If you were teaching a class abroad and wanted to prepare an American meal for your students...

[Hammyton]

I am teaching a summer course in Beijing to help some Chinese graduate students develop their oral English skillz, but I'm also trying to familiarize them with American culture.

I figure it'd be a fun thing to do to maybe prepare a simple American snack or dish and let them sample it...I already thought of PBJ but as it turns out foreigners think peanut butter is disgusting and i can't even find it in any stores. They also have access to KFC/McD's/Pizza Hut so things like burger and pizza are out of the question.

I'm just looking for any suggestions or ideas that anyone can think of...

Thanks for any input or suggestions!

 

[jme5343]

Maybe something like a pot roast w/ all the veggies. Potatoes, carrots, etc. Pretty easy to make in a crock pot.

Maybe some kind of casserole, unsure as to whether they do casseroles there.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Originally posted by: jmebonner
Maybe something like a pot roast w/ all the veggies. Potatoes, carrots, etc. Pretty easy to make in a crock pot.

Maybe some kind of casserole, unsure as to whether they do casseroles there.

mmmm....

*gets even more hungry*

 

[FallenHero]

steak

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: Hammyton
I figure it'd be a fun thing to do to maybe prepare a simple American snack or dish and let them sample it...I already thought of PBJ but as it turns out foreigners think peanut butter is disgusting and i can't even find it in any stores. They also have access to KFC/McD's/Pizza Hut so things like burger and pizza are out of the question.

I had peanut butter when I was in China and that was over a decade ago

the pot roast sounds pretty good. casserole might be too "different".

 

[LongCoolMother]

ironic....Ive been in China for the past 2 weeks.

anyway,

Chinese people traditionally don't eat cheese (or use cheese in dishes) or many dairy products for that matter. something with cheese would be a fresh experience.

or maybe even a nicely cooked steak. chinese people dont eat our type of STEAKS!!! mmmm

EDIT: Im actually in my hotel room in jiuzhaigou right now. Ive been traveling the far deep eastern region of china lately. Including some extremely rural areas in Yunnan.

 

[jagec]

Except a lot of them might be lactose intolerant, so keep that in mind.

 

[notfred]

Apple pie. Not really a meal, but still.

 

[Baked]

Eggs, sausage, bacon. And a roll of TUMS for the post meal heartburn.

 

[Hammyton]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
ironic....Ive been in China for the past 2 weeks.

anyway,

Chinese people traditionally don't eat cheese (or use cheese in dishes) or many dairy products for that matter. something with cheese would be a fresh experience.

or maybe even a nicely cooked steak. chinese people dont eat our type of STEAKS!!! mmmm

EDIT: Im actually in my hotel room in jiuzhaigou right now. Ive been traveling the far deep eastern region of china lately. Including some extremely rural areas in Yunnan.

I actually went to Yunnan two years ago and it was beautiful, make sure you go to Lijiang at night, there's that one old city just filled with shops that come alive at night! The cheese thing is a good idea, maybe grilled cheese?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
ironic....Ive been in China for the past 2 weeks.

anyway,

Chinese people traditionally don't eat cheese (or use cheese in dishes) or many dairy products for that matter. something with cheese would be a fresh experience.

or maybe even a nicely cooked steak. chinese people dont eat our type of STEAKS!!! mmmm

EDIT: Im actually in my hotel room in jiuzhaigou right now. Ive been traveling the far deep eastern region of china lately. Including some extremely rural areas in Yunnan.

They don't know how to eat Prime Rib. They eat steak, but more like short ribs and stuff. It's all inthe sauce they have too, and they love the hot plate steaks.

IMO the best steak is still prime rib done medium rare, but Asian steak is nice too.

Asians really hate cheese and milk, so I think some of that DEEP DISH PIZZA would be awesome.

 

[UncleWai]

Prime rib or a stuffed turkey with cranberry sauce. It's hard to find a prime roast cut of beef though, I can't even find one in Hong Kong. Oh, and don't forget apple pie.

 

[sandorski]

Hot Dogs and Hamburgers.

 

[Squisher]

Aren't pot roasts of English origin?


The stuffed turkey idea sounded more uniquely American to me.

 

[fitzov]

Tough one. all the good stuff comes from immigrants' recipes. I would try some fowl with native vegetables, like squash, potatoes, and corn.

 

[sixone]

Meat loaf and mashed potatoes.

Fried chicken and corn on the cob.

 

[Hammyton]

I decided on taking them to a foreign Pizza joint, thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[axelfox]

Grilled Cheese sammich. Oh wait, they don't eat cheese.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: sixone
Meat loaf and mashed potatoes.

Fried chicken and corn on the cob.

:thumbsup:

With apple pie for desert.


<-----not American but thats what I 'd think of as American food.

Or Chowder, or anything Cajun.

Damn getting hungry now

 

[Savarak]

southern fried chicken and corn on the cob is definatly authentic american food

or texas country fried steak and mashed potatoes...

 

[montanafan]

How about different foods from different regions of the U.S. ?

Philly Cheesesteak
Grits (they may never forgive you)
Fried chicken and biscuits or cornbread
Shrimp Gumbo
Clam Chowder
Pecan Pie
Tex-Mex
Buckwheat pancakes
Shoofly Pie
Fried Green Tomatoes
Jambalaya
Lobster roll
Candied yams
Sweet potato pie
Key Lime Pie
Chicken and Dumplings
Egg Cream

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: montanafan
How about different foods from different regions of the U.S. ?

Philly Cheesesteak
Grits (they may never forgive you)
Fried chicken and biscuits or cornbread
Shrimp Gumbo
Clam Chowder
Pecan Pie
Tex-Mex
Buckwheat pancakes
Shoofly Pie
Fried Green Tomatoes
Jambalaya
Lobster roll
Candied yams
Sweet potato pie
Key Lime Pie
Chicken and Dumplings
Egg Cream

Awwww man, now I'm starving :frown:


Although I haw no idea what Shoofly Pie is

 

[DrPizza]

Simple:

Cook some good homemade hamburgers, pizza, or fried chicken.

Yes, I read that they have access to KFC, McD's, and Pizza Hut. Give them the opportunity to realize that food from those places is a very crappy version of otherwise American faire.

 

[Savarak]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Simple:

Cook some good homemade hamburgers, pizza, or fried chicken.

Yes, I read that they have access to KFC, McD's, and Pizza Hut. Give them the opportunity to realize that food from those places is a very crappy version of otherwise American faire.

even their KFC, MCD and PH food would be mediocre compared to what we get here... not sure bout beijing, but at least it was mediocre in europe and thailand...

 

[dighn]