Taste of America: What are some of America's culinary delights?
1. Philadelphia Story: Cheeseburger
This steak and cheese sandwich is a classic Philadelphia dish. It's said to have evolved from the 1930s hot dog and is now popular throughout Philadelphia and even the United States. It's constantly being modified to suit customer tastes; for example, Italian provolone and American Cheez Whiz are popular flavors. Toppings include roasted onions, mushrooms, peppers, ketchup, mayonnaise, and sauce. If you're adventurous, you can also choose a whole chicken or a completely vegetarian option. A vegan steak burger offers a feast of various vegetables, and you can try it at George's Restaurant. This restaurant is located in Philadelphia's famous Station Market, and if you go there, you'll find more than just a sandwich!
2. Maine Lobster Roll
When talking about Maine, one cannot overlook its lobster rolls, a delicacy that has been sold since the 1920s and is now popular throughout New England. The most classic lobster roll consists of lobster and butter sandwiched in a hot dog, then stuffed with fries. Besides this, in the northernmost coastal areas of the United States, you can find various other flavors of lobster rolls, such as lobster with mayonnaise, lobster with celery or onions, and even the outer bun can be replaced with a croissant or curry bread. Regardless of the flavor, summer is the perfect season to enjoy lobster rolls, or perhaps on a sunny day, while admiring the beautiful scenery of the Atlantic Ocean.
3. Pizza on the tip of your tongue: Chicago or New York?
Although pizza originated in Neapolitan Italy, American pizza has clearly developed its own unique characteristics over the years. Chicago and New York pizzas each have their own classic flavors. Chicago pizza, also known as thick-crust pizza, is baked in a thick pan used for baking cakes or pies, allowing the dough to form multiple layers. The base is typically cheese, followed by meat and vegetables, and topped with sauces such as ketchup. In contrast, a typical New York pizza is large and thin, served with tomato sauce or basil, and the crust is crispy yet chewy, just right to support its weight. Now, are you torn between thick-crust and New York pizza? Next time you visit the US, consider a Chicago-New York pizza tour and let authentic pizza experts unveil their secrets for you.
4. California: The Hamburger, Fries, and Milkshake Trio
Hamburgers and fries, this combo meal, is the essence of American fast food and has long been famous both at home and abroad. But fast food is not synonymous with junk food. In the American West, this fast food "three-piece set" is still enjoyed by many. If you go to the United States, you might as well try In-N-Out Burger, which was founded in 1948 and offers a variety of burger combos based on the principle of "no secret recipe." For example, the Supreme 4X4 combo (four layers of cheese and four layers of steak). In addition, Counter is also a highly competitive fast food restaurant, offering more than 300,000 combo combinations, from the fillings, buns, sauces and toppings to the accompanying combos, all of which are 100% chosen by the customer.
5. Craving something sour? Try Florida lemon pie!
Lemon pie originated in this southern state of the United States long before freezing technology became widespread. Traditional lemon pie is made with very common ingredients: egg yolks, condensed milk, and local small yellow lemons. The lemons, when mixed with canned milk, thicken without baking, and when combined with the egg yolks, they create a glossy yellow color. Nowadays, lemon pies are baked for safety reasons. The ingredients of lemon pie can vary from restaurant to restaurant; for example, the crust may be flaky or crisp, and the filling may be creamy or firm. Regardless of your preference, be sure to try an authentic lemon pie when you vacation in Florida (authenticity regulations for lemon pie were passed in 2006).
6. North Carolina: Cooked Delicacies
Barbecues have a long tradition in the American South, stretching from North Carolina south through Tennessee, Alabama, and back to Tennessee. Whether they use pork or steak, a whole pig or a small piece, and season with ketchup or vinegar, each region has its own preferred barbecue style (Michael Pollan's new book, Cooked, provides a detailed explanation of Southern barbecue preferences). If you're a meat lover, you absolutely must try North Carolina's whole roasted pig; it might just inspire you to explore the entire state's culinary scene!
7. Louisiana: Cuisine brought by the Cajun and Creole people
Since the Acadians were exiled from Canada in the 18th century, Louisiana and its capital, New Orleans, have become the birthplace of a famous dish, adapted from French cooking methods. Cajun and Creole cuisine differ slightly, for example, in the proportion of tomatoes; locals are happy to share their tips. Okra, for instance, is a tough vegetable that pairs well with meat or seafood and vegetables; assorted vegetables are often stewed with cooked rice, and Creoles often add tomatoes, sausages, seafood, and vegetables. New Orleans dessert is bacon, often enjoyed with donuts.
8. Hawaii: Fast food and shaved ice on a hot summer day
Hawaiian cuisine is ubiquitous throughout the island, from street food to lavish feasts, all made with the island's finest ingredients. If one had to choose the most representative Hawaiian dish, it would be the fast food. It consists of two scoops of rice, pasta salad, and various side dishes, including roast pork, Korean BBQ, fried chicken, grilled beef, or mahi-mahi—a staple local dish. After a satisfying meal, enjoy a shaved ice dessert. This isn't just ordinary crushed ice; it's topped with a delicious syrup, often containing tropical ingredients like guava, passion fruit, or lychee, and served at the bottom with traditional vanilla ice cream or red bean paste.
9. San Antonio's finest condiments
This condiment has a strong Mexican influence, but it originated in Texas and is an essential ingredient in main dishes such as Mexican barbecue, spicy minced meat, and Mexican spring rolls. While Tex-Mex condiments may be found throughout Texas and even nationwide, only San Antonio's Tex-Mex is considered the most authentic and flavorful. The renowned Culinary Institute of America is located here, making Antonio undoubtedly the perfect place in Latin America to develop high-quality Tex-Mex condiments. For example, there's the 24-hour Mi Tierra restaurant with the slogan "We Never Stop," and other popular restaurants like Rosario's. If you want to experience contemporary Latin American flavors, be sure to visit Nao, a restaurant owned by the Culinary Institute of America, as it's a San Antonio-based "King of Margaritas" magazine.
10. San Francisco: Home of Yeast Bread
Many breads in North America today are made with yeast. Yeast bread is made by mixing flour and water, and with the help of yeast bacteria, the dough slowly ferments using air. However, yeast bread only uses the initial portion of the dough; the remaining dough requires continuous addition of water and constant reaction between the yeast bacteria and air to continue fermenting. This bread-making method was introduced to San Francisco during the 19th-century gold rush. If you'd like to try it, pick out a loaf of bread from a top bakery in San Francisco and enjoy it with your favorite soup for a hearty meal!