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U.S.A.

Food, Dining, & Drinks

Dining Etiquette

Dining in the U.S.A. varies from highly sophisticated to extremely informal and, fortunately, usually falls closer to the informal side of the spectrum. With a fast food culture growing and eating on the run popular, eating as you walk or in the company of others isn't considered rude. While eating in quick service restaurants essentially means there are no true dining rules.

In more formal settings, place your napkin on your lap, wait to eat until everyone is served, and use your silverware (cutlery) from the outside in. These rules also apply if you're a guest at anyone's house, although there may be appetizers you can snack on without waiting, plus some people are extremely informal so just follow your host's lead.

If dining as a guest at someone's house, always arrive on time, bring a small gift (or a dish if asked), and follow the host's traditions; this could mean a pre-meal prayer or toasts, which are typically limited only to the host, but if others join in, all are welcome to participate. It is also not considered rude to turn down a dish that does not appeal to you, however do so quietly and ask for another dish instead. Once you have food on your plate, it is considered polite to finish everything you have taken; leaving food can implied that the food was not satisfactory, unless of course, you're on your third helping.

If dining out, who pays for dinner varies greatly based upon the company. For business dinners the inviter typically pays the entire bill. For a more informal or friendly meal there are no set rules. Although the host may pay the entire bill, you should offer to contribute money and, many times, the offer will be accepted or the bill will be divided evenly among all guests.

For restaurant tipping information, read U.S.A.'s Expenses & Tipping section.

History & Influences

American food begins with the American Indians (Native Americans), who primarily lived off the land and farmed basic crops. They ate whatever was native to their particular region, from berries and fruits to small game animals and buffalo.

When the English arrived, they tried to copy their traditional foods from England and, through trade, did a fairly good job in this goal. However, they also made a number of substitutions, eating local meats and fruits if they were similar to what they were used to. They also brought with them cooking styles from the British Isles.

As technology grew and life became more hectic, mass food production hit the U.S.A. by storm. Cereals became popular, fast food restaurants popped up, and the coffee craze hit the country. During this same time, the U.S.A. has been an immigrant destination, causing modern American food to be little more than alterations on ethnic dishes or combinations of these same dishes. Today, quick service restaurants can be found everywhere, every large city boasts dozens of ethnic restaurants, each region claims local dishes and specialties, and more upscale restaurants claiming they serve "American Fusion" can mean just about anything.

Staple Foods

Being a country of immigrants, there are no staple foods that exist across the U.S.A.. Many of the immigrants and American Indians, however have staples, from rice for many Asian immigrants to corn tortillas for Hispanic immigrants.

Regional Varieties & Specialties

BBQ: popular everywhere, but centered in Memphis, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; & Texas
California: fresh ingredients and Asian foods dominate here
Chicago: famous hot dogs, Italian sausage, and deep dish pizza
Hawai'i: focused on pork products and a local root called taro, today Asian immigrants have altered the food even more
Louisiana: Cajun cooking (essentially French influenced with more rice and seafood) rules here and includes po'boys, jambalaya, and gumbo to name just a couple
Midwest: known for their meats, cheeses, and dishes based on Germany, Irish, and Polish foods
New England: on the sea, their food is based on multiple fish and shellfish
New York City: well known for their Kosher delis, pizza, hot dogs, and ethnic foods
Philadelphia: cheese steaks rule here; traditionally served with beef, fried onions, and cheese whiz on Italian bread
South-Western: similar to Mexican food, but typically with more meat and more inventive as each chef tries to create his own dish
Southern: also known as comfort food, some of the favorites include cornbread, pecan pie, and fried chicken
Tex-Mex: a name given to foods that are influenced by Texas and Mexico; popular in Texas, the southwest, and California

Drinks

Americans drink just about every type of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink depending on personal taste. Wine, beer, and hard liquors are all popular.

This page was last updated: July, 2011