corn flour batter to be cooked. Has your mouth started to water?
4. Grilled Cheese
Do you recall Andrea's kind boyfriend (Anne Hathaway) making one of these sandwiches for her after a particularly difficult day in "The Devil Wears Prada"? This is the sandwich for you if you enjoy melting cheese.
5. Juicy Lucy
It may appear to be a normal hamburger, but it conceals a melting cheese heart that will capture you (and which will be a great enemy of your high cholesterol ...). It's great, but just once a year. If you really want to go all out, have two.
6. Lobster Roll
Unmissable, whether you're in Maine or somewhere else in the United States where it's available. The lobster is delicious, and the contrast between it and the warm, slightly crusty bread will have you hooked from the first mouthful.
7. Chili Cheese Dog
Instead of presenting you the traditional Hot Dog, which is unquestionably one of the must-haves, we recommend the tastiest version, replete with chilli and cheese, for those who want to truly transgress and be tempted. After all, you only have one life, right?
8. Fried Chicken & Waffles
This dish is representative of "soul" food, which is popular in the South. It's traditionally served for breakfast with maple syrup and butter (as if waffles and fried chicken weren't enough), but it's now more of a big meal, such as lunch or supper. At least from the tourists' perspective.
9. Philly Cheesesteak
It's a sandwich loaded with tiny pieces of steak, onion, and plenty of melted cheese, and it's a typical street dish of Philadelphia's streets. Peppers and other sauteed veggies can also be added. So I'm simply pretending to make it healthy.
10. Sloppy Joe
Beef, onions, tomato sauce (or ketchup), Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings should all be minced. A type of chilli that isn't spicy and is served on a bun. Those who don't mind getting their hands' filthy will like this.
While America's fast-food culture is unmistakably alive and well, there are several local food initiatives that advocate a more seasonal and sustainable diet.
Meanwhile, if you chance to visit the United States, do not pass up the opportunity to sample one of the meals or delicacies described above in order to form a true perspective of American cuisine, rather than relying solely on hearsay.
