# 15 things Americans eat that Foreigners hate **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307 "2014-12-04T12:38:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/1 "2014-12-04T12:38:21Z")
I found this article to be funny. I’ve always assumed some things American are just rare in other countries like say pumpkins for pumpkin pies but I never realized there are some things foreigners just hate just like an American would hate some exotic Asian “delicacy”. Of the list, I found out about biscuits and gravy from my Danish relatives who hated even the sight. “Root beer” is a rare soft drink in other countries and often confused in the UK with ginger beer and mixing it with ice cream is almost never heard of. And the white bread thing - a Frenchman told me he hated it because to him bread is those hard French loaves. Some of the other things like velveeta and cheese whiz - yeah to someone who’s used to expensive hard cheese from Europe the thought of cheese being squeezed out of a bottle must drive them crazy. Now I disagree with hot dogs because I’ve heard hot dogs are becoming common in other countries. And what is the issue against jello? Rootbeer Floats Sloppy Joes Velveeta Hot dogs Cheese Whiz Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie Pumpkin Pie Frito pies Grits Corn dog Jello Chicken fried steak Red velvet cake White sandwich bread Peanut butter Biscuits and gravy Any comments from the non-American dopers? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/2 "2014-12-04T12:44:03Z")
One doesn’t have to be foreign to hate half the stuff on that list. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/3 "2014-12-04T12:44:44Z")
I’m as American as they come, and wouldn’t even try some of those things. Frito…pie? And cheese grits is a first cousin to polenta. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/4 "2014-12-04T12:48:50Z")
I’ll happily eat the last two on the list: Peanut butter, and B&G. The rest of it is, um, no. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/5 "2014-12-04T12:49:55Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > I’m as American as they come, and wouldn’t even try some of those things. Frito…pie? It’s just chili and corn chips. Open a bag of Fritos, throw in a ladle of chili, eat with a spork ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/6 "2014-12-04T12:56:40Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > It’s just chili and corn chips. > Open a bag of Fritos, throw in a ladle of chili, eat with a spork That sounds like something that someone already partially digested. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/7 "2014-12-04T13:01:52Z")
OK, I’m American, but I still have comments. Rootbeer Floats - I don’t like rootbeer, but a float with black cherry soda is yum! Sloppy Joes - Mine are very yummy, especially if I serve them on good rolls. Velveeta - meh - loved it as a kid, haven’t bought it in decades. Hot dogs - also meh - every once in a while, I get a hankerin’, but mostly no. Cheese Whiz - ugh, no thanks. Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie - never had it, so I don’t know Pumpkin Pie - truly one of the foods of the gods Frito pies - never had it but I don’t like chili, so there’s that. Grits - too boring to eat - I don’t get the appeal. Corn dog - gag Jello - Well, if it’s all that’s available Chicken fried steak - gag Red velvet cake - with cream cheese frosting? _\_ White sandwich bread - boring. Peanut butter - A favorite on its own or as an ingredient in something else. Biscuits and gravy - meh and messy. Maybe because I’m not from the south… Fully half of the items on this list were not part of my diet as a kid - I’m guessing they must be regional foods that didn’t work their way to the Baltimore suburbs in the 60s. ---
**Author:** ![DoggyDunnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@DoggyDunnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoggyDunnit)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/8 "2014-12-04T13:17:09Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > It’s just chili and corn chips. > Open a bag of Fritos, throw in a ladle of chili, eat with a spork You forgot the cheese, onions, and sour cream. Just chili poured over Fritos–without at LEAST cheese, too–does not a real Frito pie make. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/9 "2014-12-04T13:28:15Z")
I am not sure who is supposed to hate these. Some of them are perfectly common in other countries (sometimes under slightly different names). Others seem unobjectionable to me (a non-American and a pretty picky eater). Yet others are, to my knowledge, found objectionable by quite a few Americans. I don’t think it would be easy to find any individual non-American who hates, or would object to eating, _all_ of those, and many or even most Americans probably hate or object to at least some of them. In the absence of a link, I am going to assume this is just one of things some journalist had made up to fill column inches. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/10 "2014-12-04T13:37:21Z")
Here in Canada, Cheez Whiz is common, but I still think it’s revolting. I don’t think the colour of Cheez Whiz even exists in nature. I haven’t encountered Frito pies or biscuits and gravy. I’m wondering if they’re common throughout America, or if they’re more regional. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/11 "2014-12-04T13:46:14Z")
Thanks to the proliferation of Cracker Barrel restaurants, biscuits and gravy seem to be available everywhere. But when I was a kid, I’d never heard of it. In fact, biscuits were those things that came out of a whomp can. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/12 "2014-12-04T13:51:08Z")
Even biscuits and gravy is pretty gross if you use gravy from a jar. That stuff has the consistency of mucous. But with homemade gravy and biscuits it’s divine. I’ve always thought every culture had some version of sloppy joe’s. I’m surprised to see that one on the list. Again, it makes me wonder if the reviewers were handed the canned version, which few self-respecting Americans will consume, and those who do are the first to admit it’s comfort food. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/13 "2014-12-04T14:08:52Z")
Yeah, they’re going to have to define Americans because I don’t know anyone who eats most of the things on that list, and I don’t exactly pal around with gourmet cooks. The Frito pie thing is southern. Eastern Tennessee even has its own chain called Petros. I work for a company that is all things food in this country and they do serve it in the cafeteria on occasion, but most people here think it’s disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/14 "2014-12-04T14:09:49Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I haven’t encountered Frito pies or biscuits and gravy. I’m wondering if they’re common throughout America, or if they’re more regional. It seems to be a list that combines regional (more specifically the south eastern portion of the US) with budget/cheap processed versions of common foods elsewhere. Hotdogs, two variants of cheese like substances, and crappy cheap bread are only “hated” in my mind because they are bland versions of sausage, actual cheese, and good bread. Of course I am an American. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/15 "2014-12-04T14:28:49Z")
OK, no Googling from me, i’m going to see how many of these I (a) recognise and (b) have tried. **Rootbeer Floats** - I recognise this. You can get A+W Rootbeer at Byron Burgers. I like floats but I’m not a huge fan of rootbeer, I find the flavour too strong. **Sloppy Joes** - don’t know what this is **Velveeta** - is this a cheese thing? **Hot dogs** - well, duh. Hot dogs are awesome! **Cheese Whiz** - this is definitely a cheese thing. Is this a cheese in the can thing? **Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie** - yum! didn’t know this was particularly US-centric **Pumpkin Pie** - yum! Thanks to having a friend in the UK who’s from Atlanta, I’ve had the opportunity to taste this. You can’t get tinned pumpkin from UK supermarkets, which is a shame. **Frito pies** - don’t know what this is. Is Frito the brand name? Not sure if it’s a sweet or savoury pie. **Grits** - can take them or leave them. I’m not a fan of any ‘meal’ type foods **Corn dog** - is this a battered hot dog? In New Zealand, you get battered sausages, deep fried, at a fish and chip shop. it’s served on a stick, like an ice block. Is a corn dog similar? Loved them when I was a kid. **Jello** - another brand name, sin’t it? Called jelly in UK/NZ. I prefer to make my own from scratch but I loved the packets as a child! **Chicken fried steak** - I think I’ve had this in San Antonio. It’s really thin steak with a light flour-based seasoning on it? Yummy. **Red velvet cake** - YUM. A more recent export to the UK. Thanks, US! **White sandwich bread** - Growing up in New Zealand in the 70s, this was just called bread. **Peanut butter** - Not a fan, but it’s been around in the UK and NZ since I was a kid **Biscuits and gravy** - Know what it is but never been tempted to try it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/16 "2014-12-04T14:31:47Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Hot dogs > Corn dog > Jello > Red velvet cake > White sandwich bread > Peanut butter These are all common and accepted in South Africa. Nobody considers any of them except the corn dog to be particularly “American” at all, in fact. Root beer floats aren’t a thing, but Coke floats definitely are (also known as a Brown Cow) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/17 "2014-12-04T14:37:17Z")
What is the objection to chicken fried steak? Is it the white gravy? Because otherwise, it’s a fairly common dish in a large part of the world, it’s just called something different. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/18 "2014-12-04T14:41:02Z")
This seems more like southern redneck cuisine. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/19 "2014-12-04T14:43:21Z")
I am skeptical of the hot dogs also. In Europe, sausages are very common. Hot dogs are just a type of sausage. Consider, sausages are named for the towns where they originated: who hasn’t heard of a Wiener (Vienna) or Frankfurter (Frankfurt)? Those are both common aliases for the American hot dog. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307/20 "2014-12-04T15:02:09Z")
I’m American, but here are my comments: Rootbeer Floats – can’t say I like any kind of float. I like both root beer and ice cream by themselces, though. Sloppy Joes – Why dislike for this? I make my own, from scratch, and I make it of sautéed vegetables (onions, peppers, often celery, and possibly other things), ground beef, mixed with tomato paste and other seasonings. How is this different frtom any number of stew-like things or ragouts? Velveeta – agree with this, actually. Velveeta is a weird sort of homogenized cheese. I prefer straight cheese. That said, I don’t find Velveeta disgusting. Hot dogs — Grew up on these, don’t eat them as much since I’ve cut back on nitrates. But it’s a sausage, basically. Why object to sausages? Cheese Whiz – not my favorite, and I don’t eat it. But it is basically processed cheese, with emulsifiers and stabilizers and flavoring. It’s got more stuff added to it than Velveeta, but it’s mostly Wisconsin cheddar mixed with stuff. It’s got its own chapter in _The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste_, which sort of defends it. Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie – Never tried it, myself, but I don’t understand the objection. It’s pie made from two pretty basic ingredients. What’s the objection? Pumpkin Pie – This makes even less sense. It’s straightforward and uses a single main ingredient. It’s not as if it’s sugar simply flavored with pumpkin. Frito pies – Haven’t even heard of this before, but I’ll agree in this case – this sounds disgusting. Grits – Again, I haven’t tried, but it’s a basic grain-based food. If you don’t object to porridge, why object to grits? Is it the frying? Corn dog – Well, if you object to the hot dog, breading it and frying it isn’t going to help. Jello – Jello gets a chapter in the _Encyclopedia of Bad Taste_, too. It’s an easily made dessert with artificial color, usually artificial flavor, and a lot of sugar. I like it, myself, having been brought up on it. But if you eat aspic, you can’t completely turn your nose up at genatine-based dessert. Chicken fried steak – I’ve had it. It’s not my favorite, and it’s often used to disguide inferior cuts of meat. But it’s not an abomination. Red velvet cake – don’t understand this one at all. It’s a cake, pretty straightforward. I’ve heard the “red” part really derives from the tendency of older coloring to separate. White sandwich bread – Depends on the bread. I agree that over-aerated tasteless white bread is to be avoided (like Wonder Bread), but there’s also white bread out there with body and with taste. Bread doesn’t have to be whole-grain to have character. Peanut butter – If you like flavored ground-up chickpeas, I can’t understand hate for ground-up flavored peanuts. It’s true that the more popular American brands add sugar, but not all of them do, including versions of the nationwide brands. I’ve heard that some European peanut butter doesn’t taste very good, for some reason. But American all-natural unflavored peanut butter is great stuff, IMHO. Biscuits and gravy – A Southern thing. How can anyone object to biscuits? It has to be the gravy they don’t like. I’ve heard someone object to the gravy being lard – a statement that would get you knifed by southern cooks. It’s a roux using fat from sausage, which ain’;t the samr thing, and isn’t all that different from lots of European foods. So why is this more disgusting? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/15-things-americans-eat-that-foreigners-hate/706307.md?page=2)