chickenfeet: (fishy)
[personal profile] chickenfeet
That 100 food meme that referenced earlier was, as ll such lists seem to be, decidedly odd. It seemed to focus on the "exotic" meaning, as far as I could see, either likely to disgust somebody or rare and expensive. I think it would be much more interesting to compile a list of the most worthwhile (for some gastronomic value of worthwhile) things to have eaten. Naturally this assumes well prepared versions of any given dish or food. Even black pudding fans, such as myself, would concede that it can be very nasty indeed.

If I were to compile such a list I feel sure it would be very category driven. There would be the bourgeois French classics (raie au beurre noir, cassoulet, choucrout garnie etc). There would be the great noodle soups of south east Asia (lakhsa, kao soi, pho etc). There would be the British ready prepared classics (black pudding, Arbroath smokies, potted shrimps etc). North American breakfast/brunch foods (eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, corned beef hash, pancakes with bacon and maple syrup). I would probably add pasta and rice dishes and no doubt some Indian and Thai classics though beyond the one dish meal soups it gets harder since the true beauty of Thai, Indian and Chinese meals lies in the combination of dishes rather than in their individuality.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that good eating doesn't lie in ostentatious 'luxury' but in relatively common ingredients combined with care and flair. Ok, I'll stop channeling Elizabeth David now.

Date: 2008-08-16 01:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] valkyriekaren.livejournal.com
I'd definitely include confit de canard and pommes dauphinoise in the 'French classics' section. There's probably also a category for 'modern bistro standards' like slow-roasted belly pork and lamb shanks sous vide - both of which I've had excellent and execrable versions of. (My favourite place for belly pork is Joanna's Restaurant in Gipsy Hill, conveniently just a two minute walk from my house. Mmmm!)

Date: 2008-08-16 07:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com
For sure! My list of French bourgeois classics would probably be absurdly long. I would be tempted by the pork belly but its something I'm eating les of generally. It is so good in its SE and east Asian incarnations. Long beans with roasted pork belly, roasted chilli jam and Thai basil FTW!

Date: 2008-08-16 01:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melted-snowball.livejournal.com
Yeah, that was my biggest objection, too. I've "introduced" a lot of people to a lot of foods, and really, having had pesto, or tomatillo salsa, or proper mole (mole poblano is on that list), or even real maple syrup for the first time (or pho, also on that list) seem much more important to me than the first time I had black truffle, a flavour I really do like.

Date: 2008-08-16 02:49 pm (UTC)
ironed_orchid: watercolour and pen style sketch of a brown tabby cat curl up with her head looking up at the viewer and her front paw stretched out on the left (Default)
From: [personal profile] ironed_orchid
Elizabeth David has a point.

Date: 2008-08-16 03:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] da-lj.livejournal.com
Damn. Now I've got a big craving for eggs Benny. :)

Date: 2008-08-16 05:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] midnightsjane.livejournal.com
good eating doesn't lie in ostentatious 'luxury' but in relatively common ingredients combined with care and flair.
I couldn't agree more. The key to good food is the freshness of the ingredients, and preparation that makes the most of that.

Date: 2008-08-16 05:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pyroclasticgrub.livejournal.com
good eating doesn't lie in ostentatious 'luxury' but in relatively common ingredients combined with care and flair.

Absolutely.

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