Food!

When planning my trip in the USA, I thought I would only be eating burgers and fries - and pancakes drowned in maple syrup for breakfast.
While these have been part of my diet, I've also come across other delicacies. Today I'm taking you for a visit of American gastronomy!

Stopover 1: Before the arrival of settlers.

In the past, the indigenous peoples of North America had a rich cuisine based on corn, beans, squash, fish, game meat, and berries.

What I tasted and loved at the Minneapolis restaurant was the corn and squash soup with a mixture of dried meat and fat, called pemmican, and cornbread.

Stopover 2: The European colonies.

In the 17th century, the English, Spanish, and French brought their culinary traditions, such as bread, cheese, salt pork, etc. However, the Americans had to adapt to local products, which then created a fusion. Unfortunately, this also marked the beginning of the southern plantations with slavery, but it also introduced African culinary traditions, such as okra and rice and beans.

So I ate roast turkey with colonial stew and Creole gumbo.

Stopover 3: Westward expansion and the melting pot.

Here in the West, pioneers cooked over an open fire with beans, bacon, and country bread. Meanwhile, the Germans brought the sausage: hot dogs. And the Chinese opened restaurants.

I loved eating Texan BBQ, hot dogs, chop suey, rustic apple pie, and more.

Stopover 4: The 20th century and fast food.

In the 1950s, fast food exploded: burgers, fries, XXL sodas. This was the beginning of McDonald's, KFC, and Coca-Cola.

I think everyone knows the menu of these fast food restaurants, but my favorites are the cheeseburgers, milkshakes, buckets of fried chicken, and macaroni and cheese.

Stopover 5: Today.

These days, America is rediscovering its roots. We're seeing a boom in food trucks, organic and vegetarian cuisine, and revisited recipes from around the world. Mexican, Asian, and Caribbean influences are everywhere.

What you should try: Korean tacos, vegan burgers, avocado bowls, modernized okra, and smoked brisket.

Conclusion

What I took away from this trip is that American cuisine isn't just fast food: it's all about history, culture, struggle, and innovation. Every restaurant, every bite, tells a story. So, are you ready to take your own culinary road trip?