"Genuine American Food" Topic

Both. They are all foods of European origin brought to America but have now become synonymous with American culture. You might say they were "improved upon" in their new home.
Just my two cents worth.

Tom D

Agree with Son of Moog. This is America and foreign origins are irrelevant so long as you become American.

I am fairly sure that what the Americans call french fries originated in Belgium and are unchanged but Pizza as the Americans do it bears little resemblance to the Italian original and the first time I saw hamburger was in the American sector of Berlin and the Germans did not know it.

x42

In their current form, I would say that they are all classic American dishes.

They are typical American –

It's like the classic American clothing item – Blue Jeans
which were created by German immigrants (the Strauss brothers)
out of French cloth from the city of Nimes (de nimes or Americanized to denim)
in the style of Italian sailors from Genoa which was changed to genes or jeans.
The brass is the only true American part.

They may have various origins, but they have all evolved to become uniquely American.

(By the way, the worst pizza I ever had was in Italy.)

American cuisine is the Borg of the food world. Hamburgers, French fries and pizza have been absorbed and are unrecognizable to the natives of the countries of origin.

This is certainly OK by me – except for Hawaiian pizza, which is an abomination.

French fries originated in Belgium and are basically the same. They are called chips in England and are usually larger than the American version. T

he modern Pizza originated in Naples in the late 18th century. Pizza came to Canada in the 1950s and Canadian pizza chains introduced it to the United States.

Hamburger patties did originate in the city of Hamburg. However, Americans were the first to create the hamburger sandwich. The cheeseburger originated in California and was considered a passing fad at the time.

They have all become part of the American food culture.

It would be interesting to find out what the culinary expert meant by "Genuine" American food.

I agree with John the G.

Like most American icons, they all originated elsewhere but have evolved to become American.

I think that is enough to be 'genuinely' American? If it isn't, a bunch of you guys are still technically English or Scottish or German or something!

And it's not as though the potato or the tomato were native to Belgium and Italy, come to that. The cuisine of a country is what the locals make and eat.

Genuine American cuisine.

Sauces made from condensed soup in cans !! The processed wonder that is "American cheese"!! Corn dogs! Wonder bread!

I'd add more but think I'd vomit :-)

I think they have been adapted/adopted in the US

The products from the original nations barely resemble the modern American version. To be honest with those three items I feel that America makes them better, and now they are world renowned.

That being said there are many other foods that the American version pales in comparison. So if you like it eat it if not don't.

Kodiak, tread carefully. I'm probably not the only member who's eaten in a Britrail train--and certainly not the only one who's watched Britain give up and start over with Indian cuisine.

Come to the Heartland some day. I'll show you how steaks are done, and introduce you to the wonder which is the breaded pork tenderloin.

The products from the original nations barely resemble the modern American version. To be honest with those three items I feel that America makes them better, and now they are world renowned.

2 of 3 I would agree but not fries. Most places try to emulate the Belgian "frite" even here. McDonalds version are just thinner. The UK Chips are generally thicker like the US steak fries, but IMO that is no improvement. IMO fries in Belgium with mayo or curry sauce are still the best, but ok you can have ketchup too!

PP – Are you saying that is your version of schnitzel? ;)

Robert, you got me there.

Never eaten "Britrail" food nor do I know anybody who has. Can't say I recall ever being on a train with a buffet car.

Train journeys in the UK are fairly short so folks just bring their own food.

Only ate Indian food twice so can't comment on that either.

Their origins were elsewhere, but the way they are prepared now, here, they have changed quite a bit from that original point. I consider a burger and fries American. Same with Pizza (as prepared here).

An old girlfriend of mine traveled to Italy once and had one of "their" pizzas and she hated it. Everything about it was "wrong" according to her. Different ingredients, different prep method.

Big wedges of potatoes may be "chips" from elsewhere, but the shoestring (and crinkle-cut) versions are what most Americans think of when they order fries, and that was not Belgian.

I agree the way they are now is American. Too large a portion as well.

Do the Belgians put sugar on their fries the way the Germans do? If so…blech. :)

If it ain't made of corn/maize or turkey/bald eagle, it ain't American.