Think you're a foodie? Well, you can't consider yourself one until you know exactly where all of these foods came from. You might think you know everything there is to know about some of these foods, but many of them seem to have origins unrelated to their actual namesakes or clear cultural influences. If you think you know everything about these foods, think again! Keep reading to find out what you might be wrong about.
Hamburger
Some research into the matter dates this American classic back to 13th century Asia. According to NPR, Genghis Kahn and his army would travel with satchels of minced meat which would tenderize as they rode horseback. They'd then grab a patty and cook em up on the fire.
However, other accounts attribute the burger to the "Hamburg Steak" of Hamburg, Germany (seems a bit obvious, no?). As people began to immigrate to America from Hamburg, they brought this along with them, and it was adopted into the official cuisine.
French Fries
We've heard people say that French Fries are actually American and not from France. They may be getting that one confused with French Toast, however (more on that later). There's a reason they're called French Fries, but there is also dispute whether the french or Belgians created it.
Supposedly, in the 1600s, when the Belgian river, Meuse, froze over one cold winter, the people began frying potatoes instead of the small fish they were used to. Most likely, the name "French fry" stuck because Belgians speak French.
Canadian Bacon
Although this one might seem pretty obvious, it's not as simple as it might seem. Otherwise known as back bacon, this meat is made from the loin end of the pig and was first eaten in the U.K.
It became known as Canadian Bacon in the U.S. only when Toronto imported it to New York. Canada typically serves another kind rolled in corn flour called peameal bacon.
German Chocolate Cake
Ah, German Chocolate Cake, our favorite thing to eat on a cheat day. Thing is, you might not know that it isn't from Germany, even though it's part of the name. Can you guess where it's from? America, of course!
Texas, to be specific. The inventor of this cake, Sam German, created sweet baking chocolate for Baker's chocolate company and they named it after him, confusing many a fan of this delicious dessert.
Worcestershire Sauce
The sauce with a unique flavor, impossible spelling and pronunciation, and an unlimited amount of uses, Worcestershire sauce has been commonly made in its namesake town of Worcestershire, England since 1835.
That being the case, it was only by accident that it was concocted. According to reports from the Lea & Perrins company, Lord Sandys, who governed Bengal for years, returned home and ordered the pharmacists for whom the company is named to come up with a recipe for this sauce. He had had it in India for so long that he missed his favorite condiment and wanted more of it.
Russian Dressing
Despite its name, this dressing is not Russian whatsoever. It was actually created in Nashua, New Hampshire! It's a mixture of ketchup, mayonnaise, and is enhanced by some horseradish and spices as well.
So, basically, this is a suped-up thousand island dressing. It's called Russian dressing because the creator, James E. Colburn, liked to sometimes add in caviar, and potentially because it was often added to the Russian Olivier Salad.
Mongolian Barbeque
Mongolian barbecue was created by Wu Zhaonan, a comedian and restaurant owner who was born in Beijing. He fled from China to Taiwan during the Chinese Civil War and opened a street food stall there. Despite its name, it isn't actually Mongolian, nor is it technically barbecue, only being loosely related due to the technique used to cook it.
The reason it's called "Mongolian Barbeque" and not "Beijing Barbeque" is that he was being sensitive to Beijing's designation as communist China's capital. Why Mongolia? No real reason, actually. But it beats communism.
Chinese Takeout Boxes
This is not food, but we wanted to include it because you might not know this one. You probably associate these boxes with Chinese food takeout because that's the only place you can find them in use.
The truth of the matter is that these were actually created in America (go figure) by a Chicago inventor. What's even more confusing is that they were heavily inspired by Japanese Origami.
Butterscotch
Commonly credited to Samuel Parkinson, a confectioner who began making the candy in 1817 England, this delicious treat has been enjoyed for its deliciously buttery caramel flavor.
While the butter part of the name is pretty obvious, the scotch part is more of a mystery. Some say it comes from the word "scorched" because you need to heat the sugar and butter to an extremely high temperature to make it.
General Tso's Chicken
This dish is named after Zuo Zongtang (sometimes spelled Tso Tsung-tang), a Qing dynasty statesman and military leader. Despite having no connection to him or his home of Hunan, the name nevertheless stuck.
Unsurprisingly, this dish is most commonly served in North American Chinese food restaurants. When asked about the dish, Zuo's still living descendants say they've never heard of it before. It was most likely created in New York.
Swiss Steak
Although the name seems to imply that this dish might come from Switzerland, in reality, it refers to the technique known as swissing, which is a way to tenderize meat.
It has its earliest mention in the late 1800s in Indiana, U.S.A.. That being said, the place of origin has been lost to history. It is, however, just as delicious as it always has been.
Chimichanga
While you might think that these deep-fried tacos came into being in Mexico, they were actually first invented in Arizona. Apparently, the way it was created was from someone accidentally dropping one into the deep frier.
Some say this happened in 1937, but other accounts report this happened in 1957. Either way, it certainly wasn't a standard of Mexico, and regardless of how it was made, it is equally as delicious.
Chili Con Carne
The name chili con carne means "chili with meat", and it's just as delicious as it sounds. Early reports say it was invented in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, which is now Mexico City.
It became popular in Mexico and Southern Texas, especially during World War I when hundreds of chili parlors opened up in the state and became more mainstream in the U.S. when the San Antonio Chili Stand gave people a taste of it in Chicago.
Chop Suey
Chop suey is actually an American dish that has many potential origins. Some say a diplomat from China wanted to serve something that would appeal to both Americans and Chinese. Others say a Chinese restaurant served some miners a mix of leftovers because they were ready to close and it was easy.
Most likely, and perhaps the most uninteresting of the three, is that the dish is based on a Cantonese dish called Tsap Seui which roughly translates to "miscellaneous leftovers". Whatever it was, it's not Chinese.
French Toast
You might be thinking that this is an obvious American recipe, but, actually, it was brought to America by early British settlers. Even still, one of the earliest records of French toast can be traced back to the Roman Empire.
It was first called French toast by England in the 17th century. The French, however, call it pain perdu, or "lost bread" because they would use stale bread to make the dish.
Mac 'N' Cheese
This is another American food staple that doesn't seem to come from America. It may not surprise you, though, that it has its origins in Italy, where pasta is falsely thought to originate (we'll get to that soon enough).
One of the oldest medieval cookbooks, the Liber de Coquina, features a similar recipe for a noodle and cheese casserole. It became popular in America by Thomas Jefferson who made detailed notes on how to make it and tried to commission a macaroni machine.
Hot Chocolate
Fun fact: drinking chocolate came before solid chocolate bars. You might think hot chocolate was born in the US, but it actually has a long history. Originating in Mexico, the Mayans made it using ground cocoa seeds and then mixed it with water, cornmeal, and chili peppers as far back as 500 B.C.E.
It then became popular in Europe in the 1500s when the explorer Cortez brought cocoa beans. In the 1700s, it was popularized in London at chocolate houses which were similar to coffee shops. Finally, it came to America where it further evolved into the special drink we know today.
Chicken Tikka Masala
As a classic Indian dish, you might expect that it was invented in India itself. However, it's said to have originated in Glasgow when a Bangladeshi chef mixed tomato soup with yogurt, spices, and chicken.
Acclaimed food critic, Ahul Verma, states otherwise: "It’s basically a Punjabi dish not more than 40-50 years old and must be an accidental discovery which has had periodical improvisations". Either way, this dish is considered to be a delicious invention of Indian descent and we're not mad about it.
Cuban Sandwich
This is another one of those things whose name is incredibly deceptive. Although it wasn't created in Cuba, we're sure they'd love to take ownership of such a delicious sandwich like this.
It was actually first made in Florida in 1880. And although it's called the Cuban sandwich, it was dubbed Tampa's signature sandwich in 2012. It is believed that cigar factory workers were the first to invent it.
Pasta
You might think that pasta originated in Italy since many of the dried pasta brands you buy today are clearly Italian. Especially the names, such as spaghetti and rigatoni. But you've got China to thank for your noodles.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that noodles began in Asia as many of the best noodle dishes are predominantly Asian. The earliest estimate of noodles being served is from 4000 years ago!
Fajita
Although you might think this dish comes from Mexico, it has evidence of first being created in the ranch land of Texas. It's most commonly made from the beef skirt, but can also be made with chicken.
Although it was invented in Texas, it obviously has many Mexican influences to it. That's why it has become an incredibly popular Tex-Mex dish. So, in a way, you can claim it came from Mexico.
Vichyssoise
Don't let the name fool you; this soup is most certainly not French. That being said, it was invented by a French chef, hence the French word as a name. However, it was invented in New York City, like many American-borne foods. Back in 1950, he was interviewed by The New Yorker about his soup.
"In the summer of 1917...I reflected upon the potato and leek soup of my childhood which my mother and grandmother used to make. I recalled how during the summer my older brother and I used to cool it off by pouring in cold milk and how delicious it was. I resolved to make something of the sort for the patrons of the Ritz."
Buffalo Chicken Wings
This delicious bar food can be traced back to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, which is where it gets its name. If you think it's made of buffalo, it is, unfortunately, not, as delicious as that would be.
The legends say that Teressa Belissimo, one of the owners of the bar, originally made it as a snack for her son. She made the sauce herself and served it with celery and blue cheese because that's just what she had. It's been this way ever since.
Fortune Cookies
Although we're not exactly sure where the fortune cookie came from, it has a clear resemblance to the Japanese cracker called a Senbei. These cookies are a standard of Chinese food all around the world
That is, everywhere but China. Like many Chinese food staples, fortune cookies are not representative of what China typically eats. That's quite unfortunate, as the people for whom these cookies are made are sure to enjoy them just as much as everyone else.
Popcorn
This popular snack was definitely created in the Americas where corn is native, but not by who you might think. Archaeologists have found traces of popcorn in Peruvian tombs which are thousands of years old.
The idea for modern popcorn most likely came from the European settlers who watched the Iroquois people pop corn kernels in ceramic vases full of heated sand. It's no wonder why people have been making this snack for so long--it's super addictive!
Caesar Salad
If you're like everyone else, you might think this salad was first created in America, or even Italy and was named for Julius Caesar. As it turns out, that's just not the case.
What is true is that the salad was named after a Caesar: the one who first made it. Caesar Cardini was a restaurant owner in Tijuana, Mexico when he made this salad for the first time. He apparently ran out of ingredients and made this salad on the fly.
Corn Flakes
Created by John Harvey Kellogg, the original American breakfast cereal has a few surprising details surrounding its invention. Kellogg had originally intended them to help curb consumers' sexual desires, as he was a Seven-Day Adventist and pro-abstinent.
When he and his brother Keith accidentally overcooked some flattened wheat berries (which are what wheat and flour is before processing) they found it became deliciously crispy flake. They eventually became corn flakes, what we know them as today.
French Dip
Despite its name, French dip was actually created in California. The story goes that a French immigrant and California restaurant owner named Philippe Mathieu accidentally dropped a French roll he was preparing into the au jus of the meat.
After serving it to a customer, they loved the additional meat juice so much that they came back and ordered more of it prepared the same way. Although some others like to claim that they came up with it, it doesn't change the fact that it was invented in California, not France.
Breakfast Sandwich
While these seem to be a staple in American Delis and fast-food chains, this popular breakfast has its roots in London where factory workers would often eat them for breakfast.
They consisted of eggs and meat wrapped in a type of bread called bap, but often sausages weren't actually included for more than its grease. When the industrial revolution caught on in the States, it became a staple breakfast food for factory workers there.
Nutella
Creamy, chocolatey, and full of hazelnut goodness, Nutella wasn't always the superstar it was today. Well, in terms of the name it's made for itself, that is. The flavor has reportedly always been top-notch.
After World War II, a shortage of cocoa prompted Pietro Fererro to use other ingredients to help increase the amount of spread there was with minimal cocoa use, which included, of course, hazelnuts. It became known as Giandujot His son then refined the recipe to create the spread we know and love today.
Peanut Butter And Jelly Sandwich
An all-American classic and a great part of a school kid's lunch. These became super popular thanks to a couple of factors. The first is that sliced bread and peanut butter were cheap during the Great Depression.
During World War II, soldiers were given jelly as a part of their ration packs. Pairing them with peanut butter seemed to go really well, so when they came back they popularized this classic sandwich.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
For a cookie, this one has a surprisingly late development. They were originally created in Whitman, Massachusetts by Ruth Wakefield, the original owner of the Toll House restaurant (which is now a huge food company).
Supposedly, she was trying to make an old colonial favorite recipe called Butter Drop Do cookies. Unfortunately, she didn't have enough chocolate on hand, so she instead chopped up some semi-sweet chocolate bars and created this all-time classic.
Pavlova
Pavlova seems to be a highly debated topic between Australians and New Zealanders as neither country believes the other created the dish. It was named after a Russian ballerina in honor of her tours in either New Zealand or Autralia.
Some say that it was first invented in New Zealand in 1929, as there is supposedly a recipe for pavlova cake. The other theory goes that a man named Bert Sachse invented it in Australia in 1935. While we may never know the truth, we're just glad it exists at all.
Doritos
These chips have a Latin ring to them, and many people might think that they were invented in Mexico. What you didn't know was that they were actually invented in California's own Disneyland.
Back in 1950, Disneyland had a restaurant named Casa de Fritos. They used stale tortillas to invent the chip by deep frying them and using Mexican spices to flavor the chips. They eventually became so popular that the Frito-Lay company began to sell them under the name Doritos.
Ketchup
This popular condiment has its roots in China to thank. It was originally conceived as a salty sauce made from fermented fish parts. This sauce, in the Southern Min dialect, was called something similar to ketchup.
Then, in the early 1700s, the British learned about the sauce through trade routes from the Philippines and Indonesia. By 1812, the recipe had been adjusted to be based on tomatoes and quickly became one of the most used condiments in the world.
English Muffin
The English muffin was only created by an Englishman, not created in England. For the first time in New York, he had baked it off of a variation of his mother's crumpet recipe, making it less moist and meant to be cut in half.
He sold more and more of them until they became a popular alternative to toast for breakfast. His name, Thomas, also became the basis for one of the most identifiable brands of the "muffin" today.
Apple Pie
As American a staple as apple pie seems, it actually has its roots in British culture. In the 1400s they were originally made by storing apples in a pastry that wasn't meant to be eaten; what they called a coffin.
When sugar became more widely available, these coffins became more edible by using butter and sugar. This apple in a coffin evolved more and more until British colonists came to America and started planting their apple trees. Eventually, the traditional apple pie was born.
Grilled Cheese
The grilled cheese is one of the easiest sandwiches you can make. Does that make it more obvious where it comes from? You guessed it--America! Though that last bit was a bit of a joke.
Grilled cheese may be a classic today, but it only came into existence from the advent of sliced bread and the shelf-stable processed American cheese invented by James L. Kraft.
Croissant
Croissants come from France, right? Think again! Croissants are viennoiserie pastries hailing from Austria, although they have basically become synonymous with French bakeries.
Beginning its life as an Austrian kipfel, it wasn't until the French adopted it and made it with puff pastry, which is a French innovation, that it became what it is today. That's why you see it all over France.
Popsicle
Have you ever wondered how the popsicle was invented? It was, perhaps, an act of chance that a boy named Frank Epperson of San Francisco came about the Idea.
One night he was enjoying a cup of soda made by mixing soda powder and some water in a cup. He had accidentally left it overnight with the mixing stick included, and by the next morning, the cold temperatures had frozen it. The rest is history.
Kiwi
This deliciously tangy fruit is one of the only items on this list that wasn't someone's invention, but rather a whole history of trading and acquiring until it landed itself in California where the U.S. mostly grows them.
Kiwis are actually native to China. The seeds were then traded and brought to New Zealand where they were grown and became known as Chinese Gooseberries. When they made it to America, the name was changed to Kiwi after the Islands national bird for whom they share a resemblance.
Fried Chicken
You might think that these were originally conceived in Kentucky as the restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken might lead you to believe. It's not so simple as that, however, as the earliest known recipe was in a 1747 British cookbook.
Despite that, fried chicken actually has its origins in Scottish and West African cuisine, where frying things in pig lard is standard. All of these cultures came together most prominently in the U.S. among African slaves, and by the 1950s became a staple in the U.S. south.
Hot Dog
Another American staple, hot dogs are commonly served at baseball games and on national holidays like the fourth of July. If you know their other common name you'd know they weren't always an American staple.
Otherwise known as Frankfurters, the hot dog has its roots in Germany and Vienna. It became a popular treat for baseball games when St. Louis Browns owner, Chris Von der Ahe, introduced it to them.
Bourbon
Although this is America's trademark spirit, bourbon whiskey is actually made from combining Scots-Irish distilling techniques with corn grains that could be traced back to Kentucky's Ohio River Valley.
No one really knows who created the whiskey for the first time, but what we do know is that it was named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans, which was a major shipping port for the whiskey.
Donut/Doughnut
However you want to spell it, donuts have a very interesting story behind them. Originally made by the Dutch as olykoeks (that's dutch for oily cakes), they were adapted into a ring by an American ship owner named Hanson Gregory.
His mother, Elizabeth, eventually made a new version using the nutmeg and cinnamon spices her son imported and put hazelnuts or walnuts in the center where the dough might not fully cook, hence the name. We aren't sure why the center was replaced with a hole, though.
Bacon
Long before it became a popular and incredibly popular breakfast item (especially in the United States), bacon was being prepared as salted pork belly in ancient China.
In the U.S., bacon had become very popular when Oscar Mayer and his brother Gottfried enlisted the help of Edward Bernays, the "father of public relations" to help them market eggs and bacon as a great breakfast alternative to healthier cereals.
Fanta
"Fanta, Fanta! Don't you want a Fanta, Fanta?" Despite the catchy jingle and deliciously bright, citrusy flavors, the origins of this famous soft drink might shock and surprise you.
Back in World War II, the Coca-cola company had to cut ties with their German subsidiary. Because of this, the German side of the company needed to make a drink for themselves and did so using apples peels and whey. It became an official drink of the Nazi party.
Fish And Chips
This classic British food certainly has its place in history as created by Britishers for Bristisher. Or does it? It seems like there might be a different story for this traditional dish.
Its most likely origin was from Sephardic Jewish immigrants to the U.K. from Holland, meaning that that's where it came from. Other sources might also claim portugal as the creator since it resembles a dish called pescado frito.
Bagel
Similarly to many of the traditionally American foods on this list, the bagel was first sold in New York. It was brought to America by polish Jews who knew it as the beigel.
It became and remained a classic breakfast food consumed in New York and Jewish communities alike, and in the 60s it became more streamlined with the invention of the bagel machine.
Cheesecake
This delicious and classic dessert actually does not have its origins in New York as one might expect. In fact, research has found cheesecake to be one of the older desserts enjoyed by humans.
How early? Well, archaeologists have found evidence of its existence from Greek cheese wheels dating back to 2000 B.C.E. It was also supposedly eaten in the first Olympics. The earliest recording of an actual cheesecake was in 230 C.E. by Athenaeus, a Greek author and grammarian.