I just love food. Food is good. So I thought Id make a list of my most favorite foods. Admittedly mostly pretty unhealthy stuff. I know you can do tasty healthy foods, but if healthy foods were the tastiest of all, then we'd all be pretty healthy wouldnt we? Anyhow, its in no particular order and Im sure Im forgetting some beloved dishes. But these are the first 25 I could think of. I think good food is like good music. If you dont enjoy it, theres something not quite right with you. Good food like good music is one of the finest parts of being alive I think.
Top 25 food experiences
1 krispy kreme donuts.-ahh, they didnt look like much when I saw them, but it was surely love at first bite. The classic or the creme filled would be my choices, preferably with a side of milk. They are light and not heavy like other donuts because they get their rise from yeast as opposed to eggs. Soo perfect!
2 prosciutto, aged gruyere cheese, and basil on a baguette- I had this one time in Paris, and it was so simple but soo good. Good bread and good cheese is crucial. My favorite goto sandwich
3 Fu Shing- not a dish but a szechwan style restaurant. Im lucky enough to live next door to the best chinese food Ive ever had (and Ive been to china) . I even got their number on speeddial. PF Changs got nothing on this.
4 pizza - Its all about the crust. Forget about New York or Chicago. The best pizza I ever had was in Italy. The bready part was so good it didnt even need the toppings.
5. beggars chicken - an old chinese dish. I only had it once at a fancy place in Monterey Park. You have to order it a day ahead of time. Traditionally slow cooked in a clay casing with herbs, it all melts together like butter. Soft and delicate and soo good.
6. pulled pork - I love so many types of pork... bacon, baby back ribs, carnitas . But whoever invented slow cooked pork butt (its called the but, but it actually comes from the shoulder) aka pulled pork, deserves a statue.
7. creme brulee - such a wonderful and simple desert makes me proud of my french ancestry
8. tea - weather it be ice tea or hot tea I feel a serious debt of gratitude to the chinese for this invention. jasmine green tea and my homemade suntea ( orange pekoe, lipton black, turbinado sugar, and a dash of aloe vera juice for fun) are my favs.
9 curry- its actually a mix of spices that has many variations through Asia. I prefer the Indian style tomato based curry sauce. I think my favorite of those is the one that I make for myself (Trader Joes has a most excellent curry simmer sauce)
10. pecan pie- I gotta give credit to the south for some great innovation in food. My mom usually gets me this one in place of a birthday cake.
11 cheesecake - not much to say about it except mmmmmm. I prefer the simple new york style with no added flavors, save maybe a dollop of blueberry sauce
12 pastrami sandwich - Tops or the Hat make excellent versions of this. So long as they drain the juices ( you dont want soggy bread with this), and add a good helping of mustard its perfect
13 gelato - Id take this over ice cream any day. Another fine contribution to the world from Italy. Pistachio flavor would be my first choice.
14 bacon- It can be a bit much by itself, but it certainly can spice up a number of dishes. Sandwiches, salads, or if you havent tried it I suggest sauteying some poultry in bacon drippings and then roasting it. hot damn, that shit is good!
15. sesame balls - the best part of any dim sum day. A rice flour crust surrounding sweet red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds and friend till golden , crispy and delicious. Its only really good when fresh
16 papaya salad - At last something healthy! The best thing I had in Thailand. In traditional thai fashion, its both sweet and spicy.
17 root beer float- I cant imagine who first thought it would be a good idea to mix root beer and ice cream, but they were a genius. Has to be A&W
18. cheese- by itself or as an accompaniment. quesadillas, mac n' cheese, sandwiches, pizza. My favorite would be parmesano reggiano, by itself or on a cracker. The king of cheeses I say.
19. jambalaya - Another fine contribution from the south (though pecan pie and jambalaya were born hundreds of miles apart so I do generalize). Anything that walks, swins, flys or crawls is the creedo here. My preference would be for some shellfish with andouille sausage (gotta have that sausage or it just dont work)
20. avacados- A fine contribution to any sandwich or salad. My preference is for guacamole. Life is always better when theres guac to be had
21 popcorn- My favorite snack and something I make about once a week. And Im not talking about the stuff born of the microwave. While being convenient if you dont cook, the bags are heavy with oils and the sealed environment traps in steam which makes the popcorn less crunchy. I use a wok to make mine and cover it with tinfoil with lots of little holes poked in it to let the steam out. I like Orville Redenbacher for this
22 reuben sandwich - my favorite New York dish. Corned beef, saurkraut, melted swiss cheese on rye bread. Traditionally served with thousand island dressing, but I prefer to skip that part (its icky and makes the bread soggy)
23 chili -Theres a place in the San Fernando valley called Chili Johns. They make the best darn chili. Its super thick and hearty, and terribly bad for you Im sure.
24 pioneer chicken - also terribly unhealthy. This used to be my most favorite thing when I was a kid but the franchise sorta fell apart and now theres only 2 that I know of in LA. Thankfully, they never changed the recipe. KFC and Popeyes just dont compare
25 carnitas - My dad used to fry it in lard for tacos. This is totally unnecessary since it has enough fat in it to fry itself if you use a nonstick skillet and a little Pam. Just add some chopped up onions and cilantro and a tortilla and its the best darn taco (tapatillo hot sauce is optional)
