Everyone knows that Americans love to eat and that Americans love to compete, but few could have foreseen programs and entire networks devoted to competitive cooking.

Not all that long ago the notion would have been as laughable as cage-fighting hamsters.

But now, add a dash of “The Amazing Race,” season liberally with reality-show cues set in exotic locales and finally, reference a literary classic.

Voila: a heaping helping of Bravo’s new offering, “Around The World In 80 Plates.”