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I think Thai and Indian dishes are quickly becoming mainstream American. Japanese foods are a dark horse but many dishes from that culture (sushi and teriyaki, for a couple of examples) have been American dishes for years.
Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Jamaican/Caribbean, and, to a lesser extent, Persian and Afghan food is becoming more well known to more mainstream Americans.
There is all of arguing going on. Yes, all foods are essentially from "another country" in America, with the exception of something like American Indian Fry Bread.
But if anyone wants to say that a hamburger or a sandwich are "foreign foods" they are being way too technical and not hearing the spirit of the OPs question.
When I was growing up in Brooklyn NY, Chinese food, Italian food Eastern European Jewish food, French food, Polish food, German food and Scandinavian were all available in Brooklyn.
They were all thought of as foreign and a little exotic.
Out of the one's that I mentioned, at least on the East Coast, I'd say that Italian food is the most prepared in the home. So, I'd say that's pretty mainstream.
Not many average cooks attempt Chinese cooking at home. Usually it's take out. There was no Mexican food on the East Coast until the 1980s.
Another way to define mainstream besides home cooked is "do they serve it on a school lunch menu?
If that is a criteria, and I think it may be a good one - I'd sat that Italian, Polish, Chinese, and Mexican are all crossovers. The others not as much.
Any food that crosses over is not authentic any longer. It's been adjusted.
There is all of arguing going on. Yes, all foods are essentially from "another country" in America, with the exception of something like American Indian Fry Bread.
But if anyone wants to say that a hamburger or a sandwich are "foreign foods" they are being way too technical and not hearing the spirit of the OPs question.
When I was growing up in Brooklyn NY, Chinese food, Italian food Eastern European Jewish food, French food, Polish food, German food and Scandinavian were all available in Brooklyn.
They were all thought of as foreign and a little exotic.
Out of the one's that I mentioned, at least on the East Coast, I'd say that Italian food is the most prepared in the home. So, I'd say that's pretty mainstream.
Not many average cooks attempt Chinese cooking at home. Usually it's take out. There was no Mexican food on the East Coast until the 1980s.
Another way to define mainstream besides home cooked is "do they serve it on a school lunch menu?
If that is a criteria, and I think it may be a good one - I'd sat that Italian, Polish, Chinese, and Mexican are all crossovers. The others not as much.
Any food that crosses over is not authentic any longer. It's been adjusted.
Many people probably eat more Native American foods than they think.
The first Indian restaurant in England pre-dates our first Fish & Chip shop by about fifty years. Some years ago my father visited and we went into Manchester - loads of nouvelle cuisine and fancy European Continental places which he turned his nose up at then turned and said 'isn't there anywhere serving English food, I fancy a Chicken Curry'. When I was a child in the early sixties about a third of the people in our area were Italian, and they had a mobile shop come round to the street to serve them because the regular shops didn't sell Italian - they did sell Curries though!
I think Thai and Indian dishes are quickly becoming mainstream American. Japanese foods are a dark horse but many dishes from that culture (sushi and teriyaki, for a couple of examples) have been American dishes for years.
Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Jamaican/Caribbean, and, to a lesser extent, Persian and Afghan food is becoming more well known to more mainstream Americans.
I'm a bit surprised Indian food didn't become mainstream in America as quickly as it did in the UK, considering there are twice as many Indian Americans than British Indians.
I think Thai and Indian dishes are quickly becoming mainstream American. Japanese foods are a dark horse but many dishes from that culture (sushi and teriyaki, for a couple of examples) have been American dishes for years.
Greek, Lebanese, Vietnamese, Jamaican/Caribbean, and, to a lesser extent, Persian and Afghan food is becoming more well known to more mainstream Americans.
Some of these ethnic foods depend on where you live; you would have to live in very large, diverse cities to see some of them be considered mainstream. Thai and Indian yes, the rest you suggested are a long way from being considered mainstream. Maybe I just have a little different idea of what the OP means by mainstream. I think of mainstream as restaurants that attract a large part of the population and most of us take for granted. Certainly Persian and Afghan foods do not fit into that category.
Some of these ethnic foods depend on where you live; you would have to live in very large, diverse cities to see some of them be considered mainstream. Thai and Indian yes, the rest you suggested are a long way from being considered mainstream. Maybe I just have a little different idea of what the OP means by mainstream. I think of mainstream as restaurants that attract a large part of the population and most of us take for granted. Certainly Persian and Afghan foods do not fit into that category.
I guess what I'm saying is on the coasts anyway, you can find Persian and Afghan restaurants in increasing numbers - just as Thai was all over LA and NYC 25 years ago and is now in practically every city and every state, so will Afghan and Persian eventually become as prevalent as Thai - though it may take a while, I do think it will happen. In LA, NYC, NJ, NC, GA, FL, IL, NV, PA, MD you can find good Afghan.
I think, in order for a cuisine to be "mainstream", I should have at least heard of it.
Where are you that Sriracha isn't everywhere? It's ubiquitous! Even where I live--and we go through several bottles a year at my house!
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