American Diner Culture
[MUSIC - STEELY DAN - BLACK COW]
American is a country of immigrants. So many parts of our history and our daily lives are borrowed from the cultures and customs of other countries. Our state names, our foods, our way of life.. it’s always been “the melting pot” of what immigrants from all over the world have brought with them when they made our home, their new home.
Our beloved Lady Liberty was a gift from France, our rootin’ tootin’ Cowboys came from the ranchers and cattleman of Mexico, our beers come from all over the world, our whiskey from Ireland and Scotland, even our 4th of July barbecues we can thank Germany for. And let’s not forget the only reason we’re even alive here is because the Native Americans showed the settlers how to use dead fish to grow their crops, which allowed them to even survive here in the first place.
But all that being said, there are few things that are just truly… ours- Born and raised in the ol’ US of A. Things that were created here, and have become part of our culture… American culture
So it’s not exactly breaking news that we’re a bunch of fatass Americans, because we love.. to EAT. And a lot of the things that are just part of our unique culture have to do with our food, and our food culture.
And very few things are more iconic in American food culture… than the diner. The one place that has broken through the class structure in America- whether you’re rich, famous, poor, or a total nobody, everyone is the same in a diner.
[SHOW CELEBRITIES AND PRESIDENTS IN DINERS]
And when you walk into a diner, you know exactly what you’re gonna get. Not some 5 course 3 Michelin star meal… loosen your tie, roll up your sleeves, cuz it might be a hot mess on a plate, but it’s good eatin’.
[SHOW HISTORY OF DINERS AND DINER CARS AND HOW DINERS CAME TO BE]
Show my favorite Diner in the entire US, and show how diners vary throughout the US. Like how Moonlight Diner in Colorado has lots of Mexican influence, New Mexico (go to LC) diners have lots of chilies, Alaska Leroy’s has Reindeer sausage, and there are actually some things you can only get… in diners. Root beer floats, chocolate egg cream, and did you know there are even some diners where the stuff on the menu isn’t even what makes them unique? There are some diners you get to… by plane... (go to Simply Suzanne’s cafe in Martinsville airport KMTV)
[EXPLAIN WHAT DINER CULTURE IS LIKE IN AMERICA. HOT COFFEE AVAILABLE AND READY 24/7, I ALWAYS LOVE TO SIT AT THE COUNTER, THERE IS ALWAYS WAITRESS GOSSIP GOING ON, YOU WILL JUST STRIKE UP RANDOM CONVERSATIONS WITH ANYONE AND EVERYONE, AND HOW THE ETIQUETTE FOR DINING OUT IN AMERICA IS ONE THING, BUT DINERS ARE MORE CASUAL AND LAID BACK. YOU CAN SIT AS LONG AS YOU WANT, AND WHEN YOU COME ENOUGH TO BE CONSIDERED A REGULAR, IT’S LIKE BEING A CELEBRITY]
Show diner chains like IHOP, Denny’s, Silver Diner, Village Inn, Waffle House
Diners - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYSfG_6Sv5g
Drive-ins (sonic, cook-out,)
Tex-Mex
Pizza (different styles, i.e. Chicago Deep Dish, California, St. Louis, Brooklyn)
BBQ (different styles i.e. North Carolina, Memphis, St. Louis, Kansas City)
State Fairs
Soul Food
Chinese takeout
Food Trucks
Truck Stops
Diner chains like IHOP, Denny’s, my favorite is Village Inn.
Moonlight Diner to show out west things come with Green chili
Simply Suzanne’s to show fly-in diners (use Bettie Bettie as BG music)
“One state that does diners different than anywhere else in the country… [put on cowboy hat] Texas”
Go to Butter Smith’s for the chocolate pie (All My Exes for BG music)
”Now texas is like a diner scene within itself. Remember what I said about diners being different all throughout the US? Well Texas is so big, the diners here are different all throughout the state. But when I come to Texas, I’m not thinking about Texas BBQ, I’m not thinking about Texas griddle cakes, I come to the diners in Texas for the PIE.”
Lydon Diner in PA
Leroy’s for reindeer sausage and feature Crystal
Courtesy Diner in STL to show some of the oldest diners
[FUN FACT! EXPLAIN WHY COFFEE URNS HAVE THE ORANGE HANDLE FOR DECAF. SANKA IS SHORT FOR FRENCH SANS CAFFEINE BECAUSE A FRENCHMAN INVENTED THE DECAF PROCESS, AND SINCE SANKA CAME WITH AN ORANGE CAP THEY SUPPLIED DINERS WITH THE ORANGE HANDLE]