More food pondering

[figmo]

In the USA we have "American" cheese.

We have "French" fries (except in Washington, D.C., but that's another story), but in France they don't have "French fries."

We have "Canadian" bacon, but Canadians don't call it that; they call it "back bacon," yet they don't have "back cheese."

I just ate an "Australian" toaster biscuit. When I was in Australia I didn't see any such "toaster biscuits."

We have "English" muffins. Do "English muffins" as we know them in the US exist in England? (I've never been there so I wouldn't know.)

What do they call "Welsh" rarebit in Wales?

What do they call "Spanish" rice (as we know it in the US) in Spain?

Do you even eat "German" chocolate cake in Germany?

Comments

[lysana.livejournal.com]

So there's no such thing as chocolate cake with coconut topping in Germany, then?

[delennara.livejournal.com]

Hmm...I never had one. But that doesn't mean anything. Even if it doesn't look like that in comparisn to the US, germany is really big, and has so many different ways to cook in the different regions. And cakes are a matter of family tradition. My favourite is a red wine chocolate chips cake. Covered with chocolate, of course. Sometimes decorated with m&ms.

[lysana.livejournal.com]

The reason I asked that in particular is because German chocolate cake is just that: chocolate cake with coconut or coconut-pecan frosting (though more like a goop composed of shredded coconut and nuts). We also have what we call "Black Forest cake," which is chocolate cake with cherries and white frosting. I wonder... do they have any dishes in what you know of German cuisine that's called American or Californian whatever?

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I confess.

The "German" chocolate cake was a trick in there. It was actually named after someone named "German."

I was motivated because I was eating an "Australian" toaster biscuit when I'd never seen any in Melbourne during my stay there. That was when I'd recalled I'd never seen recipes for "English muffins" in any UK cookbooks (they're not quite crumpets).

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

A "muffin" in England is closer to an English muffin than it is to the cupcake-like structure we call a muffin. A muffin is made of dough, split and toasted. A crumpet is made of batter, not split, and toasted. IIRC :).

[delennara.livejournal.com]

Umm...dishes? No.
But probably most Germans are convinced that what they get at Mc Donalds is north american food. For middle and south america, there are Mexican restaurants and steakhouses...
But I guess, since most americans (except the indians and the black)originally came from europe, that the difference can't be that big.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I'd list the following as "standard North American (US/maybe Canada) fare:"

• macaroni and cheese
• tuna casserole
• Meat loaf
• hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs
• mayonnaise-based macaroni and potato salads
• breaded, fried shrimp
• Fish sticks
• barbecued ribs
• chili
• popcorn
• nachos
• Thousand Island and Ranch salad dressings
• root beer
• cola
• Jell-o
• ice cream cones and sundaes

We also have regional favorites, such as:

• clam chowder (white in New England, red in Manhattan)
• NY (northeast) style (thin crust) vs. Chicago style (thick crust, sometimes "stuffed") vs. California style pizza (thin to moderate crust, funky toppings)
• gumbo, jambalaya, muffaletas, beignets, and coffee with chicory (New Orleans)
• grits (the southeast)
• egg creams (New York)
• cioppino (San Francisco)
• chili (Cinncinnati vs. Texas vs. the rest of the US)
• the name of a sandwich that comes on a long roll, as well as what goes on it (hero, grinder, hoagie, submarine, and a few others)
• crabcakes (the ones from Maryland are very different from the ones in California)
• fajitas (from Texas, but they've spread around)
• the name of a drink consisting of milk, ice cream, and syrup (milkshake, shake, frappe, fribble, et al)