What’s your go-to meal when you feel like sh*t? I don’t mean *actually* sick but emotionally sick - sad, down-in-the-dumps, you get it. I’m gonna get slightly vulnerable here and say November 2021 was a doozy of a month for me and all I wanted (when I felt like eating at all) was food that made me feel warm and loved and to me, nothing spells “love” like my mom’s tefteli (full recipe via my last post). So I was wondering - what’s that one food for you? What dish makes you feel better, if even just temporarily?
Let's see - I'm experiencing post-vacation exhaustion and just decided on pizza, which I NEVER eat, for lunch! But if I'm really down, a big bowl of pasta, smothered in butter and parm will do the trick!
Definitely pho! But instant ramen is aaaalways a comfort when I'm down and extremely lazy. If I feel like cooking, making a thai-ish curry or a really simple pasta is like a warm hug. So basically noodles and/or rice is always the answer!
Buttered noodles with peas and parmesan cheese. It’s been my go to comfort food for as long as I can remember. It’s what my mom would make me when I was sick or sad, and is perhaps the reason why today it is still my go to comfort food.
A bowl/hot pot of piping hot sundubu, add the egg and dumplings. Specifically from this little place called Tofu Ya on Sawtelle in Los Angeles that I’ve been going to for half of my life. Reminds me of childhood
Honestly nothing makes me happier than a hearty 16-oz container of tuna fish salad (lots of celery and red onion crunch) and an endless supply of crackers for dipping!!! The cracker is a mere vehicle to consume illegal amounts of tuna fish salad. THIS is peak comfort dining.
Echoing others on the grilled cheese and will also say that the times where i've been absolutely going through it, sometimes the only thing that sounds even remotely appealing is a fluffy stack of buttery pancakes.
Or for immediate and mess-free pleasure: a single-serving container of cottage cheese, topped with *good olive oil* and everything-but-the-bagel seasoning. Eat with a spoon if patience is running at an all time low, or eat with crackers! My favorite savory yogurty pick-me-up.
Spicy red Thai curry and Pad Kee Mao with thick rice noodles. There's nothing more comforting than food that warms the soul...and noodles make everything better!
Let's see - I'm experiencing post-vacation exhaustion and just decided on pizza, which I NEVER eat, for lunch! But if I'm really down, a big bowl of pasta, smothered in butter and parm will do the trick!
Grilled cheese! Taco Bell. Junk food lol. I'm actually sick today, though.. and craving rice and beans!
Other contenders of mine: shrimp pasta, spaghetti aglio e olio, mac and cheese....there's a trend here
Definitely pho! But instant ramen is aaaalways a comfort when I'm down and extremely lazy. If I feel like cooking, making a thai-ish curry or a really simple pasta is like a warm hug. So basically noodles and/or rice is always the answer!
Sushi. Feels like the definition of treating yourself.
Bao - steamed, fried, soup’d or whatever. Pork fat in a sugar wrapper holds me like my mother in a puffy cloud dream.
Hawaiian BBQ chicken plate with tons of warm white rice and macaroni salad. Plus a spam musubi on the slide!
Homemade chicken brodo with tubetti pastina (preferably the whole box lol) and stracciatella. Lol can you tell I was raised in an Italian household.
Buttered noodles with peas and parmesan cheese. It’s been my go to comfort food for as long as I can remember. It’s what my mom would make me when I was sick or sad, and is perhaps the reason why today it is still my go to comfort food.
Pho and Katsu Curry!
Congee!! or splurge on some nice cheese, a loaf of bread, and wine aka pretend I'm living on a farm in Italy lol
A bowl/hot pot of piping hot sundubu, add the egg and dumplings. Specifically from this little place called Tofu Ya on Sawtelle in Los Angeles that I’ve been going to for half of my life. Reminds me of childhood
For me it's cheap, chicken or creamy chicken flavored maruchan ramen! Takes me back to simpler times and easier (childhood) days.
Honestly nothing makes me happier than a hearty 16-oz container of tuna fish salad (lots of celery and red onion crunch) and an endless supply of crackers for dipping!!! The cracker is a mere vehicle to consume illegal amounts of tuna fish salad. THIS is peak comfort dining.
Mashed Potatoes! Soft and creamy.
Echoing others on the grilled cheese and will also say that the times where i've been absolutely going through it, sometimes the only thing that sounds even remotely appealing is a fluffy stack of buttery pancakes.
And I'm choosing Pho every time.
Piccante Chicken Cacciatora con aglio
SERIOUS QUESTION: pho or ramen? you can only choose one.
Or for immediate and mess-free pleasure: a single-serving container of cottage cheese, topped with *good olive oil* and everything-but-the-bagel seasoning. Eat with a spoon if patience is running at an all time low, or eat with crackers! My favorite savory yogurty pick-me-up.
Marcella Hazan's Bolognese
Dumplings from any NYC chinese restaurant with a side of egg drop soup
A peanut butter and banana sandwich. Nothing says dad's babysitting like that one.
Spicy red Thai curry and Pad Kee Mao with thick rice noodles. There's nothing more comforting than food that warms the soul...and noodles make everything better!
Cheese eaten standing up (it tastes better that way) any vehicle.
Fried chicken! Or Xiao long baos!
I know your feelings on this....but Pad Thai all the way!!
Warm carbs. All of them.