What do you miss the most when you are abroad? Family, friends, football games, parties… and American food! You might enjoy certain aspects of the life abroad, but even the most adventuresome stomach misses the processed goodness of home.
In this era of globalization, different types of cuisine and restaurant brands are going global. But although you might find fast foods everywhere around the world, there are still certain American foods that are uncommon in other countries. Here are the foods oversea Yankees miss the most:
1. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is very difficult to find in Europe, as the average European eats less than 1 tablespoon of peanut butter a year. In Asia, eating peanut butter is regarded the same as eating junk food, because peanut butter contains lots of saturated fats and sodium. In cultures that promote light diet like Japan, peanut butter belongs to very “heavy diet” and it is bad for health.
2. BBQ
Missing barbecue is a serious condition. If you begin to lose your mind a little, you could buy a slow cooker and make your own. Barbecue traditions may not have originated in the U.S., but have become popular throughout the country. Our country has a long history of barbecue, which dates back to colonial times. It is hard to find a barbecue restaurant abroad, as barbecue is not the main cooking method.
3. Popcorn, salted popcorn
There are many wonderful alternative snacks around the world, but this is still the one that works the best while watching movies and TV shows. People in other countries eat popcorn, but those popcorns come with only one flavor – sweet. It is nearly impossible to find butter popcorn with a little bit salted taste, or original popcorn with no flavor.
4. Bagels
There is an old saying that there is something in the New York water that makes our bagels taste very unique. There are many ways to eat bagels while the most famous one is bagels with cream cheese! The sad news is bagels in foreign lands might as well be donuts.
5. Late Night Pizza
Well, American pizza is totally different than Italian pizza. Our pizza is about the atmosphere – a late night pizza when you finally finish your work, or come out from a club and feel like eating something heavy. Pizza shops abroad don’t open until midnight; and even if they do, you might not be happy with the sauce or the cheese or the crust or just the list of unacceptable toppings.
6. Ice!
Americans drink anything with ice! When you get your cup of Coke and the frozen cubes are not there, it just feels wrong. Like Christmas without the gifts and a Christmas tree. Asian culture prefers warm drinks. Well if you dine in Asia, you will get a glass of hot tea instead of an ice water.
7. Ketchup packets you don’t have to pay for
Ketchups are meant to be free, and meant to be in everywhere, right? In the U.S., every time you get fast food to go, you will take lots of ketchups with the food until you bag is full. However, in foreign countries, you should thank god if you don’t have to pay an extra fee for ketchups.
8. American Pancakes
Different countries have their own methods of making pancakes. For example, French crepe is one of the pancake categories. But for American pancake, we mean the thick batter contains eggs, flour, milk and a raising agent such as baking powder. Our pancakes are often served in a stack with syrup and butter. Pancake is the symbol of a classic American breakfast.
