What Surprising Food Made The List Of Greatest American Dishes?

CNN recently came out with a list of the 20 Greatest American Dishes and it didn't come without some surprises. I've never tried the food that came in at number 2 on the list!

When you think of the Greatest American Dishes you probably think things like Hot Dogs, Cheeseburgers, and Apple Pie. Those have become synonymous with the American diet and American pride for a while. While classics like the burger and Apple Pie both made the list, it was pretty far down. Meanwhile, there were some major surprises at the top of the list.

What do you think are the Greatest American Dishes? Spend a minute thinking about your favorites before we really dive into the list. I rattled off a few above that should get your creativity and imagination going. Personally, when I think of American food I usually think Barbeque. It looks like I'm not alone as that was number 1 on CNN's list of the Greatest American Dishes. Americans love that low and slow cooking! Within the BBQ world you have different styles like Carolinas, Texas, Memphis, and Kansas City to name a few. Each is different and everyone has their own opinion--but regardless we're bonded by our love of BBQ here in America.

In second place, we were given a bit of a surprise. According to CNN, the 2nd Greatest American Dish is Fried Okra. I didn't expect that! Honestly, I must admit I have never had fried okra. I don't see it on many menus! Maybe it's more of a thing down South? I've never tried it! However, I do recognize that it's an American tradition and has a deep history here in the United States. I just didn't expect it to come in at number 2! The article by CNN gives a shoutout to the Williamsburg Inn in Virginia for their Fried Shrimp and Okra Po'boy sandwich.

Other foods that made CNN's list include the Cobb Salad, PB&J sandwich, Fry Bread, Red Beans and Rice, Chili, and General Tso's Chicken. I always forget that General Tso's Chicken is an Americanized version and take on Chinese food. You won't find it if you take a trip overseas. It's not a traditional dish over there, like many of the staples we recognize as a go-to at our local Chinese restaurants. The list includes some great regional foods like the Red Beans and Rice and Clam Chowder also made the list. It's cool to see how different food choices are in different regions of the country. Favorites and classics down South aren't as popular in the Northeast and staples in the Midwest might seem strange to people out on the West Coast. This list really highlights how different our food is from region to region and the vast variety we have across America.

You can see the full list at CNN.com!

Travel Channel's Man v Food remains one of the most entertaining food shows of all-time. Adam Richman took on many challenges, but these were 5 of the most epic and memorable!

The popular show originally ran on the Travel Channel from 2008 through 2012 with host Adam Richman showcasing some of the biggest, spiciest, and wonderfully epic menu offerings across the country. The show was later revived in 2017 and ran until 2022 with host Casey Webb. However, it just wasn't the same during the second leg. So, we'll be focusing on the original run with the OG Adam Richman.

For me, part of what made the show so special was Adam Richman. He was a fantastic host and came off as genuine, funny, and relatable. He had great quotes in every episode and you could tell he loved his job (who wouldn't?). To this day, if I try something I really like, I'll let out one of his "oh my goodness, oh my goodness" that was heard during the show's opening sequence. He was likable and made me want to go out and try some eating challenges, myself. Needless to say, they didn't go very well. So, not only was Adam a likable host, but he could stomach some massive meals, literally. Not any person could step into his shoes and pull it off the way he did.

On Man v Food, Adam would try all sorts of eating challenges from across the country. Some of them were massive in size, some were a race against the clock, and others brought some insane heat. Watching the show, you're not sure which one would be more of a difficult challenge to accomplish. Impressively, throughout the show's run Adam was able to tackle all varieties of challenges. There were times he over came the heat and times he succeeded in finishing some unbelievably large meals.

While there was never a disappointing episode, some challenges remain engraved in my head years later. How on earth was he able to finish some of these? Man v Food was a fantastic show and I miss its original run. Thankfully, you can watch the show today on a number of streaming services including Max, Discovery Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. In the meantime, check out 5 of the most epic eating challenges seen on Man v Food below!

Steaks are delicious, few people would risk denying that. However, a 5.5lb steak challenge from 'Steak and Main' in Baltimore, Maryland might change your perspective on steak for the rest of your life. That's a lot of steak! Talk about the meat sweats. This is certainly one of the more memorable challenges on the show, not only because of its size, but he came so close! He had only a few bites left but was unable to do it. We've all been there. It was a valiant effort, though.

A 30 inch pizza is not supposed to be considered a personal size but that's how it goes with The Carnivore Challenge at Big Pie In The Sky Pizzeria in Kennesaw, Georgia. Each slice is bigger than a human head! Thankfully, it looks as delicious as it does big. I'd love to dive into one. I don't think I could take on the whole thing or even half...or a quarter...but an eighth of it might be good! Unfortunately, despite a partner to help out, the pair were unable to finish the huge pie.

If you're looking for epic late night eats, college campuses are always a safe bet. Adam went to RU Hungry in New Brunswick, Jersey home of Rutgers University to try The Fat Sandwich Challenge. What is it? Only a 1.5lb sandwich sandwich in under 45 minutes. Excuse me, 5 1.5lb sandwiches in under 45 minutes. That's a lot of meat and bread. Adam had an impressive performance, but the clock got the best of him on this one.

Boulder is one of the most beautiful cities in America. If you've never been, I highly recommend it. Adam Richman went and took on the Wing King Challenge at The West End Tavern. To be king, he must finish 50 jumbo sized buffalo wings in under 30 minutes. Again, it's not only a big meal but it's a race against the clock. Again, it's neither man nor the food who win this battle but the clock. That really makes finishing difficult.

A 3-egg omelette would be considered a large omelette. However, a 12-egg omelette challenge is just a bit much, no? That's, like, a whole carton of eggs for one single omelette! Well, that's what Adam was up against at Beth's Cafe in Seattle, Washington. It's a unique challenge because not only is it Man v Food but it's Man v Food v Man. Adam is up against another competitor to see who can finish first! Adam was able to defeat the man but not a food. He called it a loss, but I'm calling it a win.

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