In the culinary world, few ethnic flavor palettes are as heavily derided as the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant menu. WASPs, as they are known, are a specific demographic in America that’s known for their love of old money, country clubs, and bland food based on British fare. Sounds pretty standard, right?
Well, it would be…if most people even knew what WASPs traditionally ate. In fact, it often seems like people are more aware of the fact that WASPs allegedly eat bland food than they are aware of dishes attributed to the culture.
I’m willing to bet that you don’t know a single dish that is traditionally part of this subculture’s world. It’s not fair to deride a cuisine before you know what it’s all about. Did you ever wonder what WASP cuisine really involves?
Believe it or not, the food that traditional WASPs ate was far from flavorless. Prior to the advent of microwave dinners and convenience foods that made hiring help less necessary, WASPS ate dishes that were known for their savory and creamy profiles.
Before you turn up your nose to WASPy fare, take a look at these dainty dishes.
Beef Wellington
This is a dish that is more commonly seen on retro TV episodes than it is on dinner plates, but not because it’s bad. This classic British dish is known for having a steak wrapped up in chopped onions, mushrooms, pate, and spices. After that, it’s wrapped up in a pastry for a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth finish.
Eggs Benedict
No one knows who precisely invented this meal, but it’s alleged to have been made in New York. It features eggs, poached bacon or ham, seasonings, all on top of a buttered English muffin. Yum!
Lobster Rolls
It’s important to remember that most WASPs live in the Northeast, and that means that a lot of classic seafood is actually part of WASP culture. If you like lobster rolls, chowder, or a good clam bake, you enjoy the culture’s food.
Crab Dip
As we all know, WASPs love a good cocktail hour–and with that, cocktail-friendly dips. French onion dip (a la Lipton), crab dip, and artichoke dip are all considered to be standard fare at WASPy stronghold.
Is this cuisine for everyone? Not always, but it’s definitely not worth the derision that it receives, once you take a look at the delicious fare it’s helped create.
