What American foods should I try?

[LSUDis]

Try the bottomless milkshakes at Whispering Canyon.

Try the chocolate Ding Dongs made by Hostess...you can buy them at Walmart or convenience stores.

Try some Cajun foods--boudin, etouffee, gumbo, stuffed crab, boiled crawfish, etc.

Try country cooking--meatloaf, chicken-fried steak, fried okra, fried zucchini, fried chicken (see why Americans are overweight???)

Any ice cream...I recommend Blue Bell brand (buy at Walmart or any grocery store)

 

[Yensid_MD]

Krispy Kreme Donuts...the best!

 

[TSirgey]

I vote for the burger, fries and milkshake. What is more American?

The waffles and icecream is truly an awesome experience. I'm from PA, so I also will promote the funnelcakes. They are a wonderful treat.

We are not very health conscience in America (especially when we are on vacation). However, I was impressed with the fresh fruit selection throughout the parks. Animal Kingdom sells big chunks of pineapple and other fruit in the Africa section. It was awesome!!

 

[bavaria]

We have only just got oreos (YUM!) here and want to try other foods

Didn't read the rest of the thread, but this brought back memories!! I remember my first taste of Oreo's as an adult.

And just last night I was wondering:

- why do the original Oreo's take way better in Canada, but the golden Oreo's are better in the US???

The golden Oreo's are what the girl guide vanilla cookies used to taste like in Canada (ie the American golden Oreo's = the old Canadian girl guide vanilla cookies)

 

[Karibeth19]

. Most people wouldn't eat peanut butter and jam (jelly) either.

I just can't wrap my brain around that one! PB&J's are one of the greatest culinary pleasures life has to offer! Yum!!!!

I have a good friend who grew up here in the States, but has lived in Australia for the past 10 years. I'm curious now; I'll have to ask her if she feeds her kids PB&J.

 

[Ali]

Is MILO in a yellowish can and sold near the powdered o r asceptic milk boxes? I think that's what it's called - I'll check again next time I go.
All I can say is eat a pretzel dipped in hot cheese sauce out at the Pinnochio resturant - it is my favorite food at MK!

 

[bavaria]

After moving back to Germany as an adult, I used to visit the American PX and buy canned tuna fish and peanut butter.

My neighbours would ask me to make my 'exotic' dishes - ie tuna salad and broccoli with cheese sauce, both of which I had learned to make in North America!!!

My mother would mail me peanut butter bars from Purdy's Chocolates in Canada (peanut butter whipped with white chocolate, surrounded by milk chocolate) which would gross everyone out - peanuts are considered a savoury item not to be mixed with sweets. Milka Chocolate in Switzerland used to make a peanut and milk chocolate bar - I swear that I was the only one who ever bought it!

As for PBandJ, most german kids eat Nutella on their bread (chocolate hazelnut spread). I remember being such an oddity at school in Canada, bring 'chocolate sandwiches!'

 

[bavaria]

Grits with butter and salt...mmmm...or butter, salt, and cheese. Yum! Also, hash brown potatoes. Both grits and hash browns are generally considered breakfast food, but my mother-in-law (who is from the Deep South) makes amazing jalapeno cheese grits to go with boiled shrimp.

I remember my first trip to Virginia and being fascinated with the grits aisle in the supermarket!!!

I am still learning to be an American transplant - this year I went to Waffle House , IHOP, Subway all for the first time!

 

[nocnurse]

Clam chowder (pronounced chowdah). New England style, not Manhatten.

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

I think the Liberty Tree tavern in the MK, between fantasyland and frontierland serves an American Thanksgiving Family style dinner.

Turkey
Stuffing
pot roast
mashed potatoes
gravy
rolls

Just like Grandma makes at Thanksgiving!

 

[Kapp]

they serve them at Port Orleans....a muffaletta!!!! An INCREDIBLE sandwich with different kinds of meat, cheese and a green olive salad on top.
HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ncbyrne]

Your trip will be during the Food and Wine Festival in Epcot. There will lots of great foods to try! That's when we'll be there too! Looking forward to a wonderful vacation.

 

[JeanJoe]

Oh, but this is not a good thread to read when you're trapped in a call room and hungry.

It won't help necessarily for a trip to WDW, but "American foods" is hard! Some would say that it depends on where in America. When I was interviewing across the country a few years ago, I used a food guide and tried to eat something "special" to the region where I was, for example:

- Boston: ice cream from Toscanini's, Herrels, and Christina's
- Philadelphia: Philly cheese steak (with Velveeta)
- Chicago: stuffed pizza from Giordano's, Chicago hot dog (oh, but they are so good)
- Seattle: a nice salmon
- San Francisco: East-West fusion cuisine
- New York: thin slice pizza (I prefer Chicago's...)

Someday, I want to visit the Carolinas, Memphis, Texas, etc. for "real BBQ." That's probably another "real American food."

Scrapple is... interesting...

Here in Boston, I'm so psyched we now have Krispy Kremes! Before, I had to either be visiting NY, or at the Orlando airport, where they've got one. Donut theater is great, watching the donuts "born".

When at WDW 2 weeks ago (sigh...), I discovered the Strawberry Swirl between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland for the first time. Had to go back the next day to get another.

I'm hungry. Very hungry...

 

[jmminarik]

- Philadelphia: Philly cheese steak (with Velveeta)

Heretic!

A true cheesesteak can be made with Cheese Whiz, but never Velveeta.

Well, I think it should always be provolone and american is also an acceptable option, but some folks around here do like liquid synthetic cheese. Just boggles my mind with all the great provolones to which we have access.

-Joe

 

[JeanJoe]

Heretic!

A true cheesesteak can be made with Cheese Whiz, but never Velveeta.

Actually, you might be right -- it's been a while. Seeing as you're from Philly, what's the name of the tourist trap that's famous for their cheesesteaks? Because that's where I went... I believe it's on a corner, has additional space upstairs to eat... I can't remember, but I think I'd recognize the name.

Oh, and are hoagies a Philly thing? When I was in high school in central Jersey, we would always get hoagies.

And I'm still hungry...

 

[jmminarik]

what's the name of the tourist trap that's famous for their cheesesteaks? Oh, and are hoagies a Philly thing? When I was in high school in central Jersey, we would always get hoagies.

There are 3 primary shops in or near centercity: Pat's, Geno's and Jim's. Jim's is probably the place you're thinking.

Hoagies are another Philadelphia tradition. The best use imported Italian lunchmeats and cheeses and good Italian rolls. That's what seperates them from the heroes, submarine sandwiches , Po' boys, and the other regional lunchmeat sandwiches.

Someone mentioned peanuts and chocolates. That's a lesser known Philly regional specialty. Goldenberg's Peanut Chews are a mixture of peanuts, molasses and dark chocolate. They're now owned by the same people who make the Marshmallow Peeps, and they're pushing Milk Chocolate Chews so that's what you're more likely to find outside of the Philadelphia region. That is like Guinness selling a light version of their Stout. It just isn't the same.

Finally, there are the products of the Tasty Baking company. Just about everyone has a particular favorite TastyKake. I lean towards the Buttercotch Krimpets and the Tasty-Klair pie. Blows away the nationally distributed baked goods, because as every Philadelphian knows, Nobody bakes a cake as tasty as a Tastykake. You can now order them online.

No point in mentioning pretzels...they're not available outside of the metropolitan area, and quite frankly, not really all that available outside of the city proper.

-Joe

 

[JeanJoe]

Phew!! What a relief. I checked out some pictures of Jim's, and indeed, that was the place, and I can stop doing cheesesteak penance now, because indeed it was Cheez Whiz and not... the other product...

(Now you'll have to forgive me: years agol, I was horrified when I first learned that they put Cheez Whiz on the cheesesteaks, but looking around at the satisfied customers at Jim's, I tried it "properly" anyhow.)

Now to get back on topic: yes, the OP could get a cheesesteak at WDW (we got one at Roaring Forks Snacks at the Wildnerness Lodge), it was good, but it wasn't a Philly cheesesteak.

It's kind of fun, thinking of the OP visiting WDW for "American Food", whereas one of the highpoints of our visit to WDW is to go to Epcot IS. We usually try to head to Morocco, get a great meal with live bellydancing, and finish off with their mint tea.

 

[minkydog]

I haven't read all the threads(most,though) and i can't remember anyone recommending collard greens. It is very much a southern U.S. dish. If you have the chance to visit a Cracker Barrel restaurant you could get a taste for southern food done right--pinto beans, country ham, chicken & dumplins, greens, fried apples. Plus you can listen to all the dulcimer music you can stand.Very southern.And they have great gift shops, so you can take home souveniers!

 

[Jrsy Boy]

Just about everyone has a particular favorite TastyKake.

And don't forget Birch Beer! If you go into a place outside of PA/NJ claiming to offer "real Philly cheesesteaks" but they've never heard of TastyKake or Birch Beer, turn around a walk right out. There is only one place in the Denver metro area where I can find Briar's Birch Beer and it is in a bottle. I grew up in NJ and you could find it in every grocery store (store brand or name brand) and on draft or at least in the soda fountain in many restaurants.

Sigh...

 

[bavaria]

I learned so much about American food by watching the Food Network (Canada). Even in Canada, we don't have a lot of those foods (but you don't have poutine, do you?!)

Now I love travelling and actually seeing all those places I heard about on Food Network!!!