The different cuisines of different countries/cultures fascinates me!
As a veggie I of course won't eat meat but otherwise happy to try whatever's going! (And I wonder why I'm fat! 😂)
I'm scots of Irish descent myself, yet still found it amazing just how many different ways Germans have found to prepare potatoes! My favourite I forget the name but it's sliced parboiled potatoes then baked in a strong garlic and herb cream sauce in the oven - yum! They use garlic in a lot of dishes!
I've yet to try many American dishes I should give them a whirl.
Watching masterchef junior recently I was surprised to learn that the waffles eaten with chicken are sweet! The sweet and savoury combo thing I'm not sure I'd like.
Think I'd like the green bean casserole though.
American relatives who came over once and stayed with other relatives were bewildered by Christmas pudding (it's the dad that's scots and he's not really one to cook).
Baked beans are a weird one, based originally on Boston baked beans yet now barely recognisable as a related item.
Was watching the last "inside the factory" which was on curry sauce - only to learn "curry" as a concept is an English/western thing that Asians would never say they're "eating curry" but that they were eating "jalfrezi" or whatever. Down to a misunderstanding as many of these things are. On that note it was weird to me that "Indian" food in other countries is different to "Indian" food in the uk - because the restaurateurs tweak to the tastes of the customers they're selling to - obvious really but I didn't realise until I went to live in Europe as an adult. Generally speaking in Germany more tomato and garlic, Netherlands like it spicier, Belgians like creamier, Brits like milder but more pungent flavours - just what I noticed.
Watergate salad - how on EARTH can that be described as a salad?! Much more a pudding/dessert.
"And she'd be the first to say that US food tastes/habits can vary enormously according to area and to put it bluntly, levels of education finances/social class.
I dare say the latter is largely true of the UK, too." It is - but usually in a slightly converse way ie poor tend to cook from scratch as it's cheaper than convenience foods, unless you're really poor (eg relying on food banks. Watching the energy use by the penny) then there tends to be higher use of very cheap poor quality convenience foods.
As a Scot I'm well used to the disgusted faces at the idea of haggis. While as a veggie I no longer eat the meat version I did used to enjoy it and still love a veggie version as its really the spices that make it. My English omni exh wasn't initially keen until my mum served him it without telling him exactly what it was, she just said a local meat dish quite spicy and she knew he liked spicy food. He LOVED it and thereafter encouraged friends, family and colleagues to at least try it.
People are too quick to decide they won't like something without even trying it.
As I said aside from the veggie aspect I'll try anything. So far the only things I've found I don't like are actually fairly boring - Brussels sprouts (and believe me I've tried them in ALL kinds of recipes and cooked different ways etc) and radishes.
When I was living in Germany loads of people said I'd struggle with the veggie thing - not at all! Umpteen potato dishes (filling) and wonderful ways with all sorts of other vegetables, veg casseroles & stews, veg pies and tarts...
Op - my mum makes home made mac cheese in the slow cooker. Has for many years. Yes, dried pasta but otherwise all from scratch, caramelised onions, with garlic and herbs in the base, pasta added then home made strong cheddar sauce. Not sure how long she cooks it exactly but on low several hours, then finishes it off with a mix of grated cheese and breadcrumbs sprinkled on top and grilled until golden brown and bubbly - lush!
Ihuntmonsters - peas are one of the things my dad used to grow. Fresh peas are way nicer than even quickly frozen high quality bought peas which are the next best.
As for what American food crosses to other countries it's less an export issue than an import one I'd have thought - as in what becomes well known/successful does so because people buy it.