American Grub

You don't really know your own country until you leave it. In the same way, you don't really know your country's food until you stop eating it.

When we first arrived in London I was curious to learn what kind of food the Brits define as American. Bad news bears. The good US of A hasn't added much variety to the culinary delicacies of the world (which probably doesn't come as a shock to most of you.) Take this picture, for example. This is the official "American" section of the Sainsbury's grocery shop we visit. On its shelves are red, white and blue colored packages filled with southern fried chicken with fries, jambalaya, cheese and bacon potato skins, chicken fajitas, and crispy coated mushrooms. Other American foods you can find in London include Oscar Meyer bacon (skinnier and leaner than the British bacon, which is labeled "streaky"--a nice visual for my friend Alaina who has an affectionate affinity for pigs), steak, burgers and tex mex. And if for some reason you're crazy enough to crave California wine when French and Italian is just a counter away, you can order a robust Fetzer to quench your thirst.

Needless to say, I'm thankful to globalization for expanding America's taste.