You can bet things are about to get weird when the “best of” list you just clicked on comes with a disclaimer at the top — it looks like the decision makers behind CNN Travel’s new collection of the absolute best eats in the US can they smell a controversy brewing from a mile away.
“The Americans have come up with a lot of incredible foods. Does this list whet your appetite? Or have we honestly left out one of your favorites?”
The obvious slide toward the hot dog—which isn’t included in the often bewildering selection of supposed legendary dishes—gives you a glimpse of where we’re going.
Fried bread, a survival food with a storied history that seems to be pushed by well-meaning food scribes more often than it’s actually consumed outside of the Southwest—earns a place at the table of the elite.
But no pizza, a favorite in all fifty states and most likely all territories as well? shame!
Mission burritos, an obscure drunk food beloved mostly by heavy drinkers in San Francisco and the surrounding area – they’ve been praised to the skies.
Tex-Mex, or even tacos? It is nowhere to be found. Talk about loco.
“America is called a melting pot—and that’s certainly true of its food,” the list’s brief introduction helpfully explains, for those in the back who weren’t paying attention.
We’re told that to be included, the Americans didn’t have to have come up with the actual dish, a qualifier that could have helped explain the absence of the aforementioned iconic foods.
But no — in fact, readers are assured that this list celebrates our ability to turn favorites from other countries into our own, often sending the “reformulated food back out into the wide world.”
That’s certainly the case for American barbecue, something that landed on these shores in colonial times—and has evolved ever since.
So why is it the first food on the list — while fried chicken, another thing we’ve made more than our own, is nowhere to be found?
Perhaps the author found it more interesting to include something like General Tso’s chicken, which became a staple in NYC after chefs visiting Taiwan in the 1970s tried it for the first time, the explanation says.
“But their version—delicious, lightly battered chunks of dark chicken fried in a sweet and sour sauce—appealed to that American penchant for all things fried and sweet.”
Other scratchers include the peanut butter and jelly sandwich — but no lobster roll, no Hot Brown, no Pimento Cheese Sandwich, Shredded Cheese, Philly Cheesesteak, Cuban, Po’ Boy or Muffaletta.
But speaking of New Orleans, the author managed to include two other Big Easy staples that seem like repeats, given that there were only twenty places on the list and many dishes to choose from—red beans and rice, a a Monday favorite, and gumbo, a product of Louisiana stew.
Both, but no pizza? At least we have spaghetti and meatballs as a consolation prize.
The author calls the Italian-American staple “a nostalgic treat.”
We unsophisticated New Yorkers call it “dinner.”
Here’s the full list – what do you think is missing?
American food: The 20 best dishes, according to CNN
- barbecued
- Fried okra
- Cobb salad
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
- Toast the bread
- Red beans and rice
- Hamburger
- Apple pie
- Okay
- acrid
- Mollusc bites
- General Tso’s Chicken
- Reuben sandwich
- rip
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Gumbo
- Mission burrito
- Banana pudding
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Eggs Benedict
Readers were quick to post their criticism of the arbitrary collection – with one calling the awards “incomplete” and many offering their own ideas for inclusion.
“Hotdogs, Cole slaw, Pizza, Fried Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak, Club Sandwich, Pecan Pie, Fried Green Tomato and Nachos are just a few,” said one avid eater.
“Out of all the hundreds of absolutely amazing food dishes that could represent America and Americans, you chose Fried Okra as one of the top 20. Well, bless your heart!” hit another.
“Every [list]…that doesn’t include the Philly Cheesesteak, well, that’s just not okay,” chided an apparent Mid-Atlantic resident.
Others were milder in their criticism.
“As a Marylander, sad crab cakes didn’t make this list,” said one Old Liner.
“But I can’t complain about what’s in it…I’d gobble it all up!”
#Americas #Foods #CNN
Image Source : nypost.com