Ice Cream and French Fries!
By Gerg
Ice cream and french fries....
So, I have a very good friend who often has these moments when she has a craving for ice cream, drowned in syrupy caramel sauce, accompanied by crispy french fries. She'll have these moments when she wants nothing else . . . and there is no chance she is "in a family way"! ;-)
To me, it's an interesting pairing, one I haven't seen anyone else connect together. It does have that sweet and salty combination going for it - which I love, but still....
So it made me think about interesting food cravings people have. Each of us has a unique pallet. My kids don't like any kind of food that has too much spice, or too complex a flavor variety - bland to me, but their mouths will water at a turkey and cheese sandwich. Hold the mustard, hold the lettuce, tomatoes, etc. Turkey. Cheese. Mayo. Bread. That's it.
I love food. I think discovering new and unique foods is like an adventure. One of my favorite ways to order in any restaurant, is to ask the server, "What's good here?" Specifically, I want to see a sparkle in her eyes when she talks about her favorite dish, and I think, "Jackpot!" I don't think I've ever been disappointed. I'm the kind of person who, if you put something I've never seen before in front of me, will reach for it and eat it, just to see what new taste sensation I can experience. If it moves, or is something you might see on "Fear Factor", then maybe not. But that's another story...
I even love things like opening a can of sardines or anchovies, putting them on a Ritz, and snacking on them while I'm deciding what to make for dinner.
So, what do are unique food cravings say about us? Let's explore...
What do our food cravings mean?
So, what do your food cravings really mean? According to one article, food cravings often act as a mirror to our internal life - they tell us how we feel and what we need to satisfy an inner need. Our bodies create a craving to help us deal with emotional issues effectively. For example, when we dream of ice cream, we are desiring less stress in our lives. I'm sure that comes as an incredible surprise to most of us, right? Similarly, our craving for cookies signifies a need for a quick boost of energy.
Personally, I crave cookies because they taste so amazingly good. I love the crispness, the texture, the smell, the sweet chewy taste. Hmm. Excuse me for a moment . . .
Chips? You're thirsty, and having something salty triggers the desire for liquid. Chocolate? You're craving relaxation. Pizza? You need a break. Burgers? You're craving happiness.
Now, medically speaking, according to this article, the foods you crave may signify medical conditions that need your attention. For example, cravings for tomatoes, ice, pretzels and carrots could signal an iron deficiency. The pregnancy craving, it follows, occurs because all kinds of crazy signals are going on and your body is saying "Go left! Go right! Turn around!" and those unusual desires point you to whatever deficiency needs attention.
And then, of course, there's food that is a substitute for depression, loneliness, etc. And food becomes the pleasure that you're not getting from inner peace and happiness, other pleasures, etc.
For a list of food cravings and healthy alternatives to those food cravings, check here.
Strange food combinations
So what are some other famous food oddities? Here's a list I gathered from a number of sources - please feel free to add your faves in the comments section!
- Deep fried twinkies - they have these at the State Fair; makes my stomach churn thinking about it!
- French fries with mozzarela cheese and brown gravy after drinking
- Ranch dressing and anything (pizza, french fries, etc.) - one of my kids favorites
- Pickles with peanut butter and/or on turkey sandwiches
- Cap'n Crunch cereal and Cool Whip
- Tuna sandwich with potato chips inside
- Sushi and cheese
- Sardines and oranges
- Cooked apples and duck meat
- Cold pizza dipped in gravy and covered with hot peppers
- French fries and chocolate syrup
- Cantaloupe and chili powder
- Peanut butter and tuna
- Chocolate chip cookies dipped in tomato salsa
- Peanut butter and banana (reportedly an Elvis favorite!)
- Cheese-flavored popcorn and Cocoa Puffs
- Peanut butter on pizza
- Pickled pork and peaches (I think Peter Piper picked this one...)
- Peanut butter and bacon sandwich
- Macaroni and Cheese topped in baked beans
- Chocolate chip cookies topped with gorgonzola cheese
- Peanut butter and onion sandwich
Okay, that has to be enough to turn any stomach! In the spirit of food being an adventure, who knows? Being one who absolutely loves sushi of any kind, and doesn't even mind food with little tentacles (provided they're not still moving - see the "Fear Factor" reference above!), I encourage healthy experimentation for everyone.
Bon appétit!
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Comments
I'm happy to run and get some for you, Midtown Girl. Now where is there a Cold Stone next to a McDonalds? ;-)
So my daughter and her dad love to dip fries in Wendys' Frostys. I was a vegetarian when I was pregnant, forever ago, and craved burgers and ketchup. I like ketchup on mac and cheese...some think that odd. I do love to eat kimchi and pickled dichon...smells really bad but I think it's yummy. Ever tried 'em? Don't have odd food combos...well, I do like taking smashed taters, cottage cheese, and salad and mixing it all up together :-)
I'm with you on trying foods...get a bit wiggy with tentacles though. Looking for an excellent Moroccan and Greek restaurant to go to...any thoughts?
I get cravings for bitter foods. I love collard greens or chard on one side of the plate, paired with winter squash with brown sugar on the other. I love dark unsweetened coffee and dark chocolate. Brussels Sprouts. Broccolini. Sometimes I just must have something bitter. I looked it up at the article you referenced and it seems like it could be a mineral deficiency. That was really interesting. Of course, it could just be that I like bitter foods too.
I recently saw this movie about a Zen chef and his years cooking at the monastery. Persons of a certain age will remember his best-selling cookbook from the Woodstock years. I think you would like it if you haven't already seen it. It's a very sweet and light movie but it's also really serious in some ways:
http://www.cookyourlifemovie.com/
There's a great interview in it with Suzuki Roshi about a bluebird, and lots of fabulous looking food. :)
curry and chips.
Anything that is at all enjoyable is either illegal, immoral, or fattening. I am a coward eater. I generally state with normal foods. Being an Italian by heritage pasta is the food of the gods. I have done a tuna sandwich with potato chips in it.
First, I have to say, writing hub articles is one of the most fun, playful and relaxing things I do! That said...
Deb, for Moroccan I like Casablanca near Watt & FO Blvd, though it's been years since I've been there. Also Marrakech on Fulton, which has nicer ambience, but the servers just weren't as excited. Both have belly dancers after the food...
Pam - I'll check out the movie. You have quite a vast array of interesting combinations going on there!
Teresa - how does one eat curry that way; as a dip?
Pete - what's a normal food? ;-)
Thanks for all the comments!
I've tried many of these combinations- might even have introduced you to them. But, I never dipped my chocolate chip cookies in salsa. When living in Hawaii, I found I like poi mixed with salsa.
Okay, Dad - you got me. The one food I found just awful was poi while in Hawaii. I'm thinking poi with lighter fluid and a match would make a nice little fire! ;-)
i recently searched a website from ice cream and restaurant releated it's good because i saw this site services is world wide and it's have 150over candies and ice cream..so if you want fun and enjoy then you can take by the http://www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com/
Thanks
My son does the same thing. He mixes food in a weird way. He eats mac n cheese on top of french fries. Weird.
It's french fries with a side of curry, not crisps. :) It's a Glasgow pub grub favorite, from way back when.
My son likes peanut butter and bologna sandwiches.....ew!
My Dad's elderly aunt used to give us Quince jam with lettuce in our sandwiches when we went to visit. We loved it! (Mind you, she also used to put a dash of ginger wine in our orange squash and we were five or six at the time!)
I like popcorn and chocolate bar together with butter on the popcorn....
I like P-Nut butter,mayo and lettuce sandwiches...
I like raisins and nuts in my salads with onions and cucumbers and toms etc....
I like food too...and sometimes I do have the cravings you speak of...now I know why...Thanks :O) Hugs
Webrecsol - your link is to a Mexican restaurant in San Diego I believe I've been too. Though it appears you're using this venue to advertise, seems innocuous enough...
Christine - geez, that's starchy, but not offensive, I suppose...
Teresa - sorry, I should have realized. My Americanism stumbling out of me!
Ms Chievous - eww is right!
Amanda - I'm having difficulty trying to mentally put those flavors together!
G-Ma - See, popcorn and chocolate has that great sweet/salty thing going on; I may have inadvertently touched on a nerve with all this talk of food!
See :-) Read this a while ago. Daughter/fries/Frostys...she loved 'em.
I love French fries dipped in a caramel sundae. I just had that for lunch yesterday which is why I googled it today because my office is stil talking about what a wierdo I am for eating that combination. I also LOVE banna and peanut butter sandwiches. and Cucombers dipped in Kool -aid powder. and I HATE turkey .. to bland!
Denee - funny that you googled it for validation! Actually sweet and salty isn't too uncommon as a general mixing (so consider yourself normal). Cucumbers dipped in Kool-aid powder though ... well, that's a horse of a different color!
G
You made me want to go to the shops and get some chocky bars and yummy stuff to try out. In Australia not as much variety as in the USA but I make do.
I love cooking :) that's why I almost became a chef in England I would be. Am going to bookmark your hub back for more after hitting the shops ;)
Hang on gotta go back to the top and get my shopping list heehe
Good luck, ausis - be bold! Thanks for your bookmark and comments!
G
Love it! My boyfriend introduced me to cold Pork 'n Bean sandwiches with mayo. Yummy in hot weather! I used to know someone who would eat french fries with a milkshake. Actually, some things on your list, like peanut butter and bacon sandwich, might be good. Seriously! I'm bookmarking this for combos to try later. Love this hub. Voted up among many others!
Thank you, Victoria Lynn! I think we create too many barriers of what should vs. shouldn't taste good. Treating food like an adventure is just so much more fun!
G
Macaroni and cheese mixed with refried beans! amazing :) and miracle whip as chip dip with lays yummm
Rock on, Megan - hadn't tried that particular combo. Thanks for your culinary contribution!
The only craving I have sometimes it's for cookies. I don't crave anything else. Peanut butter, bananas and sunflower seeds are delicious together. I don't eat red meat or anything deep fried so hamburgers are out of the question. I gave up sodas years ago as well as chips and twinkies. And I love spicy foods and anything that's new as well. Some of those combinations are really strange. Very cool hub!
I'm definitely a cookie monster too. Speaking of the combos you mention, our State Fair seems to delight in advertising disgusting food fare, like deep fried twinkies. Is that really a draw? I must say though, I've recently discovered chili dried mangos from Trader Joe's. Basically cayenne pepper covers the dried mangos. Surprisingly good. And hot!
Midtown Girl 2 years ago
Very entertaining, Gerg! I haven't heard of most of the pairings to which you refer, but I suppose we shouldn't judge until we've tried them. You go first!
As for your friend who enjoys the french fries and ice cream combo...she is brilliant!!! Makes me want to go get some now!