Non-ethnic food

[newood2]

In response to a previous post. Is there such a thing as non-ethnic food America.
Let's list them and see if they are.

[bigsteel15]

Well seeing as I was the one who started the original thread I will state that I wouldn't consider the following as "ethnic" foods mainly because they are native to America.

Cajun, Tex-Mex, Soul. I love Cajun and Tex-Mex, never had Soul food.

Pizza is borderline. BTW, you will get arguments from every mediteranean country saying they invented the pizza. My belief is either Greek or Lebanese (Lebanese pizza is the best IMHO, simple and tasty).

Also, the Chinese food that we all eat on a regular basis is not genuine but very "westernized". Just go to a family dinner at a chinese friends home and you'll see what I mean. Ever seen a decent salad on the menu at a chinese restaurant? The dinner I went to they had 2 or 3 delicious salads with noodles and vegetables that were incredible.
I have a rule about eating in strange towns...I refuse to eat in a place that states "chinese and western cuisine".

[430752]

what is ethnic?

Boy, you could argue the only non-ethnic food is native american. I dunno what that would be, but I guess that's the start of it. Then, maybe, english food since the pilgrims ate that. Be prepared to boil everything? I guess we then add german and irish food as non-ethnic? But, a big plate of schnitzel doesn't seem too american too me. But frankfurters are? go figure. Also, if we add german and irish, we kinda gotta include french and italian. But a fancy french restaurant is never mistaken for an american restaurant, nor is italian. So where do we go with this? I mean, in a while then, puerto rican and jamaican food won't be ethnic, and in my neck of the woods, it kinda already isn't. I mean no one says lets go for jamaican, they just say want to get a patty?or let's get some jerk. Kinda like you'd say let's go get a hot dog.

I do know that Chinese food can't be ethnic, cuz in China they just call it "food"!

Curt J.

[pierhogunn]

/rant on

unfortunately, the only non-ethnic food in America is the food that we get in little cardboard boxes.

Not only is this food not as tasty as the "ethnic" food, but it is far more dangerous to our health.

In the name of convenience, most of the healthfull components in food is stripped out and replaced with sugar, trans-fats, MSG, and other less than healthy alternatives.

I would say that for Non-ethnic food in america we have every thing from Kraft Foods, and their direct competition

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy the flavor of a blue and yellow box of macaroni and cheese as the next child of the 70/80's.

/rant off

[Popeye]

You could say "Favorite Regional Food.
Myself while I was "Back Home Again In Indiana" in June I got myself "re-addicted" to pork tenderloin sandwiches. Thank goodness for the internet. Easy to find recipe's, Folks down in S. Georgia don't have any idea what I'm talking about. Same with Iowa "Maidrites" ummmmmm. Pat

[gerti]

Well, coming from Germany and having lived in the US a dozen or so years: I think Americans have cornered the market on anything Turkey (deep fried anyone?), are the BBQ champions (no good beef in Europe). Donuts are 'most developed' here, and I think bagels are an American invention. Then there is the fusion cooking where the influences from all the cultures mingle, I think that is great here too.

[Tundra_Man]

Chislic.

I had this my whole life, and only learned in the last couple of years that outside of South Dakota, nobody has heard of it.

[offthemark]

One of my favorites: Grits.

[dkhoward]

Cheeseburgers . .. and not those things they sell in the cardboard boxes . . . Im talking about a great big thick piece of ground round charbroiled over an open fire with lettuce and tomatoes and pickles and mustard and buns, buttered and toasted on the fire too . . . . all served with hand cut french fries and a cold american beer . . .

[Ken Massingale]

Cheeseburgers . .. and not those things they sell in the cardboard boxes . . . Im talking about a great big thick piece of ground round charbroiled over an open fire with lettuce and tomatoes and pickles and mustard and buns, buttered and toasted on the fire too . . . . all served with hand cut french fries and a cold american beer . . .

Now we talking, Dennis!
k

[Warren]

I really prefer the term "regional food" as I've had Mexican food all over Mexico and it varies widely. Central Mexico has a cuisine very different from the border regions. Cancun is different still. I suppose the variants are the result of what food was immediately available for people to eat years ago.

I love roasted and smoked meats. I've had BBQ pork sandwiches in North Carolina, ribs in Kansas, brisket in Texas, tri-tip in California, lamb shishkabob in Georgia, beef shashlik in Moscow, pork shashlik in Magadan, beef and lamb shishkabob in Armenia. and sates in Nam. I couldn't pick a favorite dish, let alone a favorite style.

The only thing I could add to Dennis' cheeseburger is that I like it best when the grease kinda dribbles down to your elbows as you eat. The hamburger in all of it's variants is probably the USA's gift to world cuisine.

I have been known to order a couple of packages of Vienna Sausage dogs from Chicage now and then though. Have to have the bright green relish and seeded buns to be authentic.

So much food . . . so little time!

[Tundra_Man]

One of my favorites: Grits.

Sorry, this thread is about food. Grits does not qualify.

[bigsteel15]

Sorry, this thread is about food. Grits does not qualify.

Never tried them but I've heard that to...LOL

Anyways, I used to swear that you can't beat Alberta Beef and still love it but have really taken a liking and preference to Bison. We can buy it at any butcher up here.
Give me the same cut in Bison as any beef steak or roast...YUM...just have to make sure not to overcook it (rare is best anyways) as Bison, is very lean. Elk is also very nice (with a blueberry compote on a tenderloin).

I'm going to stop now...have to wipe the drool off the keyboard.

[DonHo]

Pinto beans, cornbread(no sugar or flour), fried potatos, a big slice of raw onion and non sweet ice tea. I'm hoping that's regular fare in Heaven

DonHo