What To Make For An All-american Meal In France?
February 12, 2010 by admin
Filed under Cajun Food FAQ
I’m spending my semester with a host family in France and they all really want me to cook an American meal. I want to, but I have no idea what to make. I need a main course, side dishes, and a dessert.
So what do you all think would be a unique, typical, American meal? (fyi: I’m from New York State, I know the region frequently matters on this. For example, though awesome, I’m not going to make creole food, that’s not something I would have back in the states.)
Any suggestions are welcome!
The Unknown Chef on Fri, 12th Feb 2010 3:13 pm
All of the people who answered have very creative answers, but fail to realize that some if not all there suggestions are impossible in France, they do sell the crap that is normal in the US, I would go for the apple pie, but use a selection of french apples, fried chicken is another idea, even a spaghetti with meat sauce, Europeans are not familiar with the US style meat sauce or meatballs.
I am a former chef from Canada and cooked in Hotels and was in France for awhile in the mid 1990′s, and try something that is easy and you can handle, if you could get you hands on some smoked deli meat to make a reuben sandwich there is another idea, but US style corned beef and pastrami is hard to come buy but french cooked ham would be a good substitute.
Cat on Fri, 12th Feb 2010 3:53 pm
When I was in Brazil, they were very curious about apple pie. They’d seen references to it in countless movies, but never tried it.
Find out if there are foods your host family has wondered about, then see if you can incorporate those foods into the meal.
I’d guess a meat and potatoes with veggies meal would be most “American”. Maybe meatloaf? Mashed potatoes? I suppose you can’t get sweet corn. In Brazil, corn was for animals, and my Brazilian “brother” who came to the US thought we’d sweetened the corn ourselves! LOL
Email me if I can help further.
christnp on Fri, 12th Feb 2010 4:02 pm
I would bake chicken pieces and brush bbq sauce on them (or grill it if that’s an option) . Serve with potato salad, cole slaw, bbq baked beans. Substitute ribs for the chicken if you want.
Strawberry shortcake for dessert. Apple pie is associated with America, but it’s very common in Europe and originates from Germany.
If that menu sounds too summary, then make a thanksgiving dinner. You can roast a large chicken if a turkey is too much. Serve with pumpkin pie (bring the canned pumpkin with you because you probably won’t be able to find it over there).
Antony on Fri, 12th Feb 2010 6:03 pm
unique and typical?
hmmm well..
Main course:
Burgers (w/ or w/out cheese) + lettuce,onions,ketchup, and mustard
Ribs *(better idea in my opinion)*
Side dish:
Sweet potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Mac N’ Cheese
*All great ideas*
Dessert:
Cheesecake with a scoop of ice cream
Brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Key Lime Pie
*All Great Ideas*
just a few ideas, hope i helped.
Einass on Fri, 12th Feb 2010 10:03 pm
Sounds like a really sweet idea! Here are some ideas for food:
, fried chicken, greens, Chili, Seafood Gumbo, Potato Salad, Cornbread….
Main course and side dishes: Chicken pot pie, Meatloaf, HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS
Desserts: Apple Pie, CHEESECAKE! (because you’re a New Yorker), Red Velvet Cake, Brownies….
Just check out this website..it will give you more ideas! Good luck!
http://www.seriouseats.com/talk/2008/11/3-course-all-american-meal.html
Lepke on Fri, 12th Feb 2010 11:28 pm
hamburgers or hot dogs, potato chips, ice cream
fried chicken, mashed potatoes, brownies a la mode
chicken salad, potato chips, apple pie
wowzer on Sat, 13th Feb 2010 2:44 am
I would suggest Fried Chicken with Macaroni and Cheese. It should be easy to find all the indredients for these. For dessert, Apple Pie or Peach Cobbler maybe.