Any “best of” list is bound to leave at least a few people calling out items they feel should have been included, and a new list of the 20 Greatest American Food Dishes from CNN Travel is no exception. It even begins with a disclaimer of sorts, as if it knows the controversy it could kick off. “Americans have come up with a lot of incredible foods,” it reads. “Does this list satisfy your appetite? Or have we frankly left out one of your favorites?”
- This last line could be taken as a swipe at the hot dog, which is surprisingly not part of their best American foods list.
- Apple pie makes the cut, as do barbecue and grits, but some folks are wondering why tacos and fried chicken aren’t part of it.
- CNN points out that America is a melting pot and so is its food, which explains why some dishes not created in the U.S. are on the list, like General Tso’s Chicken.
- Americans didn’t have to come up with the dish for it to be included, some are foods we’ve reinvented as our own.
The 20 Greatest American Food Dishes, According to CNN
- Barbecue
- Fried okra
- Cobb salad
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
- Fry bread
- Red beans and rice
- Hamburger
- Apple pie
- Poke
- Chili
- Clam chowder
- General Tso’s chicken
- Reuben sandwich
- Grits
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Gumbo
- Mission burrito
- Banana pudding
- Spaghetti and meatballs
- Eggs Benedict
Source: CNN