Indian and Polish and most things Latino
Fresh fettucine and fried onion rings
These are a few of my favorite things
Boiled Maine Lobsters and hot Texas chili
Stacked Philly cheese steaks and Long Island iced tea
Real New York Pizza and Buffalo wings
These are a few of my favorite things
When my day sucks
When my friends bail
When I'm feeling sad
I cook up a few of my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad!
Rodgers & Hammerstein bastardizations aside, there are several ingredients that make their way into 90% of my recipes. Without further ado, here is my list of foods for which I'd sell a vital organ before giving them up:
- Bacon - I'm not that different from the dog on the "Beggin' Strips" commercial.
- Butter - Not going to lie, I eat it plain. Two pats for the pan, one for my mouth.
- Pasta - I'd be a pretty half-arsed Italian if pasta didn't make it in my top 10. Pasta is one of the most versatile basic ingredients available, and using it allows the cook a tremendous amount of creativity. It's the culinary version of a blank canvas.
- Sushi - from plain old California maki rolls to more exotic sushi and sashimi choices like eel, flying fish roe, and sea urchin, there's something for everyone.
- Oysters - stay tuned, I'm learning how to shuck oysters on Saturday! Although I generally prefer mine with nothing but a squirt of fresh lemon and a quick grind of black pepper, I have an interesting twist on a mignonette on deck.
- Scotch - Johnnie Black was my gateway scotch. I graduated to single malt after buying a bottle of Ardbeg 10-year, which I diligently hunted down simply because Bon Appetit referred to it as "liquid bacon."
- Lemons - when life gives me lemons, I believe it's God's way of dropping a subtle hint that he's craving chicken piccata.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil - cooking with anything else is like funneling O'Douls.
- Chiles - chile flakes? Always. Chipotles? Yes, please. Habaneros? Thank you for making my vodka sting and my bloody marys kick.
- Anchovies - don't say "eew!" They're fantastic. I dare you to find flavor in a a Puttanesca or Caesar dressing made without them.
What are your favorite foods and ingredients? Leave a comment!
