Doug Walker, age 13, of Acton, Ind., for his question:
WHAT FOODS DO THEY EAT IN OTHER COUNTRIES?
Without a doubt, the hamburger is one of America's most popular foods. The patty of tender meat within this delicious treat is, of course, beef. Almost all beef consumed in the United States is domestically grown, which explains why beef is so widely eaten here. In most countries the story is the same the most popular foods are from locally abundant supplies, such as fish, fowl, cereals, fruits and vegetables.
Let's take an imaginary trip around the world and enjoy a meal in several countries. Our menu will be varied and interesting, since every country or region has its own specialties, cooked in unique ways.
Beginning our trip in Spain, we have a colorful and spicy meal of gazpacho, a cold soup made from tomatoes, green pepper, cucumber and raw vegetables. Our next course is paella, a sort of casserole made with rice, chicken, seafood and sausage. Our dessert is flan, a caramel coated custard, with some fresh and juicy fruits on the side.
From Spain we travel to Scandinavia Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark where a delightful smorgasbord greets us. This is a long buffet table heaped with meat and fish dishes (especially herring), cheeses, salads, hot casseroles and, of course, fresh bread and butter. There may even be some reindeer steaks, rabbit, bear and other game which are very popular in Norway.
Next day our French hosts serve us a mouth watering cuisine of cheeses, breads, poultry, fish and rich ice cream. Our dinner in Germany begins with a hearty soup. Then we sample Sauerbraten a sweet and sour pot roast sauerkraut, potato pancakes, noodles, dumplings and rich layer cakes for dessert.
On to Japan and the orient, where we feast our eyes on food as beautiful as it is good. Succulent vegetables, including bamboo shoots, gingko nuts and water chestnuts, tempt our palate, as well as chicken, sukiyaki, eel and raw fish of numerous varieties.
In China we sample a midday meal of rice, several kinds of fish, meat, fowl and vegetables, all prepared in different ways. Most foods in China, including breads, are steamed, boiled or fried, since small fuel supplies limit the use of baking ovens. With our meal we have lots of hot, unsweetened tea, and later for a snack we might have small cakes, pastries, a bowl of soft noodles or even a steamed sweet potato:
Before we journey homeward, we stop for a luau in Hawaii. This all day feast features pig that has been roasted in a pit, pork and fish wrapped in ti plant leaves, some poi a paste made of taro root and gorgeous fresh pineapples, papayas, coconuts and mangos.
Just as your mother may have her own special way of preparing certain family favorites, so different countries have their unique foods and recipes. Experienced travelers have found that even the most exotic dishes are delicious, and many restaurants help us become acquainted with popular dishes from foreign lands.