The Pilgrims when landing at Plymouth would have starved that first winter if it wasn’t for the Indians giving them corn. Corn truly American. Trust me I’ve seen the pictures. Chow Jim

Pigs originally came from Asia, so there goes the ribs theory, but so did chicken. Ketchup is the only truly American food up there.

Now turkey. . .that’s genuinely American.

Funny, I couldn’t really answer this one because I felt none of them were adequate associations I make with the US. Pie is French, Corn is South American, Hot Dogs, German/Austrian, Steak I associate more with Brazil, Argentina. I would have said BBQ Ribs but it wasn’t an option.

Fried Chicken I would associate with the Southern US and ketchup well, I just didn’t think it was the BEST.

Wiener — (cooked, smoked sausage)
Both wieners and Vienna-style sausages take their names from the city of Vienna, Austria. Wiener-style, as originated, is sausage braided in groups of links. Vienna-style frankfurters are twisted into a chain of links. Terms are frequently used interchangeably with "frankfurter" and formula may be the same. (See frankfurter)

Frankfurters — (cooked, smoked sausage)
Originated in Frankfurt, Germany; combination of beef and pork or all beef which is cured, smoked and cooked; seasonings may include coriander, garlic, ground mustard, nutmeg, salt, sugar and white pepper; fully cooked but usually served hot; terms "frankfurter," "wiener" and "hot dog" often used interchangeably; sizes range from big dinner frankfurters to tiny cocktail size; may be skinless or with natural casings.

http://www.hot-dog.org/facts/hd_sausage_glossary.htm

Well, maybe our friends from France were different but they expressed amazement at corn on the cob and jello!

quote:

6star Posted – 07/10/2006 : 09:15:52
——————————————————————————–
I find it most interesting that the two items on the list which are really of European origin ended up #1 and #2, while the item which originated in the Americas ended up #3.

interesting indeed ….like where in Europe did they invent this? or this?
Your probably under the assumption that hot dogs and ground meat where a European invention …they were not !!! humans have been chopping up animal flesh for consumption long before the town folks of a small village called Hamburg decided to make a sandwich ………… or was that the Earl of Sandwich who made a sandwich?? English I presume…….. which of course England is not in Europe , so that blows that theory…….
"1238 – When Genghis Khan’s grandson, Khubilai Khan (1215-1294), invaded Moscow, they naturally brought their unique dietary ground meat with them. The Russians adopted it into their own cuisine with the name "Steak Tartare," (Tartars being their name for the Mongols)"
The hot-dog and hamburger as the whole world knows them today it is a pure American food, United States of America to be exact.

I find it most interesting that the two items on the list which are really of European origin ended up #1 and #2, while the item which originated in the Americas ended up #3.

ok ok I am glad I could add some humor to the post.

Davydd I think you are right we have made the burger and possibly the fried chicken quintessentially american.

I have traveled all over the world and have stopped in McD & KFC in some far away places.

I think the scariest McD was in Bangkok, I do not want to even think about the "burger".

and here in the states most roadfood places (unless menu specific) have a burger or some sort of fried chicken.

The joy in the travel, is finding these places and enjoy them.

Maybe we are getting off track. The question was quintessential not original. It doesn’t matter where it came from.

"Quintessential: Of, relating to, or having the nature of a quintessence; being the most typical."

Under that definition I would say the hamburger. There are very few restaurants that don’t have a hamburger on its menu. McDonald’s has taken it to the world as quintessentially American.

quote:

Originally posted by fpczyz

quote:

roossy90 Posted – 07/30/2006 : 01:32:48
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Well hell!!!, since none of us really came from here from the git go,,,—-just what is AMERICAN FOOD anyway?

I don’t know about you Miss Rossy but I sure as hell came from here ……yep born right here in the good old US of A land where my father was born ……that makes me as much a Native American as Geronimo or Sitting Bull…..and I’m here to tell you that every thing I cook in my kitchen or back yard is called American Food no mater what the hell anyone else wants to call it…………… unless I open a can of imported anchovies from Italy for my pizza …………………………..lol

Oh hell, Frank.
You knew what I meant..
LOL[;)][8D]
These list’s have got so derailed from the original post..
Ha Ha……
I say that Marshmallow Dog I posted is totally American!

make instant tea…you first brew the tea (tea leaves and hot water) ………… then you force the brewed tea through a very fine high pressure spray into a very hot upright cylinder. as the fine tea spray moves down the cylinder the water in the tea evaporates and heads up the cylinder leaving fine tea crystals to fall to the bottom . Those tea crystals are your instant tea, just re-add the water and you have tea again…………………… lol, I think,
I just made that up but I would imagine it is done something like that.

quote:

Originally posted by cornfed

cajunking, That’s a great and somewhat pathetic list.

What about instant tea? I mean, c’mon — how do you make regular tea? You take tea and add water to it. How do you make instant tea? You take … tea…and . . .. add…..water?

We have some very basic disconnect going on here.

quote:

Originally posted by cajunking

After wading through this whole post, everything on the poll could be considered imports from elsewhere. That being said we have made most of these things truly quintessential US foods, with different variations of each.

SO lets look at things we have created that could be considered US foods:

SPAM
TWINKIES
TV DINNERS
CHOW MEIN
GATORADE
TATER CHIPS
SPRAYBLE CHEESE
ICE CREAM CONES (not the ice cream, just the cones)
CORN DAWGS
FISH STIX
VELVEETA

What do you yall think??

Just wanted to add to the list:

Fortune cookies (not from China)
Burritos (A US invention)
Peanut butter
Fritos

Aerosol cheese, hands down!

Maybe served with a nice fresh glass of Tang. [8D]

Other possible nominees:

Instant mashed potatos

Cool Whip (because everything tastes better with whipped Crisco on top!).

cajunking, That’s a great and somewhat pathetic list.