Flywheel

A British friend recently shared a list of American foods that foreigners can’t stand: red velvet cake, store-bought bread, biscuits and gravy, peanut butter and jelly, grits, American chocolate, bacon and eggs, and spray cheese. I must say I agree with her about most of these. Wonder Bread can’t compare with a loaf of whole wheat fresh from the oven. Our peanut butter is mostly shortening, sugar and salt. I’d far rather spread Nutella on my toast. Who would call that stuff in a can “cheese” when they’ve known Manchego, Wensleydale, Gjetost, or Jarlsburg?  Having bought fresh free-range eggs and streaky bacon from the Knaresborough market, I’ll never again be happy with Eggland’s Best or Oscar Meyer. European chocolate makes ours taste like brown crayons. But I suspect hominy grits are an acquired taste, as are buttermilk biscuits with sausage gravy. And red velvet cake, if you make it from scratch, can be food for the gods.