Foods You Didn't Realize Were Invented In America
Foods You Didn't Realize Were Invented In America
Americans love their food—whether savory or sweet, a juicy steak or a perfectly barbecued pig roast, they rarely pass up an opportunity to devour deliciousness—but what about foods that were created (or certainly popularized) in the United States? Let's take a look at foods invented in America.
Hamburger
The humble hamburger has a mixed history, with claims made by Germany that they were the first country to invent the iconic American dish.
But Americans steadfastly claim to be the first inventor of putting a ground beef patty between two pieces of bread, although the name is thought to be associated with a European emigrant's last port before leaving Europe: the German city of Hamburg.
A man named Fletcher Davis from Athens, TX, is credited with inventing the "hamburger" during the 1880s.
Corn Dog
Batter a hotdog in cornmeal and deep fry it? That ain't nothin' but a corn dog! Its origins stretch back to 1924, when Francis Matson filed a patent for the classic American breaded dog, minus the stick.
In 1929, Stanley S Jenkins filed a second patent for the corn dog that featured the stick necessary for deep frying. Many others have since filed different patents laying claim to the corn dog.
S'mores
Give us s'more of those melted marshmallow things that are a diabetes sandwich. S'mores are something of a campfire classic—with origins stretching back to a 1927 Girl Scout handbook, wherein the original recipe can be found. Loretta Scoot Crew, Troop Leader, gets the credit for inventing the s'more.
Chimichanga
Ever wondered what might happen to a burrito if you fried it? Monica Flin found out in 1922, as she was cooking in her Tucson, AZ restaurant and accidentally tossed a burrito into a deep fryer. She stopped herself from swearing in frustration (as there were children nearby), and instead yelled "Chimichanga!" which translates (roughly) to "whatchamacallit". Thus, the infamous name was born.
