French vs. American food

Social news websites HuffPost Taste and BuzzFeed Food have taken it upon themselves to flaunt some of the best food that American and French cuisines have to offer, in turn sparking a little healthy rivalry (...scratch that, apparently the most delicious national dishes are also the most cardiac arrest-inducing).

To sum up the duel, here are some of each country's most prized culinary offerings:

United States (HuffPost Taste) : Thanksgiving, fried foods, bacon, barbecue, 24-hour diners and the bottomless coffee mug.

Photo from LA Weekly.

France (BuzzFeed Food) : moules marinières, soufflés, cassoulet, foie gras, fondue savoyarde, onion soup.

Photo from France-Voyage.

I refuse to play referee. There is a time and place for all the dishes and food-related events named above, and I've tucked into my fair share of them. The common thread that I see bringing both lists together is the comfort and nostalgic indulgence afforded by these foods. Does it really matter whether you're eating greasy diner hash browns or the cheesy mashed potato dish known as aligot if either can lift your spirits, if only for the moment you're savoring it? I think it's precisely the pleasant memories associated with foods that make them so special and worth bragging about.

Full lists here and here.