# Help build an "American Food" menu **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470 "2004-08-12T01:36:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/41 "2004-08-13T05:29:51Z")
> [@rjk](#): > > And according to my sources from Quebec, **Miss McK** , their cheese curds are immeasurably better. Of course they might be biased. 😉 Alas, I would be disowned if I let some wily Canadian curd be touted as better than my own state’s sweetsweet manna. Therefore, I will assume they’ve been smuggled across Lake Superior from Wisconsin dairies. 😃 > [@Beadalin](#): > > Where would the world be without Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Shredded Wheat and Raisin Bran? Highly irregular. Thank you! I’ll be here all week – try the succotash! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/42 "2004-08-13T05:46:54Z")
**Vlad/Igor** instead of roasted Jalpenos you might consider [Atomic Buffalo Turds](http://www.biggreenegg.com/recipes/newRecipes/sides0297.htm) A damn good way to start a meal. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/43 "2004-08-13T06:16:39Z")
[Rocky Mountain Oysters?](http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/RockyMtnOyster.htm) (nothing offensive at that site) That part of the anatomy has been consumed for centuries, but the states seem to have put their unique stamp on the preparation. No, I’ve never had them. Though I did like escargot once I got past my initial judgement, so maybe… Nah, I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/44 "2004-08-13T06:37:01Z")
> [@Vlad/Igor](#): > > I guess this is really about what is uniquely American food (I’ll include our brethren and sistren to the north, so this is about North American food). Well, given that Mexico is very definitely in North America (and that people in New Mexico have been eating a form of their food for 500 years or so), I’ll add: Enchiladas (with red or green chile sauce) Burritos Carne Adovada Mole Sopaipillas Indian fry bread (a bigger, flatter version of sopaipillas, really) Refried beans Menudo ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/45 "2004-08-13T06:52:31Z")
> [@Miss Purl McKnittington](#): > > Alas, I would be disowned if I let some wily Canadian curd be touted as better than my own state’s sweetsweet manna. Therefore, I will assume they’ve been smuggled across Lake Superior from Wisconsin dairies. 😃 Of course the Quebecois would claim those dairies are smuggling in Quebecurds. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/46 "2004-08-14T18:16:00Z")
Vlad/Igor - - Man, oh, man - that’s a good menu. Let us know if/when you get the restaurant open. That looks like good eating. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/47 "2004-08-14T18:44:06Z")
Keep in mind that thicker grits are more preferable than thinner grits. At least preferable for me. 🙂 Speaking of grits, ever heard of shrimp and grits (lowcountry dish of the Carolinas)? It’s more lunch/dinner than breakfast and it’s wonderful. Biscuits and gravy is another good breakfast food of the South. Yummy. What about banana pudding? Red velvet cake? You’re missing the Pacific-Northwest. Grilled salmon, perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/48 "2004-08-14T19:59:36Z")
You also need buffalo(bison) How about a nice thick pit-grilled Buffalo ribeye? ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/49 "2004-08-14T20:04:05Z")
There was no stuffing on your Thanksgiving plate. I’m sure it was just an oversight. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/50 "2004-08-14T20:55:45Z")
Don’t forget the ketchup and mustard. Pizza, I mean pizza with LOTS of cheese. Chicken fried steak. Hush puppies. Deep fried everything. Egg rolls? Egg foo young? - I mention this because my friend from Taiwan had never heard of it before. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/51 "2004-08-14T21:00:34Z")
I also forgot a couple of natives: Oregon grapes and Saskatoon berries. A glass of wine and a piece of pie, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/52 "2004-08-14T21:25:44Z")
> [@Murcielago](#): > > [Rocky Mountain Oysters?](http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/RockyMtnOyster.htm) (nothing offensive at that site) > > That part of the anatomy has been consumed for centuries, but the states seem to have put their unique stamp on the preparation. > > No, I’ve never had them. Though I did like escargot once I got past my initial judgement, so maybe… > > Nah, I’ll pass. At a conference once, I picked up what I thought was a fried mushroom… Now, whenever I have mushrooms, my kids always ask: “Are you _sure_ they’re mushrooms?” ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/53 "2004-08-14T22:59:44Z")
Um, I think I’ll pass on the Rocky Mountain oysters, thanyouverymuch. I haven’t included much Mexican food because there is so much of it that it should deserve it’s own restaurant. I’m hesitant to include American-chinese food unless I can make it clear that it’s of American origin. Buffalo steaks, hmm. Never had them, but it might be part of a surf-n-turf entree. 😛 I think I’ll also add a Pacific coast seafood that would include salmon, trout, Alaska King crab, crab cakes. I was hoping for any other unique Canadian dishes, too. Menu Version 1.1 will be up in a day or so. Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/54 "2004-08-15T02:28:27Z")
**Vald/Igor** , in 1994, I went to an “American” restaurant in Moscow. They served tomatoes and iceberg lettuce with mayonnaise, Yoplait yogurt cups, and pancakes with Hersheys syrup. Not that I recommend this menu, but it was fascincating to see Russians’ conception of American food. Other posters have given a great list. I’d like to add onion rings (never had them anywhere else except Canada) and pulled pork sandwiches, i.e. Carolina-style barbeque. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/55 "2004-08-15T03:03:16Z")
Uh. You live in North Carolina yet you’ve never had onion rings outside of Canada? What? And, **BrotherCadfael** , who the hell serves deep fried testicles at a conference meeting? ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/56 "2004-08-15T18:37:08Z")
Yup, I’ve never had onion rings anywhere _else_ outside the U.S., except while I was in Toronto. I believe they’re a uniquely American food. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/57 "2004-08-15T19:27:04Z")
Might I suggest adding some cocktails to your menu? Particularly some American originals like the mint julep. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470/58 "2004-08-15T19:27:35Z")
Ah, I see now. My mistake then. Sorry. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-build-an-american-food-menu/259470.md?page=2)