irishswampyankee

Glad to know others don't like grits or biscuits and gravy. First time I ever saw biscuits and gravy was at a breakfast buffet in a hotel in the south. I had to ask what it was and everyone was amazed this Yankee had never seen it. Looks like pure saturated fat to me. Ugh. I don't do grits either. Do like baked beans with breakfast and johhnycakes.

Bowsprit

American food is regionally influenced. Many visitors hardly ever veer away from chain restaurants and miss the point completely.

Next time you visit the U.S. take some time on yelp.com to look for American restaurants serving some of the best food in the world. I assure you, you won't leave with a 'doggy bag' and no one will serve you a microwaved burger with a limp pickle soaking bitter juice over a tasteless, oversized burger bun.

obxgirl

>>American food is regionally influenced. Many visitors hardly ever veer away from chain restaurants and miss the point completely.

jent103

Lateagain, since you seem to keep coming back in spite of your terrible culinary experiences, I might suggest you do some research before your next trip and find good restaurants in places you're going. The US actually does have many restaurants which don't serve processed junk (and avoid the offending pickle). There are lots of threads here about great places to eat all over the country. If Fodor's doesn't do it for you, try Bowsprit's suggestion of Yelp, Urban Spoon, Chowhound... plenty of options. Good luck.

brmsimmons

I recall reading an article in a travel magazine that Nigella Lawson always brings back Old Bay Seasoning.How about a good BBQ sauce or spcie rub?

gmoney

There is a most definite quality to good grits. Had both the worst and best in Savannah GA. (it is called Georgia ice cream after all). Had breakfast at one of the many I-95 hotels and the grits were abysmal but during the same trip had the grits at the AVIA hotel in the historic district and they were heavenly. Go figure! And aren't grits and polenta basically the same thing?

Lateagain

Thanks jent103 I will certainly use Yelp on my next (if there is one) trip to USA. My observations on the food in USA were a little tongue in cheek, I have had a couple of decent meals while visiting America, both in French restaurants, so that maybe is the way to go.

Cranachin

>

gmoney - No pun intended, I am sure, but the corn used for grits is treated with lye (which is chemically basic - get it?) beforehand to soften the kernels. As far as I know, the corn in polenta isn't.

So although polenta and grits are similar, they are not the same thing.

And I'm not sure why people are so bent out of shape by things like grits or biscuits & gravy. Many (most?) cultures have some sort of starchy staple dish, and many have variations on the fat/protein over bread that characterizes biscuits and gravy (Yorkshire pudding with gravy, anyone? drippings on toast, maybe? And before you protest "That's different!" - no, it's not. Any of those can be made well, and any can be made poorly.).

By the way, everybody on here does realize (right?) that it's highly likely at least one other poster (or even - gasp! - many) dislikes (maybe intensely) one of YOUR FAVORITE DISHES, perhaps even one YOU MAKE YOURSELF!!

Grcxx3

My older son - at Penn State - went back to school this year with Tony Chachery's seasoning, Tabasco, and a garlic/spice blend seasoning. His main complaint is that the food is SO BLAND!!!! The boy needs to get himself back to New Orleans!!!!

Note: DS#2, at LSU, is happy as can be with the food options!!!

Bowsprit

"I have had a couple of decent meals while visiting America, both in French restaurants, so that maybe is the way to go."

No, it isn't the way to go. You've missed the point again.

nytraveler

No - there is fantastic food in many parts of america - although there are parts where you need to order defensively.

But in many places are are a host of good moderate to inexpensive restaurants serving very fresh local goods (but avoid the chains at all costs) as well as upscale places serving michelin starred food at prices to match.

The key is researching reliable sources.

It's true that it's not like Belgium - where I have never had a bad meal - at any price point. Or Italy where (outside Venice) all except the tourist traps have good, sometimes excellent food - at all price ranges. (I have been in casual sandwich shops where each one is a work of art on artisan bread, beautiful ingredients and home-made mayonnaise.) But if you look you can get the same in the US.

Bowsprit

I really haven't ever had terrible food anywhere in the world. Some meals have been clunkers but very few, actually. I don't 'do' chain restaurants and if I've had a bad meal at an independent more than once I don't go back. And that includes Rules in London where I had 2 terrible meals thinking the first clunker during a prior visit was a one off.

Judyrem

Spot on Nyt, had one of the worst meals ever in Europe, in Venice.

This thread is getting a bit testy, yes?

bettyk

When I lived in Beaconsfield, UK, back in the early 80's, I really missed Fritos and Cheetos. Finally found a small store in Gerrard's Cross that carried alot of American foods due to the closeness of the American School. They had many of the foods I was looking for -- of course, the price was outrageous but I didn't care!

gorblimey

When I lived in England they had never had an American style cake...most of their cakes were dense and with a hard shell icing. They loved it when I bought American cake mixes (one store in Cambridge carried them) and made them for the Cricket games. My father spent $15 to air mail me canned pumpkin so that I could make a pumpkin pie for my English Thanksgiving dinner. But that was in the 80's. Now, the grocery stores over there carry almost everything we do. My British husband can get everything from Hagis to Smarties here in California and when we go back to Cambridge we can find just about anything American too. In fact, my niece just wrote on Facebook that she was baking a pumpkin pie (most of my husband's numerous friends hadn't had pumpkin pie when I made it in the 80's) The world is so homogenized that it's hard to find something unique (although I found unique foods in Peru.) And I am a true believer that each nation produces delicious foods if you look. I never found the British food to be as bad as its reputation. And whenever our British friends and family come over they love American food and take back lots of it. One thing they really love here and take back with them is New England Clam Chowder!!! Good luck and I wouldn't worry. People love when someone brings them something as a token of love and appreciation...take what you like and share it with them. Don't worry whether they've had it or not.

LydiaW

I came across this discussion from asking if there were any restaurants in the UK that serve food like Gumbo or Jambalaya. I visited friends in Louisiana a year ago and never got to try Gumbo! I LOVE Jambalaya though. It seems there are NO authentic US restaurants in the UK that serve traditional Louisiana dishes, which is a pity. If anyone sees my comment and knows of ANYWHERE in the UK where there is a restaurant like that, I beg you, PLEEEEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSSSSE let me know! >;o)

spirobulldog

well, you can make your own gumbo. It isn't that hard. It's one of those things that no two are really alike. Same basic taste, but big variance. Some restaurant's serve several kinds(usually 3 different versions). you can use whatever kind of protein you like(usually shellfish, fish, or andoulie sausage).

spirobulldog

This made me think of Tasso Gravy. I've not seen it anywhere but LA.

Bowsprit

I didn't see any frozen pie crusts when I was shopping in London a few weeks ago.

carlos292

Graham crackers , are not available in the uk however you can get a very similar alternative , digestives or rich tea , digestives are wheat flour biscuits plane but sweetened very dry ( we use them in the uk alot for bases of cheese cakes) or with a hot cuppa tea for dunking or rich tea are white flour flatter biscuits slightly sweet and harder very bland tasting also usually eaten with a cup of tea or coffe , but in a nutshell its McVittes digestives are what you're looking for in the biscuit section in a british supermarket isle , usually the supermarkets own label is just as good and half the price