Americas foods began to affect the

Americas foods began to affect the rest of the world. American emphasis on convenient and rapid consumption is best represented in fast foods such as hamburgers, French fries, and soft drinks. By the 1960s and 1970s fast foods became one of Americas strongest exports as franchises for Mc Donalds and Burger King spread through Europe and other parts of the world, including Russia and China. Traditional meals cooked at home and consumed at a leisurely pace _ gave way to quick lunches and dinners eaten on the run as other countries imitated American cultural patterns.

By the late 20th century Americans had become more conscious of their diets, eating more poultry, fish and vegetables, and fewer eggs and less beef. Cooks began to rediscover many world cuisines in forms closer to their original. In California, chefs combined fresh fruits and vegetables available with ingredients and spices borrowed from immigrant kitchens to create an innovative cooking style that was lighter than traditional French, but more interesting and varied than typical American cuisine. Along with the states wines, California cuisine took its place among the acknowledged forms of fine dining.