Food delivery services such as Goldbely and FoodyDirect have enabled Americans to get authentic, local specialities like Philly cheesesteaks or Hawaiian poke sent to any location in the US overnight. But with it being an expensive indulgence, what makes them worth splashing out on?

People’s culinary horizons are wider than ever, with international travel broadening palates and ethnically diverse communities helping new cuisines find a foothold in foreign lands. But should it matter if an American chef sets up a Vietnamese eatery? Would the food be any less ‘authentic’?

Serving up indigenous American cuisine doesn’t just mean cracking open a cookbook. For Sean Sherman, founder of The Sioux Chef, it required years of research, hearing histories from tribal elders, and some well-informed guesswork. How is he helping to revitalize Native American food?

As tastes become more international and health becomes a top concern, more Americans are looking beyond supermarkets to find new flavours that surprise and delight. Canvas8 spoke to 20 people from across the US to understand what occasions lead them to visit specialty food stores.