Non-American Foodies

Bubba said:

Developing ethnic foodways and national specialties takes time...lots of
it. Something the United States, still in it's infancy as a culture,
has not had much of.
I would, however, like to hear some opinions, by non-Americans, on
United States cuisine as an ethnic food.
Such as:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

I would have to say "no" to this question.

The most exposure I have had to "American food" is via this NG and find
it to be pretty much "universal" (and usually good). Let me put it this
way: you hear people saying "Should we have Chinese/Thai/Italian
(whatever) tonight?" I have yet to hear someone say "Lets have American
tonight". 😉

Seriously, though, we have the same problem here in South Africa - we
have so many different cultures here (there are 11 official languages)
that it would be almost impossible to come up with one type of "ethnic
food".....

<snip>

Quoted message said:

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.
Also, to avoid the embarrassment of having a McDonaldsBurger becoming
our national specialty, I'd like to restrict this to foods that are
prepared at home.

🙂 I am afraid it already is (lol).

--
Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

On Tue 24 Jan 2006 03:18:33a, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it Bubba?

Quoted message said:

Developing ethnic foodways and national specialties takes time...lots of
it. Something the United States, still in it's infancy as a culture,
has not had much of.
I would, however, like to hear some opinions, by non-Americans, on
United States cuisine as an ethnic food.
Such as:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Any other observations you'd like to make.

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.
Also, to avoid the embarrassment of having a McDonaldsBurger becoming
our national specialty, I'd like to restrict this to foods that are
prepared at home.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

It will be interesting to hear, since much of American food has its origins
in other countries. What we've done with it, though, is almost always
different.

--
Wayne Boatwright Õ¿Õ¬
________________________________________

Okay, okay, I take it back! UnScrew you!

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

It will be interesting to hear, since much of American food has its origins
in other countries. What we've done with it, though, is almost always
different.

I'm hoping for some thoughtful responses and well as some 'gut'
reactions. I know there are some (dishes), mostly regional stuff...a
lot of 'vernacular' cooking shows itself as being American, too.
Hard, though, to see your own culture from the inside. I feel like
Steinbeck in "Travels with Charley". I need a culinary Charley to show
me the whatfor.

Bubba

--
You wanna measure or you wanna cook?

cathyxyz wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Seriously, though, we have the same problem here in South Africa - we
have so many different cultures here (there are 11 official languages)
that it would be almost impossible to come up with one type of "ethnic
food".....

Indeed! Lots of similarities in settlement history, too. Speaking of
which, and completely OT: Are you familiar with Wilbur Smith's writings,
and if so, what do you think?

Bubba
--
You wanna measure or you wanna cook?

Quoted message said:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

some of it yes. A lot of it seems to be very highly spiced.

Quoted message said:

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

The amount of cheese and hot spices you use

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

Cheese and sauces and spicy foods. Grilling meats on BBQ (grill) 🙂))
Using packs of mixes to make things.. ie cakes, bisquick (sp) etc

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Macaroni and cheese, Grilled meats, cheesecakes and very hot peppers

Quoted message said:

Any other observations you'd like to make.

I love the meat recipes here and the sweet things. There just seems to
be a sauce on every vegetable and the food seems very rich. I think we
might eat more simple foods ie new potatoes with a little butter and
salt. May I am wrong and I will happily stand to be corrected if so🙂
I have made much of the cheese and sauces aspect and I do love them, I
just don't eat them often.

Quoted message said:

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.

Scotland

O awaits the fires of hell to rain down on her shoulders🙂

Bubba said:

Developing ethnic foodways and national specialties takes time...lots
of it. Something the United States, still in it's infancy as a
culture, has not had much of.
I would, however, like to hear some opinions, by non-Americans, on
United States cuisine as an ethnic food.
Such as:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Any other observations you'd like to make.

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.
Also, to avoid the embarrassment of having a McDonaldsBurger becoming
our national specialty, I'd like to restrict this to foods that are
prepared at home.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Bubba

My experience with "American" food is stylized Italian, Mexican, British,
German, Austrian, etc. so the short answer is "no". They don't call the USA
a "melting pot" for no reason.

Jill

Ophelia said:

Quoted message said:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

some of it yes. A lot of it seems to be very highly spiced.

Quoted message said:

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

The amount of cheese and hot spices you use

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

Cheese and sauces and spicy foods. Grilling meats on BBQ (grill) 🙂))
Using packs of mixes to make things.. ie cakes, bisquick (sp) etc

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Macaroni and cheese, Grilled meats, cheesecakes and very hot peppers

Quoted message said:

Any other observations you'd like to make.

I love the meat recipes here and the sweet things. There just seems to
be a sauce on every vegetable and the food seems very rich. I think we
might eat more simple foods ie new potatoes with a little butter and
salt. May I am wrong and I will happily stand to be corrected if so🙂
I have made much of the cheese and sauces aspect and I do love them, I
just don't eat them often.

Quoted message said:

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.

Scotland

O awaits the fires of hell to rain down on her shoulders🙂

Good observation on the hot peppers (chiles) and cheese, but it's a
fairly recent trend. Consumption of both chiles and cheeses has doubled
in the last 20-25 years.

And I agree with you in that sometimes...less is more.

Bubba

--
You wanna measure or you wanna cook?

jmcquown wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

My experience with "American" food is stylized Italian, Mexican, British,
German, Austrian, etc. so the short answer is "no". They don't call the USA
a "melting pot" for no reason.

Jill

True, but then all cultures are victim of that to varying degrees even
if only in the foodstuffs they've made famous. The Italians took the
New World tomato and ran with it...and now it's almost exclusively Italian!

Bubba

--
You wanna measure or you wanna cook?

Ophelia said:

Quoted message said:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

Some, yes.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

Cheese everywhere, ketchup widely used, lot of "Americanization" of
ethnic food (see fondue with flour and "Swiss" cheese for instance)

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

Good grilling, bad sauces. My experience of US restaurants is that
simple food (i.e., simply cooked, with few ingredients) can be
delicious, but beware of complicated stuff. There is a very American
trend: "If X and Y are good, then X+Y must be terrific". Which leads
to pizza with 20 toppings at the same time... ugh.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

BBQed ribs, cheesecake, cornbread, fried chicken, brownies, poached
lobster with drawn butter.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any other observations you'd like to make.

As in other areas, in food America offers the best and the worst.

Nathalie in Switzerland

Bubba wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.
Also, to avoid the embarrassment of having a McDonaldsBurger becoming
our national specialty, I'd like to restrict this to foods that are
prepared at home.

I asked a similar question in an IRC chat a while back. Everyone
answered with "McDonalds" "Mountain Dew" "Froot Loops" and the like. And
the folks replying were *upset* that they couldn't get some of this
stuff there. Yeech.
--

saerah

http://anisaerah.blogspot.com/

"Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a
disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice."
-Baruch Spinoza

"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly
what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear
and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There
is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams

Bubba said:

Indeed! Lots of similarities in settlement history, too.

Quite so...

Quoted message said:

Speaking of which, and completely OT: Are you familiar with Wilbur Smith's writings,
and if so, what do you think?

I am. I like his books, but must admit have not read much of his
"latest" stuff (try for the last 15 years)... But one of my all time
favourites was called "The Sunbird". Must have read that 5 times...

Cheers
Cathy(xyz)

Quoted message said:

My experience with "American" food is stylized Italian, Mexican, British,
German, Austrian, etc. so the short answer is "no". They don't call the USA
a "melting pot" for no reason.

Jill

I'm an American who has lived in Europe, Central and South America and
I think "Westernized cultures" (ie. availability of modern appliances,
spices & foods etc.) are very similar when it comes to food
preparation. The greatest difference is use of spices and indigenous
foods. Where the U.S varies from even those cultures (IMO) is our love
of prepared foods in the form of quick, easy frozen meals and preserved
and pre-packaged refrigerated foods. As a whole, Americans are suckers
for convenience because we have access to the technology that makes
convenience possible; something I believe most cultures embrace when
given the opportunity.
Fortunately for us, we are and have been for a very long time a
melting pot of cultures, so we seek out variety to satisfy that
diversity. Kev

Bubba said:

Developing ethnic foodways and national specialties takes time...lots of
it. Something the United States, still in it's infancy as a culture,
has not had much of.
I would, however, like to hear some opinions, by non-Americans, on
United States cuisine as an ethnic food.
Such as:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

Yes, in that it has a unique character

Quoted message said:

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

The ingredients of course! Just like any other.

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

Too many ingredients, and too many ready-made ingredients, like
pre-processed food. Boxed cake mixes, ready-made sauces, cheese whiz
(whatever that is) spring to mind. A lack of simplicity, and a
reluctance to let good ingredients speak for themselves.

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Things unknown in the rest of the world:-
Chicken 'buffalo' wings. Took me a while to figure out Buffalo meat was
not an ingredient.
A 'salad' that includes savory and sweet ingredients in some kind of
gelatine/mayonnaise matrix, like chicken, marshmallows, lettuce, and
grapes, for example.
Pizza, always of a kind unlike anything I have eaten in Italy.
Brownies.
Cornbread.
Doughnuts. Sorry, make that donuts; Krispy Kreme donuts in particular.
Real slow BBQ and vinegar coleslaw.
Chile con carne.
Collards greens cooked with ham.
Burgers, though technically german. Ditto Frankfurters, when served as
Hot Dogs with over-sweet tomato ketchup and strangely flavour-free
mustard, in a dry cotton-wool bun. In fact, there seems to be an
obsession with wrapping or encasing food in bread throughout the states.
Hot Chillis with everything.
Chilled milky drinks.
San Francisco Sourdough bread
Iced tea. Not remotely like English tea; cold, over-sweet, and barely
tasting of tea at all.
Last, but not at all least, the habit of serving enough food to feed a
person for a week, as a single meal.

Quoted message said:

Any other observations you'd like to make.

The strange custom, not shared with the rest of the world, of measuring
ingredients by volume instead of weight, and of using degrees fahrenheit
instead of centigrade.

Quoted message said:

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.

UK/Italy/Holland/France.

Quoted message said:

Also, to avoid the embarrassment of having a McDonaldsBurger becoming
our national specialty, I'd like to restrict this to foods that are
prepared at home.

Americans do seem to prepare food at home that is similar to that which
can bought as ready-made fast food. I find that very strange indeed.

To be fair, I do know Americans that are great cooks, that prepare their
great national produce simply and well, and understand good food in the
way it should be understood, and many of them haunt this newsgroup.
Unfortunately they are overwhelmed by the majority that have little
discernment; not a difficult thing to do in such a populous nation. I'm
sure the same case could be made for many other countries, mine own
included.

Hope I did not make a mistake in de-lurking for this thread.

Quoted message said:

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Bubba

Hmmmm. I don't think you will be thanking me.

Snail

Bubba said:

Developing ethnic foodways and national specialties takes time...lots of
it. Something the United States, still in it's infancy as a culture,
has not had much of.
I would, however, like to hear some opinions, by non-Americans, on
United States cuisine as an ethnic food.
Such as:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

No

Quoted message said:

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

high fat, sugar, salt content especially fast foods

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

speed rather than quality if fast food

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

apple pie, hot dogs, bbq brisket, all-you-can-eat buffets, biscuits &
gravy, shoo-fly pie

Quoted message said:

Any other observations you'd like to make.

can't think of any

Quoted message said:

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.

I'd prefer not to.

Quoted message said:

Also, to avoid the embarrassment of having a McDonaldsBurger becoming
our national specialty, I'd like to restrict this to foods that are
prepared at home.

No fun since fast food seems to comprise the vast majority of meals in
the US. These restaurants were first established on American soil by
Americans so I think they should be included. Most have moved away from
their initial roots of good, fast food but that's what society has
demanded. I have very little experience with meals cooked in American
homes but and only but if some tv showes are indicitive of American
cooking, I'd say most home cooks prepare healthy meals. Some likely
lean a little heavier on pre-packaged foods. Our US relatives don't
cook anything I would consider uniquely American. Their food offerings
tend to be a mix of traditional recipes mixed with new ideas.

Quoted message said:

Thanks in advance for any responses.

You're welcome. Good luck with your survey.

Quoted message said:

Bubba

Bubba said:

Developing ethnic foodways and national specialties takes time...lots of
it. Something the United States, still in it's infancy as a culture,
has not had much of.
I would, however, like to hear some opinions, by non-Americans, on
United States cuisine as an ethnic food.

I liek your idea. I am curious what the asnwers wil be.

Quoted message said:

Such as:

Do you consider food American food to be ethnic?

I don't normally use the word ethnic for anything - it is uncommon to do
so in my mother tongue and at the same time I think it is about as
specific as the "democracy"- it can be any number of things.

I think of American cooking as foreign, from a froeign countyr. I am
aware that it consits at elast in part of components form a number of
cultures, so I would find it hard to summarize the "essence" of American
cooking.

Quoted message said:

What characteristics distinguish cooking in the U.S. from other ethnic
foods?

Can't answer that.

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most typical trait of American cooking?

Tio me, the use of sweet flavourings along with meat stands out. And
American foods seem sweeter then Dutch foods in general. And I have to
say something like green bean casserole (which I read about here aroudn
Thanksgiving) wouldn't appeal to many people here.
Altogether, American food seems to be "starchier"than Dutch food. And I
am amazed that it seems to normal to buy meals/foods/snacks out all the
time.

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Hamburgers, meat loaf, bagels, corn on the cob and various versions of
corn dishes (bread, grtis, hominy etc). Chocolate chip cookies, muffins.
Waldorf and Ceasr salads. Eggs for breakdfast, as well as other hot
foods for breakfast. Cereal. Rice Krispies. Jello. And jello salads
(weird stuff). Chocolate syrup. Combinations of many flavours in one
food (such as in ice cream variations). The number of decisions to make
before you have ordered your coffee at Starbucks. Cajun cooking, African
American cooking in general. Quick breads. Carrot cake. Zucchine bread.
Large, soft cookies. Twinkies. Pumpkin Pie, Key lime pie leomon meringue
pie, pecan pie, cheesecakes. Cream cheese. Processed Chesse. Mozzzarella
sticks. Cinnamon sticks. Tex Mex. Jalapenos (even though I knwo they're
probably Mexican). BBQ sauce. Sweet ptoatoes served with marhsmallows or
sweetish spices. Marshmallows. marshomallows on hot chocolate. Smars
(sp?). Hot dogs. Popcorn. Wheatgrass juice. Mac and cheese. Mac and
cheese with tuna and canned mushroom soup. Noodle soups. Chicken pot
pie. The extensive use of blueberreies (I envy you). Cookie dough in ice
cream. Fudge. The availbility of liquid smoke. Using baking poweder and
baking soda to a much larger extent. Devil's and Angel Food Cake.
Turkey. Subway-types sandwiches. Hoagies.

Quoted message said:

Any other observations you'd like to make.

I'm sure things could come to mind if peeople ahve specific questions.
American protions are famous for their size, come to think of it. And
doggie bags seem to very specific to American eating.

Quoted message said:

If you would, please tell me what country you are from.

Born and raised in The Netherlands. SOme of my food exepriences were in
other countires I have lived in: Canada, the UK, Germany.

Quoted message said:

Also, to avoid the embarrassment of having a McDonaldsBurger becoming
our national specialty, I'd like to restrict this to foods that are
prepared at home.

I didn't read this until after writing my list of foods. I am glad I
didn't include McDonalds 🙂

Quoted message said:

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Bubba

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Hamburgers, meat loaf, bagels, corn on the cob and various versions of
corn dishes (bread, grtis, hominy etc). Chocolate chip cookies, muffins.
Waldorf and Ceasr salads. Eggs for breakdfast, as well as other hot foods
for breakfast. Cereal. Rice Krispies. Jello. And jello salads (weird
stuff). Chocolate syrup. Combinations of many flavours in one food (such
as in ice cream variations). The number of decisions to make before you
have ordered your coffee at Starbucks. Cajun cooking, African American
cooking in general. Quick breads. Carrot cake. Zucchine bread. Large, soft
cookies. Twinkies. Pumpkin Pie, Key lime pie leomon meringue pie, pecan
pie, cheesecakes. Cream cheese. Processed Chesse. Mozzzarella sticks.
Cinnamon sticks. Tex Mex. Jalapenos (even though I knwo they're probably
Mexican). BBQ sauce. Sweet ptoatoes served with marhsmallows or sweetish
spices. Marshmallows. marshomallows on hot chocolate. Smars (sp?). Hot
dogs. Popcorn. Wheatgrass juice. Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese with tuna
and canned mushroom soup. Noodle soups. Chicken pot pie. The extensive use
of blueberreies (I envy you). Cookie dough in ice cream. Fudge. The
availbility of liquid smoke. Using baking poweder and baking soda to a
much larger extent. Devil's and Angel Food Cake. Turkey. Subway-types
sandwiches. Hoagies.

I don't know whose impression of American food this is. Within the last
five years, I've not had narly a thang here on this danged list except
perhaps a jalapeno quite often (I'm not Mexican) and just the other day,
some cream cheese in a cheesecake. Oh, I forgot, I do use blueberries every
day, but then, that is an enviable thing. I do like hot chocolate, but I'm
looking into making it with goat milk -- whoa!
The above may be distinctive to most Americans, but not this household.

Oh, forgot!!! DH had an egg omelet for breakfast away from home this morning
because he had some business away from home.
The cost for an egg omelet with probably processed cheese, toast probably
slathered with margarine, potatoes fried but still white. $6 - no drinks.
He said this restaurant was full of people eating breakfast at this price
and more -- and we live in a county far from being affluent. I believe
people just like to eat out.
If we were at home, it would be Oatmeal, a good organic juice and tea. (not
a bag).
Just writing all this -- everyone doesn't have the same eating habits.
Although I know you don't mean to say that we do.
Dee Dee

Quoted message said:

Hamburgers, meat loaf, bagels, corn on the cob and various versions of
corn dishes (bread, grtis, hominy etc). Chocolate chip cookies, muffins.
Waldorf and Ceasr salads. Eggs for breakdfast, as well as other hot
foods for breakfast. Cereal. Rice Krispies. Jello. And jello salads
(weird stuff). Chocolate syrup. Combinations of many flavours in one
food (such as in ice cream variations). The number of decisions to make
before you have ordered your coffee at Starbucks. Cajun cooking, African
American cooking in general. Quick breads. Carrot cake. Zucchine bread.
Large, soft cookies. Twinkies. Pumpkin Pie, Key lime pie leomon meringue
pie, pecan pie, cheesecakes. Cream cheese. Processed Chesse. Mozzzarella
sticks. Cinnamon sticks. Tex Mex. Jalapenos (even though I knwo they're
probably Mexican). BBQ sauce. Sweet ptoatoes served with marhsmallows or
sweetish spices. Marshmallows. marshomallows on hot chocolate. Smars
(sp?). Hot dogs. Popcorn. Wheatgrass juice. Mac and cheese. Mac and
cheese with tuna and canned mushroom soup. Noodle soups. Chicken pot
pie. The extensive use of blueberreies (I envy you). Cookie dough in ice
cream. Fudge. The availbility of liquid smoke. Using baking poweder and
baking soda to a much larger extent. Devil's and Angel Food Cake.
Turkey. Subway-types sandwiches. Hoagies.

I just thought of a few more... clam chowder, smoothies, milkshakes,
soda + ice cream, banana splits.

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What do you see as the most distinctive American dishes?

Hamburgers, meat loaf, bagels, corn on the cob and various versions of
corn dishes (bread, grtis, hominy etc). Chocolate chip cookies, muffins.
Waldorf and Ceasr salads. Eggs for breakdfast, as well as other hot foods
for breakfast. Cereal. Rice Krispies. Jello. And jello salads (weird
stuff). Chocolate syrup. Combinations of many flavours in one food (such
as in ice cream variations). The number of decisions to make before you
have ordered your coffee at Starbucks. Cajun cooking, African American
cooking in general. Quick breads. Carrot cake. Zucchine bread. Large, soft
cookies. Twinkies. Pumpkin Pie, Key lime pie leomon meringue pie, pecan
pie, cheesecakes. Cream cheese. Processed Chesse. Mozzzarella sticks.
Cinnamon sticks. Tex Mex. Jalapenos (even though I knwo they're probably
Mexican). BBQ sauce. Sweet ptoatoes served with marhsmallows or sweetish
spices. Marshmallows. marshomallows on hot chocolate. Smars (sp?). Hot
dogs. Popcorn. Wheatgrass juice. Mac and cheese. Mac and cheese with tuna
and canned mushroom soup. Noodle soups. Chicken pot pie. The extensive use
of blueberreies (I envy you). Cookie dough in ice cream. Fudge. The
availbility of liquid smoke. Using baking poweder and baking soda to a
much larger extent. Devil's and Angel Food Cake. Turkey. Subway-types
sandwiches. Hoagies.

I don't know whose impression of American food this is.

Why, min, of course 🙂 It is from my Dutch perspective. Almost all
foods I mentioned are either unavailable, unknown or new, here. They are
things that stood out to me when I was in the US and Canada. And that
stand out to me when I read US recipes.

Within the last

Quoted message said:

five years, I've not had narly a thang here on this danged list except
perhaps a jalapeno quite often (I'm not Mexican) and just the other day,
some cream cheese in a cheesecake. Oh, I forgot, I do use blueberries every
day, but then, that is an enviable thing. I do like hot chocolate, but I'm
looking into making it with goat milk -- whoa!
The above may be distinctive to most Americans, but not this household.

I am not sure how to interpret what you are saying, Is there something
unpleasant about it? And/or do you think it is inaccurate?

Quoted message said:

Oh, forgot!!! DH had an egg omelet for breakfast away from home this morning
because he had some business away from home.
The cost for an egg omelet with probably processed cheese, toast probably
slathered with margarine, potatoes fried but still white. $6 - no drinks.

That particular breakfast wouldn't be available here. Breakfast is rare
in restaurants altogether, even lunch isn't served everywhere. But
based on what you are saying below, I am guessing $ 6 is expensive for it.
Eating out in The Netherlands is considerably more expensive than in
most countries I know of. I do it less than once a month. My income is
average/typical.

Quoted message said:

He said this restaurant was full of people eating breakfast at this price
and more -- and we live in a county far from being affluent. I believe
people just like to eat out.

That sounds logical. Here, people would find it very decadent.

Quoted message said:

If we were at home, it would be Oatmeal, a good organic juice and tea. (not
a bag).

That would be uncommon, here, too. Relatively plain sandwiches (cheese,
jam, pb, chocolate sprinkles or sliced meat) are traditional. No juice,
but milk or coffee.

Quoted message said:

Just writing all this -- everyone doesn't have the same eating habits.
Although I know you don't mean to say that we do.
Dee Dee

"jake" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>
Hamburgers, meat loaf, bagels, corn on the cob and various versions of
corn dishes (bread, grtis, hominy etc). Chocolate chip cookies, muffins.
Waldorf and Ceasr salads. Eggs for breakdfast, as well as other hot foods
for breakfast. Cereal. Rice Krispies. Jello. And jello salads (weird
stuff). Chocolate syrup. Combinations of many flavours in one food (such
as in ice cream variations). The number of decisions to make before you
have ordered your coffee at Starbucks. Cajun cooking, African American
cooking in general. Quick breads. Carrot cake. Zucchine bread. Large,
soft cookies. Twinkies. Pumpkin Pie, Key lime pie leomon meringue pie,
pecan pie, cheesecakes. Cream cheese. Processed Chesse. Mozzzarella
sticks. Cinnamon sticks. Tex Mex. Jalapenos (even though I knwo they're
probably Mexican). BBQ sauce. Sweet ptoatoes served with marhsmallows or
sweetish spices. Marshmallows. marshomallows on hot chocolate. Smars
(sp?). Hot dogs. Popcorn. Wheatgrass juice. Mac and cheese. Mac and
cheese with tuna and canned mushroom soup. Noodle soups. Chicken pot pie.
The extensive use of blueberreies (I envy you). Cookie dough in ice
cream. Fudge. The availbility of liquid smoke. Using baking poweder and
baking soda to a much larger extent. Devil's and Angel Food Cake. Turkey.
Subway-types sandwiches. Hoagies.

It is from my Dutch perspective. Almost all

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foods I mentioned are either unavailable, unknown or new, here. They are
things that stood out to me when I was in the US and Canada. And that
stand out to me when I read US recipes.

Within the last

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five years, I've not had narly a thang here on this danged list except
perhaps a jalapeno quite often (I'm not Mexican) and just the other day,
some cream cheese in a cheesecake. Oh, I forgot, I do use blueberries
every day, but then, that is an enviable thing. I do like hot chocolate,
but I'm looking into making it with goat milk -- whoa!
The above may be distinctive to most Americans, but not this household.

I am not sure how to interpret what you are saying, Is there something
unpleasant about it?

About the goat milk? :-))? Perhaps. But certainly not what you are saying;
that is not unpleasant.

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And/or do you think it is inaccurate?

You say,
"It is from my Dutch perspective."

No, I don't think a person's 'perspective' could ever be inaccurate.

America is a big place and what you saw is your perspective. We all don't
eat and do things the same way. But, of course, you know that.
This year we're eating oatmeal, juice and tea. In years past, we've eaten
Mexican food for breakfast; In other years, we've eaten a year's worth of
Indian food, including at breakfast time.

I agree with you that what you saw is what you saw.
Thanks for sharing more of your prospective. I've only been in the
Netherlands a week in the 70's. I can't recall what I was served for
breakfast at the various pensions and one night at a home on Volendam, I
believe. The lady in a pointed hat, kept asking us while we were eating her
home-made breakfast: Is smack? We'll never forget that. We still use that
term occasionally.

Oh, I forgot to add; I've never had a hoagie and don't even know what it is.
Don't recall eating sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Can't stand hot
dogs - yuk! Haven't fixed a hamburger for years. The thought of cookie
dough is repulsive to me -- do you see what I mean? You'd have to look a
little further into people's homes, too, to see what they really eat.
Perhaps we all do eat what you say -- :-)) who am I to say.
Take care,
Dee Dee