Many French people who’ve asked me this question are so disappointed when I DON’T say, “hamburgers.”

What is Typical American Cuisine? This is one of the hardest questions posed to me in France. I always have a truly tiresome time getting my answer fully understood and my points across. Here’s why.

As a kid growing up in L.A. we had lots of fresh veggies, and also shellfish and other kinds of seafood since a fisherman would bring his fresh catch of the day to our house every week. Monday, was “coincidentally” when some of my friends would show up at my house. A good day for sashimi! We didn’t eat huge amounts of red meat in our diet because my mother cooked primarily vegetarian or fish dishes, or dishes that included just a little red meat. That was typical grub for me in California.

My friend, Art, whose parents are originally from the Philippines ate stuff like Dinuguan (pig blood soup), pansit (noodly yummy chicken dish), roasted porc, lumpia (fried spring rolls), among other delicious meals. For special occasions, his family would roast a whole pig all day in a pit in their backyard. I LOVED going to his house for dinner! I especially like the smokey version of the dessert, flan. It was so different from what we ate at home and his mom was an excellent cook, just like my mom is. Art ate what I feel is typical for an American with Philippino parents – though entirely different from what I ate growing up.

Another friend of mine ate Mexican food with her family, as often as we ate Japanese food. Tortillas were served with every meal, most of her meals included beans. They ate goat meat at times and again, I loved being invited to dinner to experience something good and different from home. Again, I find this very typical.

Other typical “American” cuisine would be spaghetti and meatballs, perhaps, or just basic meat and potatoes kinds of meals. But guess what? Some people eat all kinds of different foods, like the foods above I’ve described. That is typical. You see, there are regional foods in the U.S. All of that is typical. For where I grew up, the wide varieties of cuisine from other countires were and are extremely typical, for at least where I lived in California. Someone else from L.A. might have the same answer as someone from the south. “Typical” you see, will vary.

You get it, right? Everything, from gumbo, sushi, and roast beef to pho, black beans and rice and chicken mole are typical. That is the beauty of American cuisine. It can be anything.

By the way, I never answer, “Hot dogs and apple pie.”

Since a country like the U.S., is relatively new, (especially when compared to countries thousands of years old solidly steeped in unchanging tradition), and is made up of immigrants (and their descendants) from all over the world, the result of this melting pot effect leaves but a country where tradition is as colorful and varied as the faces across America.

So, after my explanation, the response from most people is, “Oh. So there is no such thing as typical American food.”

Have you listened to one word that I just said?

I give up.

Typical American cuisine is: hamburgers, and that is all we Americans eat – at every meal, every day. 365 days a year. I hope you are happy now.