# Foods Americans like that non-Americans find disgusting **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2015, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054 "2015-09-21T01:22:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/101 "2015-09-22T19:46:49Z")
I grew up on Hershey’s chocolate. Are there chocolates from around the world that I love? Yup. And some that are pretty awful. Do I love Hershey’s chocolate too? You bet I do. Yum yum. Tastes like home. Yes, it has a faint sour flavor, but I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/102 "2015-09-22T20:21:57Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > It’s also wholly unsubstantiated, as far as I can tell. Barring some sort of proof, I call urban legend on the butyric acid. Is it really _wholly_ unsubstantiated? The Wikipedia entry cites [a New York Times article](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/dining/13chocolate.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&): > [@](#): > > Everywhere but at home, American milk chocolate — specifically Hershey’s — is known for its tangy or sour flavor, produced by the use of milk that Mr. Landuyt refers to as “acidified.” Although Hershey’s process has never been made public (and a spokeswoman declined to comment on its techniques), experts speculate that Hershey’s puts its milk through controlled lipolysis, a process by which the fatty acids in the milk begin to break down. > > This produces butyric acid, also found in Parmesan cheese and the spit-up of babies; other chocolate manufacturers now simply add butyric acid to their milk chocolates. The Mr. Landuyt in question is, or at least was at the time, the director of research and development for [Barry Callebaut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Callebaut). ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/103 "2015-09-22T21:00:52Z")
Marshmallow Fluff is mandatory for making the fluffernutter, a classic sandwich. A nice mixture of sugar for a morning jolt, and peanut butter protein to keep you going. If you put it on multi-grain bread, it doesn’t turn into a lump of sweetness as it would if you were to use standard white American bread. > [@bump](#): > > Tex-Mex cheese enchiladas just aren’t quite right if you use real cheese. They may taste really good, but there’s something off about them- it’s as much texture as flavor. You have to use some kind of processed cheese- usually plain American cheese is what’s commonly used I think, maybe Velveeta in some places. Not in my (Texas-raised) stepmother’s house! Never had any processed American cheese, ever. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/104 "2015-09-22T21:06:29Z")
In another thread, I mentioned that I once made PB&J sandwiches when I was invited on a camping trip with a bunch of little kids in England. To my surprise, they simply could not get their heads around the concept: “Peanut butter and\* jam\*?!? _ **Euwwwwwwwww!** _” ☹ This was in 1976; apparently things haven’t changed much since. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/105 "2015-09-22T21:20:19Z")
Many people outside of New England would raise an eyebrow at cheddar cheese on top of a slice of apple pie. Similarly, fried chicken and waffles with maple syrup in the South. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/106 "2015-09-22T21:44:13Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > Cheese in a can: nearly all cheeses have some virtue, but this cheese has none. Cheese Whiz virtues: - You can eat much more of it - Its compact storage - You can get it out of the package and into your bloodstream much much faster ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/107 "2015-09-22T21:51:05Z")
> [@1224rattusrattus](#): > > Cranberry sauce (a jelly like substance) is a traditional addition to Turkey and roast ham for Christmas dinner. Turkey doesn’t get a lot of love outside that one week of december, though in Britain it appears as an alternative to sliced sandwich chicken. Huh? ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/108 "2015-09-22T22:20:01Z")
Aren’t [Cheez in a Can](https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foundshit.com%2Fpictures%2Ffood%2Feasy-cheese.jpg&f=1) and [Cheez Whiz](https://images.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcurbfinds.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F10%2Fimg_1225.jpg%3Fw%3D580%26h%3D773&f=1) different (slightly) animals? BTW America, okra is nasty. Stop growing it and serving it to impressionable youth, please. Chicken fried steak, Chicken and waffles, red beans and rice and everything else Southern should stay though. Yum! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/109 "2015-09-22T23:24:19Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > BTW America, okra is nasty. Stop growing it and serving it to impressionable youth, please. Okra is only bad when it is cooked incorrectly (which is admittedly easy to do). It is an essential base ingredient in Gumbo which is one of the best American dishes of all. It is also very good when it is deep fried correctly. I even like it pickled myself. Where people go wrong is just trying to half-ass stew or stir-fry it. That creates a slimey monstrosity and I completely understand why people don’t like it in that form but that is the fault of the cook and not the okra itself. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/110 "2015-09-22T23:50:31Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I took a French ex-girlfriend to the US who had quite a refined taste. The whole trip, from a gastronomic point of view, was a horror for her. She vomited a few times and we had to search very hard to find food that she could stomach. I think it was the processed nature of so much of the food. Even salad tasted processed. Sounds like she went in with a bias and decided to live up to it. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/111 "2015-09-22T23:54:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > In another thread, I mentioned that I once made PB&J sandwiches when I was invited on a camping trip with a bunch of little kids in England. To my surprise, they simply could not get their heads around the concept: “Peanut butter and\* jam\*?!? _ **Euwwwwwwwww!** _” Marmite sandwiches, on the other hand, they had absolutely no problem with. (I like them too!) ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/112 "2015-09-23T00:00:45Z")
> [@Asympotically\_fat](#): > > Sure you can justify anything if you set your mind to it, but some ideas (like PBJ) are too vile to allow into your heart.🙂 One cast iron skillet, heated to a low medium for 3-5 min to heat up the whole pan. spatula 2 slices of bread, your choice 1 butter knife Real peanut butter, as in the ingredient list should read either “Peanuts” or “Peanuts, Salt” Jam of your choice, I prefer preserves, usually raspberry or strawberry. coconut oil add some coconut oil to the pan to coat spread some coconut oil on the bread in a thin but thorough coating (one side of each slice) spread one slice of bread with peanut butter (not the coconut oil side) spread the other with jam (not the coconut oil side) bring the 2 slices together jam+peanut butter on the inside coconut oil on the outside place in pan until toasted on one side flip and toast the other side (note this should take 2-3 min or so per side) once both sides are toasted place the now hot sandwich on a plate and find something else to do for 3-5 min cause that shyte is hot inside. Eat. No really I just had one for lunch, ---
**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:** [September 23, 2015, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/113 "2015-09-23T00:04:38Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > No really I just had one for lunch. … Elvis? Is it really you?!? :dubious: :eek: 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/114 "2015-09-23T00:34:59Z")
Another data point: I asked a British friend if she’d ever had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and she said the thought literally made her feel ill. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/115 "2015-09-23T00:41:05Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I asked a British friend if she’d ever had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and she said the thought literally made her feel ill. Origin of the phrase “Don’t knock it 'til you’ve tried it!” Interesting that I’ve never met a Brit who didn’t appreciate ham and jam sandwiches (yes, ham and jam), while Russians absolutely cannot grasp the concept! ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/116 "2015-09-23T00:50:13Z")
Don’t know about the UK but I suspect most Australians first encounter the idea of a PB&J sandwich while watching Sesame Street as kids. Once you make the Jelly (US) = Jam (Au), Jello (US) = Jelly (Au) translation it makes more sense. I tried PB&J sandwiches as a kid but never really got the love for them. It wasn’t until a Doper mentioned that peanut-butter in the US is a lot sweeter than the AU/UK variants that I got how it could be a good mix (along with much sweeter US breads). We tried some Hershey’s chocolate from the local Costco last year: it tasted like good milk chocolate that had gone stale, with a kind of unpleasant ‘gritty’ texture. More like carob ‘chocolate’ than the real stuff. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/117 "2015-09-23T01:00:25Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > If you like that, you need to try [migas](http://www.texasmonthly.com/food/migas/). They taste like _breakfast enchiladas!_ Even a great breakfast taco with chorizo pales next to an average plate of migas. > > But yeah, most U.S. coffee is terrible. When I was taking care of my mom, she complained about my 1 heaping tablespoon/cup coffee, and I had to back it off quite a bit before she was happy drinking her quart a day. The good coffee in the U.S. comes from New Orleans, get some Cafe Du Monde with or without chicory and enjoy. > But yeah, I loves me some Dr. Pepper or root beer, aerosol cheese on Chicken in a Biscuit crackers, with pumpkin pie (the nutmeg transfer device) as dessert, > How does the rest of the world feel about cranberries and turkey? > > ETA: And yeah, the rest of the new world seems to like turkey fine. I’m asking about the continents it’s not native to. Thank you, I’m definitely gonna try that Migas. Re the turkey and cranberry, Turkey in Australia seems to be pretty much a Christmas thing only. It’s not native here and enough are grown to satisfy the Xmas market but it’s unusual to see it on a menu otherwise. It’s not that people don’t like Turkey, we just chow down on a metric shitload of Chicken. Turkey doesn’t really have niche in the market. Cranberrys have been becoming more common in recent years with the juice and dried fruit available in most supermarkets but the traditional US association of Turkeys with cranberry sauce isn’t really a thing here. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/118 "2015-09-23T01:04:28Z")
The root beer thing isn’t surprising, since it came about in the US during prohibition, then just stuck around. Other countries that still had regular beer in that time never had a time to get hooked on the stuff. > [@Mangetout](#): > > It’s popular in the UK (and has been for a long time) - we call it jelly though. Then what do you call actual jelly? Jigglewhatzits? And don’t say jam, that’s something else different from either of the other two. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/119 "2015-09-23T01:12:56Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Then what do you call actual jelly? Jigglewhatzits? And don’t say jam, that’s something else different from either of the other two. If what you refer to as jelly is what is on this page: [http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-jam-jelly-conserves-marmalade-87558](http://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-jam-jelly-conserves-marmalade-87558)? > [@](#): > > Jelly is made from sugar, pectin, acid, and fruit juice and is a clear spread that is firm enough to hold its shape. Jellies can also be made from ingredients other than fruit, such as herbs, tea, wine, liqueurs, flowers, and vegetables. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it in Australia. You can get jams, conserves, preserves and marmalades everywhere but a ‘jelly’ like that? Nope. I’m sure they exist here if you look for them but they aren’t common. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054/120 "2015-09-23T01:21:32Z")
> [@stui\_magpie](#): > > Cranberrys have been becoming more common in recent years with the juice and dried fruit available in most supermarkets but the traditional US association of Turkeys with cranberry sauce isn’t really a thing here. I suspect the cranberry association goes back to when real turkeys (as opposed to today’s Butterball variety) were eaten on Thanksgiving; like heritage chicken, they have a much stronger flavor that goes well with cranberries (with native North American wild turkeys, even more so). As an aside, lingonberries (a European version of cranberries) are paired with meat in Nordic cooking; in Finland, I had them with reindeer. Venison was probably the main course at the first Thanksgiving as well. Funny that “sweet American peanut butter” should be considered a better match with jam than “salty European peanut butter.” I’ve had both varieties, and I don’t find them to differ appreciably. If they did, I’d rather have a salty brand with my jam. What in particular is wrong with American coffee? Too weak? A lot depends on the water that’s used and the method of preparation. I grew up with percolated coffee, which tends to be more bitter than the drip or press varieties, but I can’t say I find one brand to be greatly preferable to another. Flavored coffees, on the other hand, are an abomination. I particularly loathe that trendy “French Roast,” which to me tastes like moldy vanilla. Yeccch! :mad: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foods-americans-like-that-non-americans-find-disgusting/732054.md?page=7)