Memeage
Annoyingly long food meme courtesy of kaligrrrl:

What's the last thing you ate?

sesame noodles with cucumber and scallions


What's your favorite cheese?

goat cheese--fresh, aged, whatever...bring it on!


What's your favorite fish?

I am really not fond of fish, but I will tolerate salmon or tuna on occasion.


What's your favorite fruit?

Well, I tend to eat apples all the time, but my favorite would probably have to be raspberries or cherries--really ripe, yummy ones.


When, if ever, did you start liking olives?

Don't like 'em, never have, although on occasion I will eat bread made with tiny pieces of black olives.


When, if ever, did you start liking beer?

I cannot abide beer. Get it awaaaaay!


When, if ever, did you start liking shellfish?

I don't really like shellfish, although on occasion I will eat shrimp. But I'd rather watch them swim around in an aquarium.


What was the best thing your parent/s used to make?

My dad can't cook worth a darn (don't tell him I said that), but my mom makes a wonderful all-day ragu (tomato sauce).


What's the native specialty of your home town?

Gainesville, FL? Good lord, I have no idea. Alligator?


What's your comfort food?

pasta in any form, Indian food, fresh baked bread, mashed potatoes


What's your favorite type of chocolate?

there's this one made by, I think, Chocolove, that is dark chocolate with almonds and dried cherries, but I also like French chocolate bars with whole hazelnuts in them, and when I REALLY want a treat, I buy Teuschen (handmade chocolates)


How do you like your steak?

I'm not really fond of steak. If I must eat it, I prefer it to have the texture of old shoe leather.


How do you like your burger?

Very, very well done, with bacon and cheddar and mayo.


How do you like your eggs?

Usually made into a kind of omelet and then eaten between two slices of toast.


How do you like your potatoes?

Any way but raw.


How do you take your coffee?

I can't drink coffee unless it's very weak or decaf. But if I do indulge, I like it "sweet and white"--I put more sugar in my coffee than anyone you've ever known, I guarantee it.


How do you take your tea?

See above. And yes, I put milk even in my red tea and my green tea. I don't like white tea very much, though. And my favorite kinds of tea are PG Tips (for breakfast) and Mariage Frères for fancy times.


What's your favorite mug?

This really big purple one that my husband got as a freebie at work. It has a kind of pot belly and holds more than a normal mug. I am so excited that I just unearthed my mug warmer from storage! Cold tea is an occupational hazard in my field!


What's your cookie of choice?

Dancing Deer's Molasses Ginger or Chocolate Tangerine. Although I was craving something with icing and nonpareils the other night, I have no idea why...


What's your ideal breakfast?

chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns (crispy!), and sourdough toast


What's your ideal sandwich?

tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella panino or any sandwich made with goat cheese


What's your ideal pizza (topping and base)?

thin crust, with three cheeses--preferably with goat cheese or gorgonzola, and oregano or basil


What's your ideal pie (sweet or savory)?

peanut butter pie, black bottom pie, or banana cream pie...not too big on fruit pies, but you know, ANY pie is good pie


What's your ideal salad?

baby greens with candied walnuts or pecans, goat cheese, pear or apple slices, and balsamic or champagne vinaigrette


What food do you always like to have in the fridge?

cheddar, apples, fresh bread, real butter


What food do you always like to have in the freezer?

Morningstar Farms Grillers, Amy's burritos, cavatelli or pierogi


What food do you always like to have in the cupboard?

crackers, pasta, lots of kinds of tea, dried fruit


What spices can you not live without?

garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, fresh ground black pepper


What sauces can you not live without?

tomato sauce, peanut sauce, any Indian sauce


Where do you buy most of your food?

Harris Teeter (local chain), Weaver Street Market (co-op), or Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, if we can afford it, and I also like to buy veggies at the farmers' market in the summer


How often do you go food shopping?

4-5 times/week...I would go everyday if I had time.


What's the most you've spent on a single food item?

I guess I'll also have to go with a turkey, but the most we spend in general is for organic chicken breasts ($10-12/pack) and fancy cheeses (I once paid $8 for some rather bland and generic marscapone, to my great shame)


What's the most expensive piece of kitchen equipment you own?

I have a couple of pieces of Le Creuset that I *adore* and a toaster/convection oven that was a wedding present from my nana


What's the last piece of equipment you bought for your kitchen?

a really nice Oxo tea kettle


What piece of kitchen equipment could you not live without?

bread machine


How many times a week/month do you cook from raw ingredients?

well, both my husband and I cook together, so I don't do it all by myself, but together I'd say 4-5 days/week


What's the last thing you cooked from raw ingredients?

sesame noodles


What's your favorite thing to make for yourself?

chocolate tart


What meats have you eaten besides cow, pig, chicken and turkey?

venison (yum), lamb (yuck), duck (yuck)


What's the last time you ate something that had fallen on the floor?


well, today I ate some cracker than fell on the table at the café, does that count?


What's the last time you ate something you'd picked in the wild?

it's been a really long time... I can't remember!


Place the following cuisines in order of preference (greatest to least):

Italian, Indian, Thai, French (French cuisine is pretty meat-based, otherwise I'd rank it higher...I don't eat much meat), Chinese, sushi (I don't eat sushi at all)


Place the following boozes in order of preference (greatest to least):

vodka, gin, rum, anything brown--but I actually don't really drink spirits, only wine


Place the following flavors in order of preference (greatest to least):

garlic, ginger, basil, aniseed (Italians like to use aniseed in sweet things like biscotti, and I am no exception), lime


Place the following fruits in order of preference (greatest to least):

apple, cherry, pineapple, banana, orange (I do not eat fresh oranges, but I'll drink orange juice), watermelon (ditto)


Bread and spread:

baguette with goat cheese and fig jam, or brioche with Nutella


What's your fast food restaurant of choice, and what do you usually order?

I sometimes eat at Wendy's...the Chicken Go-Wrap. But I prefer not to eat fast food.


What are three of the best dining-out experiences you've had?

Pot au Feu, Providence

Magnolia Grill, Durham

some of the Italian restaurants in the North End in Boston, can't remember the names


What's your choice of tipple at the end of a long day?

I don't really drink, but if pressed, I would go for cider or a glass of moscato.


Favorite cookbook/s?

The New Basics, Moosewood cookbooks


Got any favorite food blogs?

I don't really read any other than Chocolate and Zucchini


What's the next thing you'll eat?

mango pancakes for breakfast, I imagine...wish we had some bacon!