One of the questions asked of all interviewees here at Cooking with Ideas is: What do you eat for comfort food? (Yes, I know that some people actually stop eating under stress, but hey, we all differ in when we want comfort food and when the idea of eating strikes us as unimaginable. And no, I do not mean by "comfort food" the novel of that title recently reviewed here.) What counts as comfort food? Hmmm. Wikipedia says all sorts of useful things on this topic, including a link (this one) on gender preferences in comfort food and another from the Science Creative Quarterly. And, by the way, the NY Times does seem to think possibly junk food works; click here for a bit on that! And Psychology Today has opinions on the matter as well: click here. Who knew? Over the course of the interviews here are some of the answers I have received:
Caroline Ravines, biscotti maker: Thanksgiving Food is my true comfort food; turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, wild rice etc...................I also love Peruvian Beans and Rice with Fried Onions and Tomatoes. I find hearty soups very comforting. For that interview, click here.
Chemist: baked potatoes and ice cream. For that interview, click here.
Kim Sunnee: A bowl of pasta with some sort of crispy chewy pork product is always comforting. Gumbo with potato salad. Red beans and Rice or sometimes just a bowl of fragrant steamed rice with a pat of salted butter or a drizzle of olive oil. I love cheese and Tarte Tatin with a dollop of chilled crème fraiche. For that interview, click here.
Lorraine Bartlett, mystery author: a hard boiled egg, along with a slice of dry white toast and a cup of tea. For that interview, click here.
Nancy Irelan, of Red Tail Ridge Winery: Roast chicken cooked with root vegetables in a clay pot. For that interview, click here.
Normal Bread baker, Dustin Cutler: Bread. For that interview -- the very first at Cooking with Ideas, click here.
Rhetoric Professor: white pizza. For that interview, click here.
Religious Studies Professor: warm apple crisp. For that interview, click here.
Or, just look for all the other interviews that have graced, Cooking with Ideas.
So: people vary. What do you eat for comfort food?
