Moving to the USA
When it comes to the U.S., there are so many good foods and thankfully these foods can be enjoyed worldwide from thick stacked pancakes oozing with syrup to sticky barbecue ribs and juicy cheese burgers. The United States itself is a melting pot and this diversity is reflected in the amazing variety of foods that can be eaten in America, regardless of your taste buds’ flavour preferences. The U.S has too many good dishes to choose from so we have had to whittle it down to just 5 (which was by far one of the most difficult decisions). Here are the top five foods in the U.S. that we think are quintessentially American. If you’re looking to relocate to America, our orientation tourcan tell you everything you need to know about the local food joints, so you can jump straight into American cuisine.
Hamburgers
Grilled on a barbecue or fried at home, everyone loves a good hamburger and they are enjoyed worldwide. If you are moving to the U.S. there is no way that you can live there without trying the national dish, hamburgers. The toppings and accompaniments vary from region to region in the U.S., but if you want an original version visit Louis’ Lunch in New Haven in Connecticut which has been serving hamburgers since 1900. They claim to be the oldest hamburger restaurant in America. Burgers are the staple of American food and culture, and they have been adopted to now be made from chicken, beef, pork, lamb, veggie or even a combination. To top it all off, you can then accompany your burger with any topping or side you wish, even to please the fussiest of eaters.
Pie
Classic all-American apple or traditional Thanksgiving pumpkin pie is a staple pudding when it comes to American soil. Although pie may be seen as an incredibly patriotic American dish, its origin comes from elsewhere. The first recorded recipe of apple pie was actually written in 1381 in England. As well as apple, Americans love all types of pie including cherry, banana cream, key lime and of course pumpkin pie, when Thanksgiving hits.
Meatloaf
America is incredibly proud of this dish, and rightly so, as it is one of the nation’s favourites. Meatloaf is a mixture of minced beef, breadcrumbs, and seasoning all blended together, sometimes it can be topped with bacon. The very best meatloaf should be tender and moist with a distinctly soft but never mushy texture to it. This dish has a deeply rich and meaty flavour and is perfect with buttery mash potatoes on a colder day.
Hot Dogs
Whether you try yours with ketchup, mustard or simply plain, snacking on a hot dog is an absolute must if you move to the USA. These delicious snacks are a thin sausage placed within a bun, and can be accompanied with a huge range of toppings – depending on what state you’re in. These tasty savoury snacks are best enjoyed as you wander around your local town fair or carnival, or served at an American sports game.
Mac and Cheese
America knows how to do comfort food and macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort food dish. Adults and children alike love the hot, cheesy, and delicious dish. Although there is nothing particularly American about pasta and cheese, apart from the fact that Thomas Jefferson on a European trip liked a noodle dish so much he made notes and had it served when he was back home in the states as ‘macaroni pie’, it is easily one of the most recognised American dishes in the world. His cousin, Mary Randolph included a mac and cheese recipe in her cookbook, and then, as they say, the rest was history. Since then the nation and the rest of the world have been tucking into the cheesy dish ever since.
