cross-posted from: sh.itjust.works/post/54881108 !2northamerican4you@sh.itjust.works sh.itjust.works/c/2northamerican4you

Umm... it's not mexican, chinese or italian but also american food doesn't exist? I can't tell if this was the joke or the meme just wants to shit on americans for stealing and mangling everyone's food... Also, jalapeño poppers.

I think the joke is that Americans like to adopt foods or cooking techniques from other cultures, then change them to fit local tastes. This is how a lot of "traditional American" foods came to be. There is also a stereotype that American cultural practices (gastronomy included) are "not real" or that American culture as a concept doesn't exist because it comes as a fusion of cultural practices from other countries. The meme is poking fun at people who may hold that belief. People also have a habit of describing the American versions of things to be "not real", even if it never really claims to be. For example, fettuccine Alfredo in the US is an adaptation of fettuccini al burro (a real Italian dish), but is described as "not real Italian food" because it isn't actually eaten in Italy. Or that orange chicken is "not real Chinese food" because it isn't eaten in China. Which, to be fair, *is true*, but most American diners are aware that Panda Express, Olive Garden, and Taco Bell aren't accurate representations of food eaten in China, Italy, or Mexico. They're Americanised versions of food inspired by Chinese, Italian, and Mexican cuisine.

Americans like to adopt foods or cooking techniques from other cultures

It’s not “americans” (as in people whose families have lived there for a few generations), it’s immigrants who brought their culture and then adapted it to the locals. You can find this in almost every country.