On Comfort Food.
Dec. 27th, 2008 07:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
randomnessChristmas food--and boy, there was some yummy food on Christmas, thanks to various members of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bedfull_o_books's family--got me to thinking about comfort food.
As anyone who has been around me much at all can confirm, I get wacky food cravings. Many times these cravings are for dishes I consider comfort food.
This led me to consider what those dishes are, and why they have that place for me.
I think many of my comfort foods are ones I've eaten for many years, like 干炒牛河 (gān chăo niú hé: a. k. a. beef chow fun), or macaroni and cheese. Meat loaf is another. So are 水饺 (shuǐjiǎo: boiled dumplings), with some fairly pedestrian filling like 猪肉白菜 (zhū ròu bái cài: pork with Chinese cabbage). Some dessert foods are also, like ice cream sandwiches, or a 蛋挞 (dàn tà: egg tart). Or 杏仁豆腐 (xìng rén dòu fu: almond jelly/almond tofu/almond junket) but the kind made with agar, not tofu or gelatin (despite the names).
Occasionally, though, the craving is for something I never ate as a child, but nonetheless still fills the comfort food niche, like Cincinnati chili or Saag (साग/ساگ). (bedfull_o_books also considers Saag a comfort food. Neither of us grew up with it.)
I suppose it's all about keeping my not-so-inner child fed. That kid likes fat, sweet, and salt, it seems, and searches for the uncomplicated, unchallenging tastes I grew up with.
What foods say "comfort food" to you? What about them makes them comfort food?
bedfull_o_books's family--got me to thinking about comfort food.As anyone who has been around me much at all can confirm, I get wacky food cravings. Many times these cravings are for dishes I consider comfort food.
This led me to consider what those dishes are, and why they have that place for me.
I think many of my comfort foods are ones I've eaten for many years, like 干炒牛河 (gān chăo niú hé: a. k. a. beef chow fun), or macaroni and cheese. Meat loaf is another. So are 水饺 (shuǐjiǎo: boiled dumplings), with some fairly pedestrian filling like 猪肉白菜 (zhū ròu bái cài: pork with Chinese cabbage). Some dessert foods are also, like ice cream sandwiches, or a 蛋挞 (dàn tà: egg tart). Or 杏仁豆腐 (xìng rén dòu fu: almond jelly/almond tofu/almond junket) but the kind made with agar, not tofu or gelatin (despite the names).
Occasionally, though, the craving is for something I never ate as a child, but nonetheless still fills the comfort food niche, like Cincinnati chili or Saag (साग/ساگ). (
bedfull_o_books also considers Saag a comfort food. Neither of us grew up with it.)I suppose it's all about keeping my not-so-inner child fed. That kid likes fat, sweet, and salt, it seems, and searches for the uncomplicated, unchallenging tastes I grew up with.
What foods say "comfort food" to you? What about them makes them comfort food?
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-12-27 01:05 pm (UTC)Cream of wheat with butter, maple syrup, and raisins or cranberries. I like cooked Wheatabix too.
Definitely 水饺, but 河南包子 (henan baozi) rank higher. You can't get them here, and it drives me crazy! They're spicy beef and they rock on so many levels.
Crawfish etouffee in brioche. It's a great way to serve the dish -- my mother made it for us at home, and I have always loved it.
地锅鸡 (di guo ji, earth pot chicken) is a local dish to Xuzhou in Jiangsu Province. It's stewed chicken and hot peppers in a big pot ringed with flat dumplings. I ate it when I was tired or feeling stressed, and I miss it now.
Brussel sprouts with garlic butter and a little salt and pepper.
French onion soup with big croutons.
Soft scrambled eggs with Cheddar cheese.
Pad see ew, the Thai version of chow fun.
As you can see, when I need comfort I tend to like spicy and/or soft things.