# Definitely inferior foods Americans love... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990 "2020-01-05T21:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/81 "2020-01-08T10:40:21Z")
Eighty posts and no mention of hot dogs. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/82 "2020-01-08T12:26:23Z")
> [@BeeGee](#): > > For the record, that is probably a regional thing or even just unique to that restaurant. I’ve never ordered a baked potato and received any kind of cheese except grated cheddar or colby jack unless it was a “specialty” version like a nacho potato with queso, taco meat, tomatoes, and jalapenos. One very well known “old school” steakhouse in Seattle (candlelight, waiters in tuxedos, gentlemen must wear a coat and tie, there’s someone playing jazz piano off in a corner somewhere, etc.), where I ate for my birthday a few years ago, serves its baked potatoes with a sharp cheddar sauce instead of grated cheese. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/83 "2020-01-08T12:29:50Z")
> [@Trisha\_Gaurav](#): > > Iams kibbles. I’ve tried it and I can’t fathom why my dog likes it. A couple years ago I went camping with some friends one of whom had brought his dog. He had also brought a plastic Utz peanut filled pretzel nugget jar repurposed for the dog’s kibble. The next morning when he crawled out of his tent I pointed to the jar on the table and said, “I filched a couple of those nuggets last night and they were awful – didn’t taste like peanut butter at all!” He laughed and said he didn’t doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/84 "2020-01-08T13:05:15Z")
> [@TimfromNapa](#): > > My vote is for Chef Boyardee Beefaroni and Ravioli (meat or cheese). Low brow, but excellent comfort food. Highly recommended for the munchies. I’d forgotten about Spaghetti-O’s! Even better with meatballs. > [@lingyi](#): > > Dairy Queen and McDonalds soft ice cream as mentioned. > > Nowhere near a good. much less great vanilla ice cream (for which I’m still searching for), but sometimes just gotta have it even though it sometimes give me hives. The McDonald’s chocolate sauce in Switzerland is by [Cailler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cailler). I don’t like it. I want the American style chocolate sauce. So I only get caramel topping if I get a McDonald’s sundae. Oh, and a Frosty from Wendy’s. And a Shamrock shake (also not seen in Switzerland). ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/85 "2020-01-08T14:59:37Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > How about a Taco Bell taco with a Dorito-flavored shell? > > For me it’s pork skins. I know they’re awful, I know they’re no good for me, but I buy an occasional bag anyway. Pork skins are most definitely not just an American food. I’ve seen them in Central America and the Philippines, the latter where they are arguably much more popular than in America. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/86 "2020-01-08T15:07:53Z")
I remember when George H.W. Bush was president and it was announced or mentioned that he liked to eat pork skins. It seemed so odd, given his patrician background. But then around the same time, the Atkins/low-carb diet was getting started and it was pointed out that they were a low-carb alternative to potato chips. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/87 "2020-01-08T16:47:01Z")
Probably 95 out of 100 beers I drink are Miller Lite. I know it’s shitty macrobrew but that’s my beer. > [@TimfromNapa](#): > > My vote is for Chef Boyardee Beefaroni and Ravioli (meat or cheese). Low brow, but excellent comfort food. Chef Boyardee Lasagna for me. I keep a couple cans around along with some blocks of instant ramen for when I’m too sick or tired or lazy to do anything beyond dumping some stuff into a pan. I recently remembered Chef Boyardee Italian Sausage Ravioli. I looked around locally but wound up buying a case of 12 on Amazon. Dreadfully sweet sauce. I’ve got 10 cans left and am seriously considering rinsing all the sauce off if I don’t just give them all away. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/88 "2020-01-08T20:08:54Z")
Starbucks in America is garbage. I have no idea why they think Americans like burnt coffee. I avoid it when I can and stick to simple drinks when I can’t. Go to a Starbucks in France and it actually tastes like good coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/89 "2020-01-08T20:36:23Z")
White Castle sliders. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Brother\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_brother_1/32/3513_2.png) [@Little\_Brother\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Brother_1)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/90 "2020-01-08T21:48:59Z")
I have a friend-- really, a friend, not me-- who truly loves Circus Peanuts. Perhaps I should mention that she’s an adult; our parochial school, c. 1960, sold assorted “penny candy” confections during recess, so I happily munched on Circus Peanuts and comparable items back then. But I outgrew them. Speaking of munching, while perusing the thread I wondered about the influence of the munchies in acquiring or retaining a taste for junk foodstuffs. Personally, I wouldn’t eat Circus Peanuts nowadays, no matter how buzzed I got. The munchie factor is probably worth a thread of its own, assuming that the increasing legality of the munchie-inducing substance renders it a permitted subject here. 😉 This suddenly reminded me of “Sweet Munchee” cheese. I haven’t eaten it for quite some time, but I like it; I always assumed it was actually a bogus processed pseudo-cheese, though. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/91 "2020-01-08T22:00:03Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > Probably 95 out of 100 beers I drink are Miller Lite. I know it’s shitty macrobrew but that’s my beer. > … It’s refreshing and thirst quenching, so dont be ashamed. But yeah for taste-\* not so much.\* ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/92 "2020-01-08T22:31:23Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > The word I use for this is “nsty,” rhymes with “tasty.” World’s full of nsty foods: cheap pizza, McDonald’s sundaes, Oreos, those little cheese-whiz-and-cracker sets that kids eat for snacks, Smartfoods cheese popcorn, and on and on. I am so borrowing this one! Perfect description for FunYuns which are a fake onion ring type of puffed snack that has never been in the same room as an onion, but goddamn they hit the spot sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/93 "2020-01-09T00:30:05Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Pork skins are most definitely not just an American food. I’ve seen them in Central America and the Philippines, the latter where they are arguably much more popular than in America. I first had pork rinds at a pig roast in Venezuela. Instant love. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/94 "2020-01-09T00:59:49Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > White Castle sliders. An American icon! :o ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/95 "2020-01-09T01:10:28Z")
> [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > Starbucks in America is garbage. I have no idea why they think Americans like burnt coffee. I avoid it when I can and stick to simple drinks when I can’t. > > Go to a Starbucks in France and it actually tastes like good coffee. Starbucks switched their base coffee from the over-roasted drek they had been serving well over a decade ago, maybe 2 decades. Still not a great cup, but Starbucks is competing with Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, and deli coffee in most places. Dunkin is just as expensive, if not more expensive, and is shit compared to Starbucks; McDonalds is actually a decent-but-also-not-great alternative that’s actually cheaper; and deli coffee rates from undrinkable to barely drinkable but cheapest. Starbucks doesn’t have to be great, it just has to be better than the competition and the ubiquitous K-cups one finds in every office. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/96 "2020-01-09T06:01:41Z")
In the 60’s and 70’s we had Primo Beer in Hawaii [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo\_Brewing\_%26\_Malting\_Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primo_Brewing_%26_Malting_Company). I was too young to try it and had no interest in beer anyway, but it was referred to a p\*ss water or worse by almost everyone. Very few admitted to actually liking it, but everybody drank it because it was cheap! ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/97 "2020-01-09T07:02:57Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I recently remembered Chef Boyardee Italian Sausage Ravioli. I looked around locally but wound up buying a case of 12 on Amazon. Dreadfully sweet sauce. I’ve got 10 cans left and am seriously considering rinsing all the sauce off if I don’t just give them all away. Try adding a very small amount of vinegar to the sauce. It’ll cut the sweetness. A while ago I bought a couple of cans of Campbell’s Chunky Tomato Soup with shells. I tried one, but it was so sweet I almost didn’t finish the can, and I had no desire at all to try the second can. Then I remembered a tip I heard long ago: if you’re making tomato sauce and it’s too sharp, add a little sugar. I thought I’d try the reverse with the remaining can. I added 1/4 tsp of vinegar to a bowl of the soup. It was still a bit too sweet for me eat regularly, but the vinegar reduced the sweetness greatly and made it palatable, and I couldn’t taste the vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/98 "2020-01-09T07:51:07Z")
Hot sauce which usually has some vinegar will also work and add flavor and a kick! ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/99 "2020-01-09T13:32:13Z")
I’m eating a Hershey Kiss right now even though it’s not just for breakfast any more. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990/100 "2020-01-09T13:34:32Z")
As a Chicagoan, I must submit hot dogs. I’ve never understood the horror of people who say, “Do you _know_ what they put in those??” If asked to explain, they always cite stuff like _PORK LIPS!!! PIG EARS!!!_ My response is so what? Pork lips are perfectly edible. Pig ears give hot dog innards those tiny bits of crunchy cartilage delight. When I was young, I would eat hot dogs raw, right out of the fridge. I’d like to do that now. Mmmmm. Gut bacteria. Oh god, I just thought of Smokey Links. I want some Smokey Links soooo baaaad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/definitely-inferior-foods-americans-love/845990.md?page=6)