Then comes in a second tradition: the American love of deep-frying. (We are the nation of the deep-fried Twinkie, after all.) Okra can be found swimming in gumbos, succotashes and such.

From starters to desserts, here are CNN Travel’s 20 selections for the greatest American food dishes.

The USA’s culinary history is that of reinvention. Waves of food influences – Native, African, British, continental European, Asian and Latin – have landed on our shores (and still do).

Description. This lesson focuses on food and national identity in American history, including colonial roots, shifts during the Jacksonian era, and contemporary trends.

The American food scene has undergone considerable change over the past two decades. During this period, the public has seen the introduction of genetically modified crops, the mainstreaming of ...

From starters to desserts, here are CNN Travel’s 20 selections for the greatest American food dishes.