"Food Americana: The Remarkable People and Incredible Stories behind America's Favorite Dishes"

On this edition of ST, we're talking about food, glorious food -- and in particular, American food. What does the phrase "American cuisine" actually refer to? And what do we mean when we say that a certain dish has been "Americanized"? Is there a national menu that we all share in this vast nation? And what will food in the USA be like in the future? Our guest is David Page, whose new book explores all of these questions, and who is best-known for creating the popular TV show, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." As was noted of this book by Michael Stern, a noted expert on food and travel in America: "Page celebrates America's iconic dishes: what they are, where they came from, and where they are going...[and] who loves them and why. It's a gold mine of information, told not just with facts, but with beguiling anecdotes and good humor. This is a book that shows how deeply and brilliantly (and deliciously) what we eat defines who we are."