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!
Very solid. Grilled cheese is up there for me. Sick food is a specific offshoot of comfort food. When I'm sick I'm still feeling the noodle-y vibes but in soup - pho, ramen, basically any Asian soup
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
aw this reminds me of my childhood too! and my older sister taught me to eat the ramen as dry stir fried noodles and not soup which i loved so much - the broth packet became a sauce
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.
In particular, I think there's a ratio of mints that makes it especially comforting, such that you can taste the sauce better. e.g. Rosemary: Thyme : Oregano : Basil = 3 : 2 : 1 : 1
Pho! For every mood. Happy, sad, need comfort food, want a healthier noodle soup option or just a big bowl of noodles! The light broth paired with veggies, garnishes and lime add so much depth and flavor. I would eat this for every meal if I could!
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!
buttered pasta with parm is peak comfort food!! Especially when the pasta in question is bowties
Grilled cheese! Taco Bell. Junk food lol. I'm actually sick today, though.. and craving rice and beans!
Very solid. Grilled cheese is up there for me. Sick food is a specific offshoot of comfort food. When I'm sick I'm still feeling the noodle-y vibes but in soup - pho, ramen, basically any Asian soup
on my second cup of broth
I'm pretty sure I had like, a quart of broth every day of November
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!
Carbs are always the answer, this is a *fact*
Sushi. Feels like the definition of treating yourself.
totally agree. there's nothing more luxurious than ordering sushi for yourself when you're alone. i did this yesterday.
Bao - steamed, fried, soup’d or whatever. Pork fat in a sugar wrapper holds me like my mother in a puffy cloud dream.
that was poetic. amen.
Hawaiian BBQ chicken plate with tons of warm white rice and macaroni salad. Plus a spam musubi on the slide!
SPAM MUSUBI!
Homemade chicken brodo with tubetti pastina (preferably the whole box lol) and stracciatella. Lol can you tell I was raised in an Italian household.
wait the stracciatella goes in the broth? this is new to me
Yes! my Nonna would always add the whisked egg and parm mix right at the end before serving - it’s next level amazing
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.
okay i have to be honest i have a thing against peas in pasta but i vow to never judge anyone's comfort food. parm + butter forever though
Pho and Katsu Curry!
katsu curry! so many flavors and textures, i'm into it
Congee!! or splurge on some nice cheese, a loaf of bread, and wine aka pretend I'm living on a farm in Italy lol
CONGEE! oh yes. i love the Italian fantasy. Warm bread is elite
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
that sounds like a hug
For me it's cheap, chicken or creamy chicken flavored maruchan ramen! Takes me back to simpler times and easier (childhood) days.
aw this reminds me of my childhood too! and my older sister taught me to eat the ramen as dry stir fried noodles and not soup which i loved so much - the broth packet became a sauce
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.
this is me but with whitefish. and pretzel crisps. and cream cheese
Mashed Potatoes! Soft and creamy.
with EXTRA garlic. or roasted garlic. chives! all the alliums
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.
pancakes are a unique choice, i respect that. pho is ultimate comfort
Piccante Chicken Cacciatora con aglio
Absolutely yes
In particular, I think there's a ratio of mints that makes it especially comforting, such that you can taste the sauce better. e.g. Rosemary: Thyme : Oregano : Basil = 3 : 2 : 1 : 1
SERIOUS QUESTION: pho or ramen? you can only choose one.
Pho! For every mood. Happy, sad, need comfort food, want a healthier noodle soup option or just a big bowl of noodles! The light broth paired with veggies, garnishes and lime add so much depth and flavor. I would eat this for every meal if I could!
love, love LOVE pho. my move lately is to order whatever pho i want and then get an extra side of broth to sip on later. highly recommend
Also best hangover and sickness cure!
Pho, pho 4ever. I love ramen but pho contains eldritch powers of healing for whatever ails you.
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.
honestly i'm having a cottage cheese revival moment. i forget why i ever stopped liking it
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.
i feel like this is what i wish i had as a snack growing up but instead it was all russian meatballs and borscht for me lol
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!
ooo love a thai red curry!
Cheese eaten standing up (it tastes better that way) any vehicle.
can't even tell you the amount of times i've hovered over my counter eating cheese. i co-sign
Fried chicken! Or Xiao long baos!
fried chicken!!! Popeyes fried chicken with mardis gras mustard, a biscuit and some mac n cheese on the side. XLB for sure
I know your feelings on this....but Pad Thai all the way!!
i would personally go pad kee mao but i love a pad thai every once in a while!!
Warm carbs. All of them.
this is always the right answer, the question is irrelevant