What is it?

[+ GregM]

I'm on my way to work from the gym and on the bus I just past a restaurant with signage saying American fare. What is American fare? This country is such a jumbled up bunch of cultures from all over the world how can food be "American"? This really confuses me.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[MassageDrew]

I do see your point but maybe they just meant they serve your typical burger and fries. I doubt they meant anything racial. It’s not like asking a foreign-born US citizen to speak “American” for using his native tongue with his family LOL

[mike carey]

I'm on my way to work from the gym and on the bus I just past a restaurant with signage saying American fare. What is American fare? This country is such a jumbled up bunch of cultures from all over the world how can food be "American"? This really confuses me.

`American fare` is whatever the restaurant wants it to be.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

Interesting question, it is just like: “French food”. What is it?

 

When you are in France nobody uses the phrase “French food”, they say, this is a Corsican / Lyonnaise / Gascogne / Bourgogne / Savoy / Alsatian / Brittany dish.

 

I don’t think they think of these dishes as quintessentially “French”. Only abroad.

Edited August 3, 2018 by Tarte Gogo

[+ DERRIK]

Remember the “French fry” boycott ten years ago??

 

Maybe Trump will tariff Canadian bacon

[+ Tarte Gogo]

Remember the “French fry” boycott ten years ago??

Lol, that was funny. It harmed American potato farmers only!

[+ poolboy48220]

As I remember, it wasn't a boycott, just a refusal to call them "French". Wasn't the White House dining room serving "Freedom Fries" for a time?

[+ Tarte Gogo]

As I remember, it wasn't a boycott, just a refusal to call them "French". Wasn't the White House dining room serving "Freedom Fries" for a time?

Ah, no boycott then?

 

Well, given that the French consider them to be Belgian (if thick-cut), or American (if thin-cut like McDonald’s fries) I can’t inagine a single person in France cares what Americans call them.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

Ah, no boycott then?

 

Well, given that the French consider them to be Belgian (if thick-cut), or American (if thin-cut like McDonald’s fries) I can’t inagine a single person in France cares what Americans call them.

Correction: Except those trying to learn to speak American English of course.

[+ azdr0710]

Gee, was going to venture an answer, but now fear being called a politically incorrect bigot!!

[escortrod]

Burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs, BBQ ribs... There are plenty of dishes that are widely recognised as 'American', even if they originated elsewhere.

[Epigonos]

Escortrod nailed it. One other thing I might include would be casseroles/hot dishes. Another term that might be used interchangeable with American fare would be "comfort food".

Edited August 4, 2018 by Epigonos

[+ g56whiz]

Correction: Except those trying to learn to speak American English of course.

 

Tout le monde civilisé parle français!

 

The pool of those francophones trying to speak American English is I suspect quite small.

[+ g56whiz]

Burgers, fried chicken, hot dogs, BBQ ribs... There are plenty of dishes that are widely recognised as 'American', even if they originated elsewhere.

 

In fact I would claim that all food is American unless primarily identified with its originating culture. Spagetti is American: baked ziti not. Most chicken dishes are American except maybe coq au vin. Nachos are American: chorizo tacos less so. Etc.

[+ Reisr30]

American fare I usually interpret as comfort food (e.g. mac & cheese, burgers, etc.); essentially Diner food as we have on the east coast.

 

"New American" fare I think of upscale fusion restaurants or farm to table which is what some of them have renamed themselves...

[Rudynate]

Tout le monde civilisé parle français!

 

The pool of those francophones trying to speak American English is I suspect quite small.

 

In general, the French don't speak English very well, at least not nearly as well as the Dutch, the Germans, the Scandinavians, for example.

[+ oldNbusted]

In general, the French don't speak English very well, at least not nearly as well as the Dutch, the Germans, the Scandinavians, for example.

 

Someone once told me his problems were mostly that the Germans speak English perfectly well but pretend that they don't, while the French can barely speak English but pretend that they do.

 

(Massive generalizations for comedic effect)

[LaffingBear]

[Rudynate]

Someone once told me his problems were mostly that the Germans speak English perfectly well but pretend that they don't, while the French can barely speak English but pretend that they do.

 

(Massive generalizations for comedic effect)

I would say that a lot of Germans welcome opportunities to speak english

[+ g56whiz]

I would say that a lot of Germans welcome opportunities to speak english

My German friends tell me that they began English in a very early grade and that by middle school they had to declare whether their continued English classes would be in British or American English.

[Rudynate]

My German friends tell me that they began English in a very early grade and that by middle school they had to declare whether their continued English classes would be in British or American English.

 

As good as the Germans are, I think the Dutch are even better. Most Dutch speak English with no more than a trace of an accent.

[+ g56whiz]

As good as the Germans are, I think the Dutch are even better. Most Dutch speak English with no more than a trace of an accent.

And sometimes not even that.