"American food" has a meaning because the term "American" typically means the US, and the US has quite a few foods popular across the country and not outside th

"American food" has a meaning because the term "American" typically means the US, and the US has quite a few foods popular across the country and not outside the country. "European history" works because basically all of Europe has had widespread interaction with the rest of Europe for millennia, while thanks to mountain ranges like the Himalayas and the Zagros, and the scale of the continent, huge swathes of Asia have historically had very little interaction. No Chinese dynasties have ever conquered India, and no Caliphate has ever reached China.