We asked a group of Canadians what uniquely American foods they could easily do without, and these were some of the answers we got back.
Deep-fried butter
Deep-fried butter became famous at American state fairs, where vendors from the Midwest and South go head-to-head every year trying to create the most outrageous foods imaginable.
The concoction features frozen butter covered in batter and then deep-fried so that the outside is crispy and the inside is melted. While many claim it tastes rich and delicious, Canadians felt that deep-fried butter took fair food too far.
Turducken
Turducken is three birds cooked together. There is a chicken inside of a duck inside of a turkey. Turducken was made popular through American football games and cooking shows during Thanksgiving dinner.
Canadians love their turkey day grub as much as anyone. But the difficulty in preparing and carving it, not to mention its massive size, makes them question why anyone would go through the trouble of making one to begin with.
Fried Kool-Aid
Fried Kool-Aid first became popular at American fairs, where vendors constantly try new gimmicks to catch customers’ attention. Mixed with batter, Kool-Aid powder is deep-fried into tiny balls and rolled in sugar. Purportedly, they have a bright color and sweet, fruity taste that will satisfy adventurous palates.
Garbage plate
Created in Rochester, New York, the Garbage Plate is a regional concoction of several comfort foods piled on one plate. Common toppings are home fries, macaroni salad, burger or hot dog, baked beans, onions, and a unique meat sauce. It was intended to feed factory workers and college students with cheap calories.
Canadians respect the ingenuity behind the plate, but admit it usually looks like several meals dumped together accidentally rather than with any sense of aesthetics.
Biscuits and chocolate gravy
Chocolate gravy has been consumed for generations in parts of Appalachia and the American South. Prepared with cocoa, sugar, butter, and milk, chocolate gravy is poured over soft biscuits and eaten for breakfast.
Canadians are no strangers to sweet breakfast foods (pancakes, maple syrup, etc.), but chocolate gravy is almost unknown north of the border.
Scrapple
Scrapple was invented by German immigrants in Pennsylvania as a method of using all of the pig. Pork scraps are mixed with cornmeal, spices, and broth. This mixture is then molded into a loaf, sliced, and fried.
Many love the crunchy outside and rich flavor, but no one tries scrapple after they know what it’s made of. Canadians like cutting down on wasted food as much as anyone else, but most believe there are simpler ways to use pork for breakfast.
Pickle pizza
Pickles on pizza seem to be gaining traction in American restaurants lately, specifically mid-west style pizza joints.
After rolling out the pizza dough, pizza chefs pile on sliced dill pickles, cheese, and typically a garlic or ranch-infused sauce. There are many people who swear by pickle pizza, and many people who cannot stand it.
Livermush
Livermush is particularly associated with North Carolina, where it is commonly served fried for breakfast, along with eggs and grits.
Made with pig liver, pork parts, cornmeal, and spices, livermush developed out of using every possible part of the pig. Livermush is even celebrated with festivals in some communities.
Frito pie
Frito Pie consists of corn chips topped with chili con carne, melted cheese, onions, and other toppings. This dish is popular at sporting events, fairs, and casual occasions throughout portions of the American Southwest.
Versions served directly into a partially opened bag of chips are common as well. Canadians generally like both chili and nachos, but they don’t really need the two combined into one portable snack.
Luther burger
The Luther Burger gets recognition for its substitution of a hamburger bun with two glazed doughnuts.
There are few meals quite as iconic or divisive as sweet doughnuts piled high with beef, cheese, and bacon. Fans love the sweet and savoury contrast, while others doubt the creation should ever have been attempted.
Chitlins
Chitlins (or chitterlings) are pig intestines that have been cleaned and cooked. They have been eaten for generations in Southern America. It is considered a soul food dish.
Pig intestines take hours to clean and cook properly, making them a labour-intensive meal. Though delicious, the distinct smell and texture alone is enough to keep chitlins as a cuisine unique to American culture.
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