A Food Meme

I've been tagged by Vasilisa to give 6 Weird Food Facts About Me and I was tagged by Karrie to do another Foodie Meme. As usual, I've combined the two. Here are my answers to both!

What’s your #1 comfort food?

It depends on the season and what mood I’m in. If it’s freezing cold and snowing out, then something warm like hot chocolate, my mom’s macaroni & cheese, a cheese omelet. Wait! I’m seeing a pattern, cheese is a definite comfort food. I love bread… Okay, cheese,chocolate and bread. They make me happy any season.

Oh, and I love pudding! Rice, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, tapioca. Yum! I love the texture. I hate when cereal gets soggy. I cannot eat cereals like frosted flakes; they wilt too fast. That is the worst feeling. I need cereals that are sturdy and will hold up in milk, but I like creamy hot cereals like oatmeal and grits.

If you were on a deserted island, what one food would you want to have with you?

I’m having a hard time with the suspension of reality thing. I need fresh clean water. Hmmm… Bread would be good and it would keep for a little while. I need some quick protein, maybe some nuts and raisins. I think I’m basically saying granola. Yup, that would be good.

What is/are your signature dishes? (What dishes are you ‘known’ for?)
Gingerbread is my big one. Also, scones and biscotti. My family likes my salads too.

It’s Friday night, you don’t know what to cook. You opt for…

It depends what I have in the house. Sometimes I make breakfast for dinner, an omelet with cheese and vegetables. I might have oatmeal or peanut butter toast.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to food?

I love bread and desserts. More baked goods I guess. I’m not a big candy person, except for dark chocolate. I also have a strange love for brussel sprouts. Most people don’t like them, but I could eat a ton!

What food can you absolutely not eat?

I’m quasi-vegi. The best way to explain is that I don’t eat any mammals. I eat poultry and seafood. Even though I like seafood, I don’t eat sushi. The raw food thing I cannot handle. It’s the thought of all the germs and parasites. I can’t handle it.

I don’t like beets. When I was a kid, I confused beets with cranberry sauce. The expectation in my head and mouth for the sauce, but tasting the beets, was so horrifying that I’ve never quite gotten over it. Although if beets were the last vegetable on the planet, I would eat them for the nutrients.

You need a drink. You grab a…

During the day it would be water or juice. Maybe some decaf coffee. I very rarely drink soda. I don’t keep it home. If I’m cold I drink a hot drink and I'm always freezing. I drink coffee every morning. I’m addicted and have stopped fighting it.

What’s the most decadent dish you’ve had?

I’m not sure, but the most decadent and amazing meal that I’ve ever had was the Jazz Brunch at the Langham Hotel's Café Fleuri. ** Everyone must try this!


What’s your favorite type of food?

Seafood and Italian.

Favorite dish?

I can’t pick one, but I do have a random weird food fact. I like tuna sandwiches, but when I make tuna, I use very little mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip) and I prefer a little black pepper, chopped onions and a lot of relish. Without the relish, I’d rather not eat it. In my family, the relish is a big thing with tuna. Relish and vinegar are key ingredients in potato salad also. The tart sweet thing is crucial.

If your partner could take you to any restaurant you wanted, which one would it be?

I’d like to go to The Wine Cellar in the Back Bay. It’s a fondue and wine restaurant and sounds heavenly. It has all my favorite comfort foods! Every time I was supposed to go with some friends, it’s never worked out and we ended up going somewhere else. I really want to go!


Are you a soup or salad person?

Soup in the winter. Salad in the summer.

Buffet, take-out or sit-down restaurant?

**Glaring contradiction warning !! I just noticed this.**

Public buffets gross me out. Unless I’m the first person there, I feel like everyone has breathed on the food, coughed, sneezed, and touched it. It’s just a big display of germs and bacteria. At someone’s house it’s fine. Take-out is okay, but I prefer sit-down restaurants.


What’s the most impressive dinner you’ve ever made?
Not sure.

Do you consider yourself a good cook?

Yes.

Do you know what vichyssoise is?

Yes, because I stole Karrie’s answer! A cold soup with leeks, cream and potatoes.

Who’s your favorite TV cook?

I have none now. I used to really like Amy Coleman from the PBS show “Home Cooking With Amy Coleman.” I actually met her!

There was a food expo in Boston at the World Trade Center. They had all sorts of cooking demonstrations and free food. It was a blast! My friend had free tickets from work and brought me. Amy had a cookbook that she was selling and signing. It’s called “The Best Of Home Cooking With Amy Coleman.”
My friend bought the book and we were standing in line waiting for her to sign it. Amy was so nice! She talked to both my friend and I. I told her I loved her show, which I did. I never missed it! Again, I couldn’t justify buying the book at the time. Seems like the story of my life... Anyway, Amy gave me the cookbook and signed it too! She wrote “Thanks for coming to see me – Stay tuned in.” And she drew a smiley face! I’ll have to make something from this cookbook for a post.

Can you name at least three TV cooking personalities?

I haven’t had cable for almost five years and I don’t get to watch the cooking shows on PBS very often anymore either. I do like Mary Ann Esposito and I’ll watch Martha Stewart every now and then. Oh, and I used to love a show about cooking with B. Smith.

Homemade or homemade from a box?

Homemade

Name 3 or more other foodies you are going to tag.

Anyone who wants to take this up, consider yourself tagged.