Techniques that define this cuisine
Siblings within American — each its own tradition.
Cornbread, biscuits-and-gravy, fried chicken, BBQ smoke — the South's own pantry of grease, slow heat, and hospitality.
Philly cheesesteak, NYC delis (Reuben, pastrami, cheesecake), Jewish-Italian-Irish immigrant cooking from the Eastern megacities.
Atlantic-coast clam chowder, lobster roll, Boston cream — the cold-shore-fishing-village inheritance.