Need some ideas for an american cultural lunch to present at work

I'm sticking this in chit chat, because its not entirely about food, though that fits in

We're doing a series of diversity lunches to celebrate the various cultures in our team and I'm slated next week to do an American one. 
Basically need to do a 1/2 hour-ish presentation on some specifically American culture and make some nibbles to bring- small bites, basically!

Any ideas on what I should do in the prsentation and bring? Pictures and the like, some other general things...

Almost all of the team has travelled to the states for work, so they've got a general gist, but I'd love to go deep into some real cultural things, like Thanksgiving and how we've got a lot of things that aren't like the movies! Was also going to talk about some specific Massachusetts things as well (where I grew up).

Please remember I'm still not feeling too well, so I don't want to push myself too far.
All ideas are welcome!   

I was going to suggest keeping it regional, so your Massachusetts idea is good. I think Thanksgiving is a great idea. People are always interested in why we celebrate it and what we do for it. You could make a pumpkin pie. I remember on Thanksgiving Slate.com had some historical pictures of people celebrating the day which was kind of cool. You could even talk about Black Friday or how some families spend the entire day plopped in front of the TV watching football. Or, you can talk about how different regions of the US celebrate with different types of food (i.e. oyster stuffings vs cranberry stuffings, etc).

The Thanksgiving idea is a good one.  A few years ago, I made Thanksgiving dinner for Japanese, Australian, and British as well as American guests.  The Americans talked about our own individual traditions, and the others found it all really interesting.  I think Thanksgiving is an aspect of American culture that is not widely known outside the country.  Maybe you could make different kinds of pies, like apple and pecan as well as pumpkin. 

Totally loving the Thanksgiving idea.  You could do pre-dinner nibbly-type things like cheese straws and deviled eggs and pickles and pigs in blankets!

I've attached a "fact sheet" that I made for the kids at the library when we had our Thanksgiving craft session (we made hand turkeys - see photo) - it's a bit basic as it was aimed at kids but might be good for Brits who know nothing about Turkey Day!   (The footnotes at the bottom were added before I sent the same fact sheet to my friends and coworkers who were coming over for Thanksgiving dinner - you can always just delete those.)

Also, you could play Alice's Restaurant in the background!

Great ideas- definitley thinking Thanksgiving
Love the hand turkeys, Meg- brings back great memories 

No waitrose near me, anywhere I can get canned pumpkin easily?  I.e. the internet, since my options are either the 'net or tesco. Wrong time of year for finding regular pumpkins- maybe will need to use squash or could make a sweet potato pie

Bring 'em coming please

With regards to MA, you could talk about the Mayflower, Plymouth rock, etc. I love the Thanksgiving ideas, too.

I've never ordered anything from them, but the Stateside Candy Co. has pumpkin pie goodness: http://www.americansweets.co.uk/libbys-easy-pumpkin-pie-mix-29oz-tin-4825-p.asp

Good luck!

I'd go for BBQ or some seriously killer Tex-Mex myself!

Yeah, some BBQ would be good- spare ribs or pulled pork or something of that ilk, maybe some real baked beans...

I was thinking of talking about the multi-culturalism and how different regions have different ethnic backgrounds, which also influence their food-
Like southern bbq, creole food, pierogis and sausages, tex-mex, how new england food has a lot of english-irish influence, jewish food, italian food, etc- how many different ways there are of eating hot dogs, pizza, etc

Maybe some brief history lessons, talk about how each state has different laws, the strange blue laws in Massachusetts, talk about the US flag, the pledge of allegiance, how our national songs are based off English ones, the native americans- etc that's probably trying to cover a ton of stuff-
The hour is mine, but I was going to try 1/2 an hour presentation and 1/2 hour of food, but I could overlap....

Hrmmm

my friend in London had people from all over the world over at her place on thanksgiving this year.  She didn't really make a tradition thanksgiving but rather a bunch of finger food and chili and the pigs in a blanket (US version) went over well.   They are fast and easy to make.


You could also do some foods that combine savory and sweet, something that tends to more American culture then UK.  Everyone always gives me a hard time when I mix my foods. 

Good luck!

You could also do some foods that combine savory and sweet, something that tends to more American culture then UK.  Everyone always gives me a hard time when I mix my foods. 

This is what fascinated my English friends most when I hosted Thanksgiving my first year there (in the UK).
Mainly the whipped yams with melted marshmallows; they just did. not. get. it.  But loved it.
Next would be the pecan pie.
Thirdly would be "And you put all these things on ONE plate?"  (well, except the pie).

Good luck!

Also, you could play Alice's Restaurant in the background!

YES!  All you ever need to know about Thanksgiving, or America for that matter, is explained in that song. 

No waitrose near me, anywhere I can get canned pumpkin easily?  I.e. the internet, since my options are either the 'net or tesco. Wrong time of year for finding regular pumpkins- maybe will need to use squash or could make a sweet potato pie

Are you anywhere near Glasgow?  Lupe Pintos on Great Western Road has Libby's canned pumpkin.  I've never seen it anywhere else.

And since you're in Scotland, you might agree with my Thanksgiving = Burns Night theory.  My (Scottish) DH helped me to this realization.  Thanksgiving is great for the following thre reasons:

1) it's a uniquely American thing (well, the Canadians have something similar, but it's not on the same day, etc, so it doesn't count! )
2) it puts a cap on the holiday craziness.  I'm not sure if it's the same in Massachusetts, but out here in the west, people who put out their Christmas decorations too early (i.e. BEFORE THANKSGIVING!) are being a bit over the top and have every right to be mocked.
3) it's non-denominational and non-commercial, all about the friends, family and food.  What other American holiday can make THAT claim!?

But Burns Night is awesome for exactly the same reasons!  See...

1) it's a uniquely Scottish thing...duh!
2) it also punctuates the holiday season, just on the other end.  It's one last great gathering to look forward to after the Christmas/New Year's madness has passed, so it's not such a downer after January 1.
3) it is also non-denominational, non-commercial and completely centered on enjoying a good meal in good company.

So that might be a good talking point.

Hehe great analogy Devinshire!
Afraid its a bit of a journey to Glasgow for me, about 3 hours or so... 

Defintely the sweet and savory thing is good too.
This is going to be fun!

So, my grandmother informed me that canned pumpkin is actually not pumpkin, but butter nut squash. Huh. Anyway, you could cook butter nut squash and use that instead of pumpkin since you can't get any canned stuff!