AHC: Make a relatively regional dish a world-wide phenomenon

Pizza began as a regional dish in southern Italy, now it's a food you can find everywhere in the world. Take a similairly regional dish, or entire national cuisine, and find a plausible reason for it to explode in popularity.
 
J R Simplot is introduced to patatas bravas by a Spanish refugee from Spanish Civil War who washed up in Boise Idaho.

By World War II, the J. R. Simplot Company had become the largest shipper of fresh potatoes in the nation.

J R Simplot on a visit to New York stays in the Waldorf Astoria orders " them spanish potato things . Braves or something . "

The chef later markets them as Braves in tribute to heroes in armed forces .

J R Simplot manafactures them in their own tribute ,

in 1967 JR Simplot makes a handshake deal to supply frozen Braves to Macdonald s

other chains produce their own version s

in Northern England they eat Braves n Graves or patatas Bravas with Gravy
 
Staying within Italy, if the immigration waves to the Americas had been reversed (Northerners to the US, Southerners to Argentina and Brazil), stereotypically Northern dishes such as polenta and risotto would be far more well known overseas, even though none of them is as suitable a street food as pizza. Chinotto could do well overseas as well, since it's similar enough to Coke to be familiar but different enough from it (due to its bitter taste) it has its own reason to exist alongside its American counterpart.
 
From Alsace ? I'd say Schankalas could join the set of cookies for celebrations : they are some mouth shaped donuts with a bit of kirsch and almond in the dow. Traditionally they are for Mardi Gras. They first become popular in Louisiana around Les Allemands, and then spread until they are cherished as part of the Southern cuisine.

Many protestant alsacians also spread the recipe around the world after being forced to leave by Louis XIV, making it popular in South Africa and all along the spice routes, where they are dipped in cinammon "à la huguenote" (meaning protestant style, as opposed to the ""American ones"" with just sugar, because many French protestants fled in colonial empires, notably around the spice road)

Perhaps it could even reach Asia ...
 
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During the Winter War the Karelian Pasty would become the symbol for support and resistance for Finland in the West. It would be trendy to be seen eating the delicious pies. After the War the popularity would wane down for a few decades but in 60s the Finland would become a trendy again and Karelian Pasties would enter the global world culture permanently.

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During the Winter War the Karelian Pasty would become the symbol for support and resistance for Finland in the West. It would be trendy to be seen eating the delicious pies. After the War the popularity would wane down for a few decades but in 60s the Finland would become a trendy again and Karelian Pasties would enter the global world culture permanently.

I would support that movememt whomeheartedly.
 
A Third World War breaks out in 1983, taking out most of the developed world...

Apart from New Zealand. New Zealand picks up the pieces, and tries to put the world together again, via the power of Pavlova:

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Some Finnish dish could spread to other countries if USSR conquer Finland during Wnter War and ten of thousands refugees would go around the world.

If Axis win WW2 Danish refugees might make theri breads globally more popular.
 
Swedish Meatballs, in one variation or another, exist pretty much everywhere. Of course everyone just plagiarized them so they have a million other names.
 
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