3 ms·

As a "white person", I find this movement to be quite interesting. I've often thought about how I don't actually really feel "American cuisine" is a thing, eve

As a "white person", I find this movement to be quite interesting. I've often thought about how I don't actually really feel "American cuisine" is a thing, even though there are definitely things that are American in origin. Likewise, when they said "white people food", I didn't know what to think it would be. Obviously not food from countries where white people are the minority, but what would it be? I feel like it probably started out as the plain food that I often eat, but at some point "white people food" was transformed into this idealized, healthy, waste-free food that is mentioned in the article. I don't like the implication that non-"white people food" is the opposite of that, but I'm not upset about the name or casual racism of calling it that otherwise.

nordsieck 3y ago
> I've often thought about how I don't actually really feel "American cuisine" is a thing, even though there are definitely things that are American in origin. I suspect that's in part because a lot of American cuisine is regional Like: * BBQ + fixings * Tex-mex (definitely a fusion cuisine, but also distinct from Mexican) * Cajun * Not sure how to describe "generic southern food", but stuff like ham hock, collard greens, candied yams, corn bread, etc. * Philly cheese steak * Various US-local pizzas like Chicago deep-dish There's probably a lot more regional food traditions in the US; I'm just not as familiar with them.
- cafard 3y ago
  There is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. My wife, who was born into it, says that it is based on sugar, vinegar, and bacon fat. That seems a little dismissive. The tradition includes such items as Lebanon bologna, scrapple, smoked sausages, corn pie (summer), oyster pie (winter), and shoo-fly pie.
- bitxbitxbitcoin 3y ago
  The word you’re looking for to replace “generic southern food” is “soul food.”
  - Ancapistani 3y ago
    I was going to say the same, but on second thought I don't think the terms are interchangeable. There's a lot of overlap, sure, but I think they're distinct classifications.
Broken_Hippo 3y ago
I've often thought about how I don't actually really feel "American cuisine" is a thing, even though there are definitely things that are American in origin. I had the same problem, and then I asked and moved out of the country. If it helps you at all, from an American that moved to Norway: Tex-mex, pizza, and BBQ (Texas bbq for some things, Sweet Baby Ray's sauce in the grocery store) are what seems to be the most popular in Norway. And then you have diners. A friend in the philippines once said American food was Ruby Tuesdays. There isn't one of those locally, but there is a Friday's. It claims to serve American stuff. These would probably be the best comparisons alongside stuff above. There was one "American Diner" here that served things like a more traditional American breakfast, things like chicken fried steak, and the like. (They've closed recently). And I've been to one more "traditional" diner with a lot of Americana decor from the 50's and served fairly typical diner fare (think Steak and shake or something similar in their most basic form). If grocery stores are targeting me, I most commonly wind up with things like box Macaroni and cheese (which I pay way to much for) and American peanut butter brands, usually the only choice for creamy peanut butter. The local peanut butter tends to be chunky, but tend to be unsweetened.
- bigpeopleareold 3y ago
  Despite the presence of whole tex-mex and pizza aisles in grocery stores, at least the food for local dishes is still a staple and well-stocked in every grocery store. I think, for example, 2/3s of the pre-made options are varieties of Norwegian dishes. This stuff to me, at least, is more exotic than what's popular (I am also an American in Norway), in part of its cultural significance whereas pizza, Chinese food, etc. have lost a bit of its unique charge of exoticism precisely because it has been completely commoditized (and I also grew up in NYC where those two examples feel ubiquitous and that impulse has reached Europe in a big way.)

nordsieck 3y ago

> I've often thought about how I don't actually really feel "American cuisine" is a thing, even though there are definitely things that are American in origin. I suspect that's in part because a lot of American cuisine is regional Like: * BBQ + fixings * Tex-mex (definitely a fusion cuisine, but also distinct from Mexican) * Cajun * Not sure how to describe "generic southern food", but stuff like ham hock, collard greens, candied yams, corn bread, etc. * Philly cheese steak * Various US-local pizzas like Chicago deep-dish There's probably a lot more regional food traditions in the US; I'm just not as familiar with them.

cafard 3y ago
There is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. My wife, who was born into it, says that it is based on sugar, vinegar, and bacon fat. That seems a little dismissive. The tradition includes such items as Lebanon bologna, scrapple, smoked sausages, corn pie (summer), oyster pie (winter), and shoo-fly pie.
bitxbitxbitcoin 3y ago
The word you’re looking for to replace “generic southern food” is “soul food.”
- Ancapistani 3y ago
  I was going to say the same, but on second thought I don't think the terms are interchangeable. There's a lot of overlap, sure, but I think they're distinct classifications.

Broken_Hippo 3y ago

I've often thought about how I don't actually really feel "American cuisine" is a thing, even though there are definitely things that are American in origin. I had the same problem, and then I asked and moved out of the country. If it helps you at all, from an American that moved to Norway: Tex-mex, pizza, and BBQ (Texas bbq for some things, Sweet Baby Ray's sauce in the grocery store) are what seems to be the most popular in Norway. And then you have diners. A friend in the philippines once said American food was Ruby Tuesdays. There isn't one of those locally, but there is a Friday's. It claims to serve American stuff. These would probably be the best comparisons alongside stuff above. There was one "American Diner" here that served things like a more traditional American breakfast, things like chicken fried steak, and the like. (They've closed recently). And I've been to one more "traditional" diner with a lot of Americana decor from the 50's and served fairly typical diner fare (think Steak and shake or something similar in their most basic form). If grocery stores are targeting me, I most commonly wind up with things like box Macaroni and cheese (which I pay way to much for) and American peanut butter brands, usually the only choice for creamy peanut butter. The local peanut butter tends to be chunky, but tend to be unsweetened.

bigpeopleareold 3y ago
Despite the presence of whole tex-mex and pizza aisles in grocery stores, at least the food for local dishes is still a staple and well-stocked in every grocery store. I think, for example, 2/3s of the pre-made options are varieties of Norwegian dishes. This stuff to me, at least, is more exotic than what's popular (I am also an American in Norway), in part of its cultural significance whereas pizza, Chinese food, etc. have lost a bit of its unique charge of exoticism precisely because it has been completely commoditized (and I also grew up in NYC where those two examples feel ubiquitous and that impulse has reached Europe in a big way.)