W4 "Americn Food"

             America is a melting pot, with influence from countries and cultures all over the globe. When the world thinks Italian food, spaghetti, pizza, red wine, anything with marinara sauce, or anything that ends with an “ini” (like linguini or panini), comes to mind. When the world thinks German cuisine, they picture giant bratwurst with a side of sauerkraut and a stein of beer to wash it all down. Mexico has got their tacos, burritos, and nachos that define what their food is like. When I try to think of an American menu, I try to leave out the influence of these other regions of the world. I specifically try to think of food that reminds me of America, and cannot be traced to other countries.

            First item of food that just screams “U.S.A.” is Buffalo wings. My restaurant would have an array of flavors and sauces to show non-Americans that the chicken wings are not just sauced with buffalo. Wings were made famous in the United States and therefore they are a given on the menu of my American restaurant. They are completed with a side of celery sticks and ranch or bleu cheese dressing. Americans do not like to use silverware and foreigners will understand that when dining in an American restaurant.

            Americans also loved fried chicken. Whether it is succulent KFC like crisp breast meat, or just some simple chicken fingers, fried chicken is a must. Sauces including barbeque, buffalo, honey mustard, ranch, bleu cheese, sweet and sour will al be accompanying the fried chicken dish. The dish would be completed with mash potatoes and gravy, but unfortunately silverware is now needed.

            One famous cooking technique that started with the slaves of America was the art of barbeque. Slow roasting pig meat so that it is juicy, succulent, and falling off the bone is an art that is not easily mastered. Barbeque ribs would be an essential item on the menu because of its historical significance in American History. They would be served along side corn bread and corn on the cob to make the dish feel like the fourth of July, a pretty important date for Americans.

            Soda, ice tea, and shitty beer would be the American beverages served in the restaurant. Desert would consist of ice cream Sundays or root beer floats. They remind me of the malt shops in the fifties, which are extremely unique to America, and an important part of American culture.

            These dishes on my restaurant menu represent America because Americans made them, for American eaters. Anything that could be eaten with the fingers, or anything fried, or anything saucy is what wets an Americas palate. I would tried to incorporate as much of Americas culture in to the menu, which is why we see fried chicken, chicken wings, bbq ribs, and malt Sundays all on the menu.