And "Hawaii" as a modifier to food generally means with pineapple, appropriate or not.
Though, that makes me wonder what ingredient the other 48 states would add. Suggestions welcome.
Though, that makes me wonder what ingredient the other 48 states would add. Suggestions welcome.
* texas -> supersized
* chicago (close enough) -> with green sweet pickle relish
When I was in Australia about ten years back, McDonald's was running a promo called "Tastes of America" with three themed burgers that were about what you'd expect: the California one had avocado and aioli or something, the Texas had salsa and onions, and the New York burger had extra pickles and garlic.
* Idaho -> potato
* Louisiana (or just New Orleans) -> Cajun spices
I associate it more with meaning "with spam".
For example, "Toast Hawaii" appeared in Germany in 1955, consisting of a slice of toasted white bread, one or two slices of cooked ham, a pineapple ring, a slice of processed cheese and a cocktail cherry, baked in an oven. Interestingly, I've read that that dish may be derived from an American "grilled spamwich" (but spam was not availble in Germany at the time). Likewise, "Steak Hawaii" (as well as "Schnitzel Hawaii") involves baking with pineapple rings and cheese.
I'm guessing someone somewhere associated cheese and pineapple with Hawaii in the 1950s as part of the general obsession with Hawaiian-inspired culture (e.g. tiki torches, fake lei garlands, ukuleles and luau-themed garden parties) and it caught on as an "exotic" twist on home cooking internationally (despite Hawaii and pineapples otherwise having no clear relation).