All American Breakfast Month on September, 2024: In any one month 36% of Americans eat what for breakfast?

September, 2024 is All American Breakfast Month 2024. Scramble September is All American

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Cold left over pizza

American food and drink?

Being a melting pot as we are, Americans tend to take foods from all over the world and make changes to make them our own. America's farms grow some of the best fruits and vegetables, our rice and wheat are shipped all over the world, and we have some pretty amazing chefs and "just cooks" who might not be famous, but they're favorites in their local community.

Each region and major city in the US is well-known for something, as others have mentioned. As a tourist, no matter who you are or where you are, the same advice applies: ask the locals for advice on where, or what, to eat. Websites such as Yelp.com and urbanspoon.com are excellent resources if you're looking for something specific, and Yelp is available as an app for most phones if you're bringing a smartphone along - but watch for data charges...

I live in the Northeast but I'm originally from the Southeast, and I've been all over the country... so just a few of my favorites:

Breakfast: Try pancakes made with real Vermont maple syrup and apple butter, smoked bacon and fresh farm eggs, or if you prefer something lighter, a real New York bagel with cream cheese.

Lunch: A Philadelphia cheesesteak. Thinly sliced steak, grilled sliced onions and green bell peppers, topped with melted cheese on a submarine sandwich roll.

Dinner: Americans are big on something we call "comfort food," which are classic dishes that we all grew up with. So if you've never had pot roast, or Southern fried chicken (pieces of chicken marinated in buttermilk, dredged in spiced flour and deep-fried, served with macaroni and cheese and yeast biscuits...), then try that. Or be adventurous - try some Japanese food. Or go to a steakhouse and treat yourself to a T-bone or ribeye, cooked medium rare. You can also find some awesome fish if you are partial to seafood: try crab cakes if you're in Maryland, or lobster in Maine, or gumbo in New Orleans.

If you're old enough to drink, we make pretty good beer, our take on whiskey called "bourbon" is sweeter and smoother than Scotch or Irish whiskey, and our California and New York wineries turn out some great vino. We're very into our coffee drinks and Starbucks isn't necessarily the best place to get coffee, just so you know... and if you're a chocoholic, well, you need to find a local shop wherever you are, because our tastes are rather pedestrian in that. We're the ones who came up with chocolate that doesn't melt, after all. Same thing with crisps (here we call 'em "potato chips"). Cape Cod potato chips are my favorites.

Hope you enjoy your stay with us across the pond. Most Americans are friendly and more than happy to offer advice, help, and whatever you might need - just travel safe and smart, ask for directions before you go somewhere, and have fun!

Going to France for a month, and I don't want to offend anyone!?

Generally speaking the French are more formal than most North Americans.

In everyday speech this means appending "s'il vous plâit" to any request. It means saying "je voudrais" and not "donnez moi" when ordering from a menu. It means calling the waiter "Monsieur" and not "Garçon." It means greeting the staff at a shop with "Bonjour" (madam or monsieur as appropriate) before ordering something and saying goodbye when you leave.

The French tend to follow the older practice of not calling each other by first names or using the familiar without at least some acquaintance (although this is not so much true of young people).

So with the family you will stay with be sure to address the adults with some deference and respect. Until and unless they give you permission to address them some other way call them Monsieur (lastr name) and Madame (last name) and don't use their first names.

The easy presumption of friendship or the discussing of personal matters with relative strangers that is common in North America is sometimes seen as boorish or crude by the French.

Americans in particular who will talk about the intimate details of their love lives, the state of their personal finances, and the cost of everything they own with someone they met ten minutes ago are, for that reason, regarded as utterly outré.

On the other hand, Americans, who have been taught to never discuss politics or religion, sometimes think they are being singled out for abuse when the French express their opinions on such matters. Not so. This is just a matter of the French love of good, substantive argument.

Moreover, the French are quieter and more subdued than Americans. Speaking loudly is frowned on. "Loud" clothing is also not much liked. Muted and/or dark colors are what you should pack.

Food in France is not fundamentally different from that served in Britain or the United States but you should be prepared to deal with some differences.

French breakfasts tend to be very simple and the bacon and eggs sort of big meal that Americans and Brits sometimes eat just isn't done. Expect cafe au lait and a roll or bread.

The French eat dinner much later than either Yanks or Brits. Expect your evening meal at 7:30 or 8:00 PM.

Bread isn't buttered except at breakfast or with the cheese course. Luckily, French bread is the best in the world and not the squishy, cottony junk most Americans eat.

The French eat their meat rare and even chicken can be served slightly pink. If you're the type who wants his steak cooked untill its grey, you'll have a hard time in France.

One thing you'll notice is that while the French eat fabulous food the number of obese French people is much lower than in the USA or the UK. Moderation in portion size is one reason and eating a more balanced diet is another. If you're a fussy eater or the type who wants a big plate of meat and turns up his nose at veggies you need to adjust.

The bottom line is that you need to keep an open mind, observe what others are doing, always remember that even in ordinary things there can be differences, and be ready to do things as your hosts do them rather than as you do them at home.

You're very lucky to have this opportunity and you should make the most of it.

Best of luck. I'm sure you'll have a great time.