Mark Twain’s Compilation of 60 American Dishes He Longed for While Traveling Overseas

Mark Twain is frequently regarded as one of the foremost writers in America, largely due to his profound affection for his native land. He spent his life traversing different areas of the United States; he was raised in Missouri, navigated steamboats on the Mississippi, mined in Nevada, penned works in California, and even traveled to the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii). A significant portion of Twain’s literature is inspired by these genuine experiences. For example, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are deeply rooted in his childhood memories along the Mississippi River. Additionally, his lesser-known travel narrative, A Tramp Abroad (1880), is derived directly from his adventures, both domestically and internationally.

A Tramp Abroad serves as the sequel to The Innocents Abroad, a satirical travel narrative chronicling the experiences of a group of Americans touring Europe and the Middle East. The Innocents Abroad propelled Twain to fame with his comedic style and the confidence of post-Civil War America, featuring the vibrant perspective of a youthful American discovering the globe. More than a decade later, A Tramp Abroad presents a humorous, nostalgic narrative of an older Twain reflecting on the essence of being an American after experiencing the world.

Within A Tramp Abroad, Twain compiled an extensive enumeration of simple home-cooked meals and delicacies he longed for while journeying through central and southern Europe. This delightfully lengthy list acts as a heartfelt tribute to the cozy comforts of American cuisine. His list draws from various regions across the United States, specifying several locations where these foods are meant to be sourced or made. From Baltimore canvasback duck to Lake Tahoe trout to Virginia bacon, Twain illustrates why he is celebrated as one of America’s greatest writers.

Here is Twain’s complete list:

– Radishes
– Baked apples, with cream
– Fried oysters
– Stewed oysters
– Frogs
– American coffee, with real cream
– American butter
– Fried chicken, Southern style
– Porter-house steak
– Saratoga potatoes
– Broiled chicken, American style
– Hot biscuits, Southern style
– Hot wheat bread, Southern style
– Hot buckwheat cakes
– American toast. Clear maple syrup
– Virginia bacon, broiled
– Blue points, on the half shell
– Cherry-stone clams
– San Francisco mussels, steamed
– Oyster soup
– Clam soup
– Philadelphia Terapin soup
– Oysters roasted in shell-Northern style
– Soft-shell crabs
– Connecticut shad
– Baltimore perch
– Brook trout, from Sierra Nevadas
– Lake trout, from Tahoe
– Sheep-head and croakers, from New Orleans
– Black bass from the Mississippi
– American roast beef
– Roast turkey, Thanksgiving style
– Cranberry sauce
– Celery
– Roast wild turkey
– Woodcock
– Canvas-back-duck, from Baltimore
– Prairie liens, from Illinois
– Missouri partridges, broiled
– ‘Possum
– Coon
– Boston bacon and beans
– Bacon and greens, Southern style
– Hominy
– Boiled onions
– Turnips
– Pumpkin
– Squash
– Asparagus
– Butter beans
– Sweet potatoes
– Lettuce
– Succotash
– String beans
– Mashed potatoes
– Catsup
– Boiled potatoes, in their skins
– New potatoes, minus the skins
– Early rose potatoes, roasted in the ashes, Southern style, served hot
– Sliced tomatoes, with sugar or vinegar
– Stewed tomatoes
– Green corn, cut from the ear and served with butter and pepper
– Green corn, on the ear
– Hot corn-pone, with chitlings, Southern style
– Hot hoe-cake, Southern style
– Hot egg-bread, Southern style
– Hot light-bread, Southern style
– Buttermilk
– Iced sweet milk
– Apple dumplings, with real cream
– Apple pie
– Apple fritters
– Apple puffs, Southern style
– Peach cobbler, Southern style
– Peach pie
– American mince pie
– Pumpkin pie. Squash pie
– All sorts of American pastry

Mark Twain’s formative years, spent growing up throughout America, influenced his writings and established him as a genuine voice of the nation.

Through The Innocents Abroad and A Tramp Abroad, Twain solidified his unique writing style marked by both his humor and American patriotism.

During his travels in Europe while composing A Tramp Abroad, Twain’s humor bore a hint of nostalgia, showcasing his enduring affection for the home he departed from.

His delectable list of preferred foods stands as a warm tribute to the landscapes and kitchens that shaped his identity.