Lecture on the History and Evolution of American Foods

Introduction

• Many popular American foods have foreign origins and were adapted over time.
• Examples include hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, fried chicken, and sandwiches.

The Hot Dog

• Originated as simple sausages, known since ancient times.
• German immigrants brought the frankfurter to America in the 19th century.
• The bun was added to sausages in the late 1800s, becoming the hot dog.
• Coney Island's Charles Feltman and later Nathan Handwerker popularized hot dogs.
• Nathan's Famous hot dogs became iconic, aided by marketing stunts and popularity among celebrities.

Pizza

• Ancient Greeks and Romans had early forms of pizza without cheese.
• Neapolitans added tomatoes, eventually creating the iconic Margherita pizza.
• Gennaro Lombardi started the first pizzeria in America, in New York.
• Pizza evolved with regional variations like Chicago's deep-dish pizza.
• Pizza chains like Pizza Hut and Domino’s promoted pizza nationwide.

The Hamburger

• Traced back to the Mongolian Tartars and later, German sailors.
• Became a sandwich in America, with multiple claims to its invention.
• White Castle modernized burgers with cleanliness and marketing.
• McDonald's later revolutionized the industry with fast service and franchising.

Fried Chicken

• Likely introduced by African slaves familiar with deep frying.
• Colonel Harland Sanders popularized fried chicken with KFC and franchising.

The Sandwich

• Named after the 4th Earl of Sandwich in England.
• Peanut butter and jelly became a quintessential American sandwich.
• Sliced bread and Wonder Bread revolutionized sandwich-making.
• Regional sandwich variations developed, often tied to immigrant communities.

Chinese-American Cuisine

• Cantonese immigrants introduced Chinese food to America.
• Dishes were adapted, like chop suey, to fit American tastes.
• Fortune cookies originated in California, not China.
• Chinese food evolved with American influence, becoming popular as takeout.

Ice Cream

• Embraced in America due to innovations like hand-cranked ice cream makers.
• Soda fountains in pharmacies popularized ice cream sodas.
• Ice cream cones and novelties like Eskimo Pies and Good Humor bars emerged.
• The 1920s and Prohibition boosted ice cream's popularity.

Conclusion

• American cuisine is characterized by its adaptability and diversity.
• Foods that are now considered quintessentially American often have rich histories involving immigrant influence and innovation.