Cravings from Overseas and a Hungry List of Recommendations
The inspiration for writing this comes from giving food recommendations for a dear friend of mine who frequently visits the US for work. What started out as generic staples became more specific. The longer I lived abroad, the more dreamy my nostalgia became. Perhaps this is the expat experience—I hate that word, by the way—missing or having nostalgia for home through food. There was a time when I was scrolling through forums searching for a Tex-Mex burrito in Japan. Or even now, I will wait over 40 minutes for Jollibee in Milan. Space in my suitcase was made for candy corn and rice krispies. And when I’d land, I’d have a set list of restaurants/foods I needed to try.
I once believed that American food was hard to define because, well, technically, a lot of it comes from somewhere else. But after being away from home for so long, I started concocting my own definitions. It’s the craving for a coke float. (Hey, at least this is me). And I definitely know what it’s not. One of my disappointments abroad has been when I order a banana split, but it’s made into a parfait.
America has a rich diversity of cuisines, which I often miss. Uniquely, as a Native New Yorker, I could go to Flushing for Korean Barbecue or Soup dumplings, then head back to my own neighborhood for pernil rice and beans for dinner. The food scenes are ever-changing and fusion is welcomed. This sentiment probably resonates the same if you grew up in or around a major US city. "What do you mean you haven’t tried X cuisine yet? We’re going."
From a pure health standpoint, American food does not have the best reputation, both inside and overseas. It’s often a running joke, with references to countless documentaries exposing American fast-food industries. Is the chicken really chicken? Apparently, our cheese is cartoonishly yellow. My stomach does not always agree with my desires. But sometimes I want to indulge in my Americore nostalgia that I know—at least briefly.
These are the first things I grab, the minute I land. And for my friends that visit America, these are my recommendations when you’re passing through.
Buffalo Wild wings
I have no interest in sports, but I am interested in American sports cuisine. Eight times out of ten, the first thing I do the minute I get off the plane is head to Buffalo Wild Wings. Buffalo wings themselves are dipped in hot sauce; however, at Wild Wings, there’s a variety of sauces available.
Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and Baskin Robbin’s cappuccino blast
Yes, I live in Italy, and I’m spoiled by the coffee culture. HOWEVER, it’s coffee, vanilla ice cream, milk, and ice, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon—the only cappuccino I will drink in the States.
Shake Shack
I almost titled this blog post with the disclaimer “—the opinions of an East coaster”. Shake Shack. Mushroom burgers oozed with cheese, along with more cheesy fries, anyone? (Me)
Levain Cookies
Another East Coast staple? I miss chocolate chip cookies all the time. My sister introduced this chain to me one visit to the States and I’ve been addicted ever since. Soft goodness on the inside.
Cuisine specific
Soul food
In retrospect, this is my strongest personal tie to my African American heritage. Because I grew up in a Filipino household, I rarely got to eat soul food. Still, I was only a few 6 train stops from the Black Mecca of the world, aka Harlem. I miss my pork ribs, cornbread, and red velvet cake, among others—an element of sweetness, even in the most savory of dishes.
Italian-American Cuisine.
You definitely can’t find an Italian-American restaurant in Italy. (Well, if you know a place, tell me—I’d be curious). In particular, I miss chicken parm and penne alla vodka. Arguably, Penne alla vodka has a debatable history, whether concocted in the US or Italy, but still, I have yet to see it on menus in the latter.