# Ugly American cuisine **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812 "2013-04-16T04:18:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/1 "2013-04-16T04:18:14Z")
What standard American foods (including regional cuisines) are disgusting to people of other cultures? I know we’ve done this before. I think peanut butter came up (literally) a lot. ---
**Author:** ![LC\_Strawhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@LC\_Strawhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LC_Strawhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/2 "2013-04-16T04:22:56Z")
Carnival food (fried dough, etc.)? I’ve also heard that East Asians cannot abide cheese and think it’s impossible to escape in Western food which is constantly slathered with cheese. (That surprised me, considering that Asian cuisine can be notorious for consuming every part of the animal) ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/3 "2013-04-16T04:41:55Z")
Just a WAG but maybe coney dogs? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/4 "2013-04-16T05:00:54Z")
I believe root beer is a mostly American thing. People in other countries feel it tastes like medicine. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/5 "2013-04-16T05:04:51Z")
Definitely root beer. Very few people in Australia (other than Americans) can stand it. Mind you, Ferengi and Cardassians feel much the same way about it. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/6 "2013-04-16T05:22:04Z")
Root Beer yep that is about the only American food that we Aussies don’t consume in large quantities oh and Dr Pepper WTF really? ---
**Author:** ![JLRogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@JLRogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JLRogers)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/7 "2013-04-16T05:37:25Z")
Biscuits and Gravy? ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/8 "2013-04-16T05:47:51Z")
> [@JLRogers](#): > > Biscuits and Gravy? Is that like Yorkshire Pudding? ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/9 "2013-04-16T05:51:56Z")
Any Aussies here tried pumpkin pie? My wife disliked it. Peanut butter is reasonably popular in Australia and can be found in most supermarkets. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/10 "2013-04-16T05:53:00Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Is that like Yorkshire Pudding? > **[Southern Biscuits and Gravy Recipe - Food.com](https://www.food.com/recipe/southern-biscuits-and-gravy-236284)** > > A dear and very close friend of mine who lives in Australia asked me about southern biscuits and gravy for breakfast. It is RARE that I make this bec It really does look like that. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/11 "2013-04-16T06:11:46Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Is that like Yorkshire Pudding? Different gravy. Southern style biscuits and gravy will usually have a cream-based gravy. And sometimes coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/12 "2013-04-16T06:17:53Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Root Beer yep that is about the only American food that we Aussies don’t consume in large quantities oh and Dr Pepper WTF really? I’m from Alabama and I can’t stand root beer. I’ve never understood what people like about it. Have you ever drank Dr. Pepper? ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/13 "2013-04-16T06:18:53Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Different gravy. Southern style biscuits and gravy will usually have a cream-based gravy. And sometimes coffee. eek cream in the gravy, pumpkin pie is something I have tried but yeah pretty bland. Pumpkin roasted or in soup is very popular but not in a pie. Peanut butter is a staple of most pantries. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/14 "2013-04-16T06:20:51Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I’m from Alabama and I can’t stand root beer. I’ve never understood what people like about it. > Have you ever drank Dr. Pepper? Yep a few times, they relaunch it every few years but seems to fail but yes you can buy it down under. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/15 "2013-04-16T06:32:50Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Yep a few times, they relaunch it every few years but seems to fail but yes you can buy it down under. Hmm, it seems odd that Australians don’t like Dr. Pepper. Then again, I tried Vegemite when I was in Australia, so…😉 ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/16 "2013-04-16T06:54:53Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > Hmm, it seems odd that Australians don’t like Dr. Pepper. Then again, I tried Vegemite when I was in Australia, so…😉 Careful mate, people have been hung for less 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/17 "2013-04-16T07:02:01Z")
I understand that some Europeans find corn on the cob to be disgusting. They think of it as animal fodder. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/18 "2013-04-16T07:04:40Z")
> [@sisu](#): > > Careful mate, people have been hung for less 😉 Hey, I love Australia! That was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. The beer was much better than the Vegemite, though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/19 "2013-04-16T07:13:26Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > I understand that some Europeans find corn on the cob to be disgusting. They think of it as animal fodder. Again a strange one, we Aussies love the stuff! OH one that does come to mind is bacon with maple syrup. Pretty rare to see that here and most Aussies I think would be aghast at ruining that salty goodness. ---
**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:** [April 16, 2013, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812/20 "2013-04-16T08:13:00Z")
> [@JLRogers](#): > > Biscuits and Gravy? The biscuits are a form of soda bread, not sweet. (What you might be thinking of are cookies, which are sweet.) The cream gravy often contains browned sausage; by that, I mean sage-seasoned ground pork. The really good stuff also contains red pepper flakes, so it has a bit of a bite to it. (Jimmy Dean Pure Pork Sausage, yum-O!) The gravy made with coffee is called Red-eye gravy. It’s basically strong coffee poured into the pan drippings left from frying ham. The name supposedly comes from the different layers settling in a bowl and forming what looks like an big eye staring up at you. Often eaten by po’ folk in the South. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugly-american-cuisine/655812.md?page=2)