What is American food?

FOOD STEREOTYPES

Italian food: pasta and pizza.

African food: lentils and cassava.

Mexican food: burritos and quesadillas.

Asian food: rice and noodles.

Mediterranean food: pita and hummus.

Indian food: curry and naan.

American food: hamburgers and hot dogs. Or is it fried chicken? Mac and cheese? Apple pie?

I have always struggled with that question. With America being a huge melting pot, our food is an amalgamation from all different backgrounds and cultures.

But being in London, where nothing is truly “American” and working ten hour days, I really started missing a taste of home. I work in Notting Hill, and when I head home each day, I pass by this “American” diner called Tinseltown. I decided that I was going to destress and reward myself today with a huge milk shake, just like home.Although my milk shake and burger tasted like shit compared to Johnny Rockets and In-N-Out, I needed that Oreo Milk Shake. And that’s when I reached an epiphany: at the moment when I missed home the most, I craved a cheeseburger and a good milk shake accompanied by a 24-hour diner environment. Perhaps those are the American staples. After all, who created McDonald’s?

What do you think American food is?