Before beginning, you should know that I'm no foodie. But I like the challenge of categorizing things, and this is my attempt to categorize America's signature foods. As a country of mutts, it should come as no surprise that our food is mutt-like, a fusion of cuisines stolen from around the world and then Americanized - almost always with regrettable consequences.
- 60s retro - Salisbury steak, casseroles, fondue, tomato soup, pimiento loaf, fruit cocktail, tater tots, Jello, Twinkies
- Afternoon tea - Red velvet cake, tomato sandwiches, tomato aspic
- BBQ (Texas, Carolina) - Brisket, pulled meats, pork/beef ribs, cole slaw
- Boardwalk/fair food - Coney dogs, corn dogs, boardwalk fries, popcorn, cotton candy, shaved ice
- Cajun breakfast (Louisiana) - Cafe au late, beignets
- Cajun dinner (Louisiana) - Muffuletta, po'boy, etouffee, red beans & rice
- Chinese fusion - Chop suey, chow mein, fried rice
- Colonial (Virginia) - Smoked ham, venison, game, peanut soup, cobbler, cider
- Crab feast (Maryland) - Steamed crabs, crab cakes
- Creole dinner (Louisiana) - Gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding
- Cuban fusion (Miami) - Cuban sandwich, Mofongo, plantains, key lime pie
- Deli food (New York)- Philly cheesesteak, sub sandwiches, ruebens, fried pickles, potato chips, bagels & lox, cheesecake
- Diner food - Meatloaf, hot dogs, tuna melts, grilled cheese sandwiches, BLTs, macaroni & cheese, onion rings, apple pie
- Fast food - Hamburgers/cheeseburgers, french fries, milkshakes, banana splits
- Fine dining - Delmonico steak, Caesar salad, baked Alaska, Manhattan cocktails
- Fish fry (New England) - Fried seafood, clam chowder, poutine
- Swedish/German fusion (Great Lakes) - Smoked salmon, pasties, Swedish meatballs, cheese curds, cherry pie
- Hawaiian/Polynesian-fusion (Hawaii) - Conch, Spam, poke bowls, poi
- Italian fusion - Pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli
- Midwestern food - Steak, prime rib, bison, potatoes, buckeyes
- Native American fusion - Frybread, corn on the cob, squash/pumpkin, fried green tomatoes, cornbread, jerky
- New Southern - Hot chicken, chicken & waffles, chicken-fried steak, buffalo wings
- Nouvelle cuisine (California) - California rolls, cioppino, fish tacos, cobb salad, avocado toast
- Picnic food - Fried chicken, macaroni salad, potato salad, devilled eggs, lemonade
- Puerto Rico/Caribbean fusion (Puerto Rico) - Pernil, jerk
- Seafood feast (Maine) - Steamed seafood, lobster rolls
- Soul food - Fried catfish, collard greens, hoppin' john (black-eyed peas)
- Southern/plantation breakfast - Biscuits & gravy, home fries, grits, fried apples
- Southern/plantation dinner - Sugar-cured ham, baked beans, boiled peanuts, peach cobbler, banana pudding, sweet tea
- Tex-Mex (Texas) - Tacos, chili, burritos, fajitas, nachos, Frito pie, chimichangas
- Thanksgiving traditional - Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes
