Quote from Alex bobby on June 10, 2025, 6:06 AM

From Tabasco Sauce to Taiwanese Tex-Mex: Felicity Cloake’s Delicious American Odyssey

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British food writer Felicity Cloake is known for her culinary curiosity and adventurous palate—but her latest journey may be her most ambitious yet. In her upcoming book, Peach Street to Lobster Lane, Cloake takes readers on a two-wheeled, coast-to-coast tour of the United States in search of what truly defines American cuisine. Over 10 weeks and thousands of kilometres, she discovers that America’s food is not just fried, fast, or forgettable—it’s fun, inventive, and full of surprises.

A Mission to Challenge Culinary Stereotypes

Cloake begins her journey with a bold purpose: to challenge the stereotype that American food is all about greasy fast food, sugary soft drinks, and absurd portion sizes. Inspired by America’s diverse immigrant roots and regional specialities, she sets off with one question in mind—can a national cuisine even exist in a country as vast and varied as the U.S.?

“What ties American cuisine together?” she asks. “On this trip, I’m determined to find this unicorn, cover it with ketchup and pickles, and have it for lunch.”

Her journey is peppered with culinary landmarks—from the refined sourdough of San Francisco to the birthplace of the hamburger in Columbus, Ohio. She slurps crawfish in Houston, traces the fiery roots of Tabasco on Avery Island, and gets a firsthand taste of farm-to-table freshness in New England.

Biking for Bites

Why cycle? Cloake wanted to experience the U.S. at a slower pace, a decision that came with skepticism from friends and family. But her gamble paid off.

“Everyone I knew tried to put me off,” she laughs, “but it was a great way to see America. I’d only seen it from a car before—cycling let me find those quiet back roads and small-town diners most people miss.”

The bicycle became a vehicle for discovery. It opened up opportunities to interact with locals, explore off-the-beaten-path eateries, and experience an authentic, everyday version of American life.

What Is American Food, Really?

After 10 weeks of eating everything from donuts-as-buns burgers to Taiwanese-inflected Tex-Mex, Cloake concludes that American cuisine might not be definable in traditional terms. Instead of rigid culinary rules, she finds a playful attitude and a willingness to mix, adapt, and innovate.

“What really defines American food is the sense of possibility,” Cloake says. “They’re not constrained by tradition the way we are in Europe. That leads to some crazy combinations, but also a lot of fun—and often very good—food.”

From New England’s vibrant farm-to-table movement to unexpected fusion dishes in Texas, Cloake is constantly surprised by the creativity and quality she encounters. “When it’s good, American food is up there with the world’s best,” she insists.

Favourite Meal? Think Fusion

Cloake’s most memorable meal came from a restaurant in San Antonio where a Taiwanese-American chef reinvented Tex-Mex classics with Asian flair. She raves about the orange chicken fried steak and mochi hush puppies—dishes that could only exist in a country where cultural cross-pollination is the norm.

“Tex-Mex already mashes up two cuisines,” she notes, “but to add a third? That’s mind-blowing. It was delicious and light-hearted. I love that.”

Regrets? Just a Few

Although Cloake loved the journey, she does have a couple of regrets. “I wish I’d eaten more trashy fast food—things you can’t get in the UK,” she says. Her other? “I was overly anxious about vegetables. I ate a lot of bagged salad when I could have just gone wild. And I’d have liked more time in Texas.”

Had it not been for the need to return home to her dog, she says she might still be exploring America’s edible landscape. “There’s just so much more to see—and eat.”

A Love Letter to American Food

Peach Street to Lobster Lane is as much a celebration of American diversity as it is a culinary travelogue. Cloake’s writing highlights the vastness of the country not just geographically, but gastronomically. Her book asks readers to rethink what they think they know about American food—and to do so with an open mind and an empty stomach.

“In the end,” she says, “America’s cuisine may not have a single identity. But that’s the magic of it—it’s a never-ending buffet of ideas, flavours, and stories.”

Peach Street to Lobster Lane: Coast to Coast in Search of American Cuisine by Felicity Cloake is published by Mudlark and will be released on 5 June 2025.

Conclusion:
Felicity Cloake’s Peach Street to Lobster Lane is more than just a travel memoir—it’s a celebration of America’s dynamic and evolving culinary spirit. Her coast-to-coast journey proves that beyond the stereotypes lies a food culture brimming with creativity, bold experimentation, and heart. From Taiwanese Tex-Mex to Tabasco’s birthplace, Cloake finds that the real American cuisine isn’t about rules—it’s about reinvention. As she discovers, in a country built on diversity, the national dish may just be the freedom to cook—and eat—without limits.