American food has a special place in the palettes of its admirers, but what do we often think of when someone says “American Food”? Apple pie, cheeseburgers, ribs, these are just a few of the images that come to mind. Rustic foods are prepared in a simple way, making them all the more tasteful when they turn out perfectly. Focusing less on flash and more on quality ingredients and preparation, rustic dining is arguably the best way to eat. Here are 5 rustic American foods that you’re sure to adore.
Braised Short Rib
Braised short rib can be found on just about any American menu, but like any other meat, ribs take a special hand to make them just right. We always want that succulent, fall-off-the-bone texture when it comes to ribs. Although this dish actually originated from Korea, the short rib has become a favorite in American restaurants and adapted to American culture in a very tasteful way.
Braised short rib is prepared in a rustic fashion at the well-loved Summerlin Restaurant – Hearthstone Las Vegas. It is cooked with butternut squash gnocchi, truffle ricotta, and charred brussels sprouts. Mesmerizingly delicious
Pulled Pork Sandwich
One of the most recognizable southern American dishes is the pulled pork sandwich. Strips of pork simmered for hours in a sauce of choice, usually a variety of barbeque sauce. The pork is usually shoulder meat, and the simmering gives it that fall-apart texture that makes it easy to pull apart with a fork once it’s done. An easy dish to prepare, this American standard has many varieties.
Some recipes include variations to the sauce or cooking times, different add-ons to the completed sandwich, or even a beef-pork mix. Whatever way you cook it, pulled pork is simple yet delicious, and decidedly American. It can be done in just a few hours using simple cooking methods.
A crockpot is the best way to make pulled pork, providing an even low temperature throughout the slow-cooking process, so as not to dry out or overcook the meat.
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken with a side of mashed potatoes is about as American as you can get with your cuisine. Chicken can be fried in dozens of ways, from simple flour breading to a complete batter mix.
Fried chicken is battered and then placed in extremely hot oil. It only takes a few minutes to cook at these high temperatures. During this process, the intense heat cooks the chicken while the breading gets crispy and helps retain all the juicy goodness that properly fried chicken is known for. A batter mix can contain egg, flour, milk, and bread crumbs, and a special blend of spices.
Fried chicken is often served with mashed potatoes and gravy and a vegetable of some sort, such as corn. We can’t forget the biscuit, of course.
Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar makes a unique version of this dish and serves it with with a lovely bacon cheddar biscuit, apple cabbage coleslaw, and spiced agave nectar.
The Bacon Cheeseburger
We wouldn’t be talking about American food if we didn’t include the cheeseburger. Made of ground beef or sometimes ground turkey, the burger has become a tasty staple of the American diet. With almost every fast food restaurant serving some sort of variety of a cheeseburger, it can sometimes prove difficult to find a unique burger experience.
A bacon cheeseburger is just what it sounds like; a cheeseburger with bacon. There’s nothing quite like biting into a juicy, thick burger, topped with bacon and melted cheese. Include a couple tomato slices and a strip of lettuce and onion, and you’ve got yourself the makings of an incredibly satisfying culinary simplicity. \
Wings
Wings. We all love ‘em. Whether it’s buffalo or barbecue, wings have a special place in the hearts of Americans. They make a great appetizer, or if you’re feeling extra hungry they can even substitute for an entire meal.
Chicken wings come in all sorts of varieties. Sometimes breaded and deep-fried, or baked, smoked, or grilled The best wings are glazed with your sauce of choice. Barbecue, buffalo, ranch, honey mustard, and spicy are just a few of the varieties offered by various American restaurants.
A good wing is crunchy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, and is best eaten with your fingers (after all, half the fun is getting the sticky sauce all over your face and fingertips).
Wings can be found in just about every American restaurant across the country, either offered as an appetizer or a main dish, but remember that not all wings are created equal.
Each establishment will have its own recipes and flavor varieties, but at least we know barbecue and buffalo will always be mainstays.
Keepin’ It Rustic
Dining can be an overwhelming experience, especially in a very large city such as Las Vegas. That’s why rustic dining is such a nice change in pace. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed, the food is simply prepared and yet elegantly flavored, and the overall experience is one of remembrance.
If you find yourself in the Las Vegas area, be sure to check out Hearthstone Kitchen and Cellar, one of the best rustic dining experiences in the area. With a relaxed atmosphere and a world-class menu prepared by Chef Brian Massie, it’s sure to have something to offer everyone. Not to mention there are menus for brunch, dinner, an extensive wine and liquor list, and even special menus for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
