What type of food do you most enjoy?

[LesleyD]

1. American
2. Mexican
3. Soul Food
4. Caribbean
5. Italian
6. Chinese
7. Japanese/Sushi
8. Middle Eastern
9. Other

[kwormann]

How about this: My fav foods from some of the categories

Indian (not included): Naan, Rice Pudding, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, Sagg Paneer

Italian: Well, of you want the true story, its Alfredo sauce on pasta with a dry white wine!

Chinese: Any steamed veggie on rice with a spicy sauce

Japanese: see above, or seafood or Philidelphia Roll, Ahi tuna

Middle Eastern: Hummus, pita, falafel, FETA CHEESE, veggies

Mexican: Almost anything: especially beans and corn tortillas, jalapenos

How about Southwestwern: Black beans, corn and sweet potaotes, jalapenos


Get the idea I love ethnic food??????

[rosen]

All it took was a few simple dishes cooked at home & DH & I were hooked on Mexican. We cannot eat this out as there are NO good Mexican places in Richmond, Va. Mexican here means one step up from Taco Bell. Once you learn to cook this yourself you will never be satisfied w/ any restaraunt version. A good example is the Green Enchalidas from an issue or two ago. I've been making my own version of these for several years, now & so have found the positive comments wonderful. Rick Bayless is my favorite author!

[tammy/MN]

i had bought 2 trays of spicy salmon rolls for an appetizer, & after a few bits, i hated the idea that i had to share w/ DH:mad: my fav is the spicy tuna rolls, but they were out.

i really miss egg rolls, they just don't make good egg rolls in the midwest

i miss the mexican restaurant back home in maine, just can't replace it so i just make "healthy" alternatives at home.

i could go on & on, but that is one of my problems, i think too much about food.

tammy

[KimKelly]

Ok.... I was going to vote for "carbohydrates", but since it wasn't on the list I chose Mexican! We love mexican and make it often. I would be smart to grow my own cilantro one of these days as I use so much! Now about Italian.... ! That is also a favorite. I think I may have to throw off the poll results and vote twice! I could just about live on "noodles" which is what my kids do live on, except I would prefer a sauce other than "just a little of the green stuff Mom" once in a while! (pesto).

Kim

[Jodi]

It's a tie: Mexican, Italian, and Chinese -- REAL Chinese food, though, not the Americanized kind you get at Chinese restaurants. DH is Chinese-American, and his parents own a restaurant, and the stuff the employees make for themselves to eat is sooooo much better than the stuff they sell to us unassuming Americans. And it's so healthy -- it's no wonder all 4 of his grandparents are in their late 90s and alive and well!
Jodi

[Marian]

Well, I have to admit we have a fantastic Mexican place within 5 minutes from us. They make very healthy food also, with fresh ingredients. Tonight I had a Blackened Chicken Burrote (wet) with sides of beans and brown rice. It was so good. I definitely cannot make it like they do. They also serve a variety of seafood mexican dishes and, of course, the famous fish tacos from the Baja area.
I also love Japanese food, Chinese food and Italian food. These are just a few - basically I love to eat.
My vote did go to Mexican though, just because it was fresh on my mind from my delicious meal tonight.
BTW, for any Orange County, CA residents, the place is Taco Mesa I think they have 3 locations now.

[Grace]

Originally posted by Jodi
DH is Chinese-American, and his parents own a restaurant, and the stuff the employees make for themselves to eat is sooooo much better than the stuff they sell to us unassuming Americans. And it's so healthy -- it's no wonder all 4 of his grandparents are in their late 90s and alive and well!
Jodi

Jodi, I don't live near your in-laws restaurant, but I for one would be THRILLED if some of those chinese restaurant owners would offer some of their wonderful and HEALTHY dishes on the menu!! Not every American is dumb and interested in yukky greasy, americanized chinese food..... I love authentic anything, really. What would we have to do to get them to try offering a dish or two on the menu? I will ask my favorite local spot as well....

[KValley]

I checked "other" to add in the category of Mediterranean. This encompasses everything from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia (couscous, chickpeas, lamb, lentils, yoghurt!), to Spain, France, Italy, Greece (seafood, fish, olive oil, tomatoes, cheese, bread, polenta, sauces, wine, fruits, veggies, pastry!), to Turkey, Syria, Israel (not that familiar with the cuisine, but what I know incorporates most of the above)

The common threads in Mediterranean foods are cheese, bread, wine, fish, olive oil, garlic, vegetables, fruit, whole grains- my favorite foods. The herbs, spices and preparation make these foods unique to their region, but all use herbs and spices I adore: cumin, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, tarragon, basil, hot pepper.

[AndreaU]

I love all foods, but I did manage to narrow my vote down to MEXICAN for 2 reasons:

1. I eat Mexican at least twice a week.
1. It is very versitile and easy. Mexican dishes translate very well into vegetarian fare while maintaining balanced nutrition- veggies, beans (protein), cheese (dairy) & tortillas (grain).

[JHolcomb]

I chose other-I love Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indian food. I'm on a real Middle Eastern kick as of late. DH bought me a great cookbook for our anniversary -The Cooking of the Eastern Mediterranean. Everything looks yummy! I eat Lebanese at least once a week. Actually, I think that I like Middle Eastern and Indian because I like lentils so much.

[kima]

Ditto what Julie said- not even gonna try to be as poetic!!
You are a gifted writer my girl!!

[KValley]

Originally posted by kima
Ditto what Julie said- not even gonna try to be as poetic!!
You are a gifted writer my girl!!

And you are simply wonderful

[Jodi]

Grace,
I've spoken with my father-in-law about trying this, and he's slowly warming up to the idea. We're only allowed to eat the "good stuff" back in a corner of the restaurant when it's not busy, because other customers can tell it's not what they're getting. My FIL insists that any time he's given in to the urge to let people try it (after they've seen the employees on dinner break, for example), they've been disappointed. I guess most people prefer the not-so-good-for-you, heavy on the sauce Chinese food we're accustomed to. And don't get me wrong, I go for veggies with garlic sauce every now and then myself!!

Maybe Chinese restaurants would be open to the idea, though, if it was suggested to them. Interesting thought!
Jodi

[AD]

I'm not sure if this would classify as "other" or "American" but I prefer plain and basic foods. I don't like spices or seasonings, especially onion and garlic. I'm not fond of combination-type foods with nuts or fruits either. I like to eat each different-textured food separately.

[Pat]

Jodi, I agree with you totally about real Chinese. During college one summer my daughter thought she wanted a summer job and we were discussing it in the only Chinese restaurant I will eat in. We drive 70 miles one way to eat in this restaurant if we want Chinese.

Anyway, the waitress had fled China after the T. Square Massacre with her husband. She had to leave her daughter with her parents in China. She had been a teacher and her husband had held some well-paid job and she was in America working as a waitress and he was washing dishes while they learned the language better and got adjusted. She overheard our discussion and asked my daughter if she would like to wait tables during the summer. My DD thought it would be ok to try so she went to work in this restaurant. She loved the people and the food. She was so impressed by how clean they kept their kitchen. She had worked for two days at a chain and could not stand the condition of the kitchen and quit.

Everyone in the restaurant took DD under their wing. They treated her like family, even teaching her chinese and how to read chinese a little. At the end of the summer when she left the cook wrote her the nicest letter all in Chinese and challenged her to read it back to him.
'
The food in their restaurant does not taste like any other Chinese restaurant that I have eaten in the past. I have eaten in their home and it IS different from what they serve in their restaurant, but the food in the restaurant is much lighter than what is served in other Chinese restaurants.

One daughter lives in Ohio and the other lives in NC and neither have found a Chinese restaurant that they like as well. Anytime they are home and I am too busy to cook, that is where they want to go so we all pile into two cars and away we go.

[Vanessa]

Wow I was surprised Mexican food is in first place! That would be DH´s choice but around here Maryland there are not many Mexican restaurants...mostly American Mexican variations.
This summer DH had a friend from Mexico staying with us and we were talking about food. He said what he saw in Fla and here were tex mex food. He actually said he was getting me a mexican cookbook ....
My first choice is Caribbean food. I like the seasoning and flavors, probably because I grew up with it. I cook a variety at home but we enjoy Caribbean food.

[Angela]

I voted Italian! I love everything Italian I've ever had and on those evenings when the question is "What's for dinner? I don't feel like cooking." I usually end up making spaghetti.
Mexican was a very close 2nd because about once a month I get VERY hungry for Mexican. I will honestly say that craving is often times satisfies by Taco Bell

[Jewel]

If this poll had come up two years ago I would have been right there with the 'Mexican' lovers...I still LOVE Mexican, but I've started to really get into Asian food in the past couple of years, so I had to check that one! I have to cheat, however, and say that I like 'Asian' as opposed to simply Chinese, and I like the stuff I make at home more than I like the Chinese food in restaurants. Why eat deep-friend General Tso's Chicken in a restaurant when I can make something similar at home without the added grease?

I make Lo Mein, Stir Fries, some Thai, and lots of Kung Pao Chicken and Beef at home. When we get the urge for 'out', we go to a restaurant chain in the Seattle area called 'Changs', which is a Mongolian Grill. I fill two bowls (oink! oink!) with frozen slices of chicken or pork, broccoli, carrots, onions, cabbage, celery, bean sprouts, jalepenos and pineapple, then ladle on my own sauce mixture of vinegar, oyster sauce, sherry, sesame oil, chili oil, ginger, minced garlic, and soy sauce! They plop both bowls onto a monster grill, cook it all up for me, and give me a hot plate piled high!! ( ) It's as healthy as I make it because they cook mainly with water, not oil, and I generally forego the chili oil and bring red pepper flakes from home!

In the past, I would say Mexican Food was my drug of choice because of the LACK of veggies, and the presence of beans, tortillas, meats and gooey cheeses... and now, since I've started eating healthier, I find I actually crave the crunch of stir-fried broccoli more than I crave refried beans!!

[aggie94]

I voted for Chinese, because that's what I grew up with and love. My dad is an amazing cook. And like others, I mostly prefer what I make at home, but I enjoy going out for Chinese from time to time too. Oh, and I don't want to leave out other Asian foods that I love, like Korean and Thai. I'm counting those in the category.

[SueK]

Another vote for Mexican! As some of the others mentioned, authentic Mexican food is an impossibility in my area. Only thing we have is Taco Bell! My sister lives in NM, though, and they have some awesome restaurants there! I just looooove hot salsa, carne adovada, black beans, etc. The hotter the better!

[DmOrtega]

Originally posted by Jewel
... Why eat deep-friend General Tso's Chicken in a restaurant when I can make something similar at home without the added grease?

...

I would love your recipe.

We eat foods from all of the catagories and we have plenty of favorites within each, so I can't decide. How about "All of the Above"?

[schuh]

I would have to vote "other," seeing that there's no category for chocolate!

OK, my current ethnic favorites are Greek, Indian, and Thai. I guess that's still "other."

[yorkielady]

Well, my vote was for Japanese - but we really like so many different kinds of dishes. I guess my most fav of all would be.... (drum roll please) ... anything cooked by someone else! Don't get me wrong, I love to cook - I am just not as adventurous in my own cooking as I am open to eating it if someone else makes it. Strange. In the mornings here they tend to make anything and everything - not sure if they eat these things for breakfast or they are preparing for later in the day. But with the windows open and the breezes flowing, it's truly heaven. I am sure I have gained weight from the smells alone!!!

Oh, and we found "the best" Chinese restaurant (real, good healthy Chinese food) - just down the street from us...yes, in Japan. And the French restaurant here is to die for...literally, the food is that fab - and filled with cream! But oh, it was worth the week of extra treadmill walking. So yum!!!

Kimberly

[ashell]

My absolute favorite is Thai--I love the curries, and all the coconut milk. And I suppose Indian would be a close second.
But I must say, I hardly ever cook Thai because some of the staples are hard to find in my midwestern town. (Lemongrass leaps to mind, for example.)

[gertdog]

I picked Italian, because that's what I choose to eat most frequently. And, like Angela, it's my fallback for "I don't feel like cooking" nights.

But I have other favorites... Mexican is very high on the list, Thai is great, and Mediterranean (beyond Italian) is lovely too.

[KellyD]

Okay - I'll be honest - I like them all!! But if I have to narrow it down to one, it has to be Mexican. I could probably live without the rest, but without a Mexican fix once a week, I'd be an unhappy camper! My favorite place is literally a little dive with the best shrimp burritos on the planet (and the margaritas aren't bad either!). Unfortunately, it's in San Diego, and we're now here in Houston...

[lorilei]

I have to admit that the first time I saw the title of this thread, I wanted to answer:

I do not enjoy food. At all. None of it.

I don't know why. As it turns out, that statement is a complete lie. I love food, and it loves me.

I ended up being one of those people who had to vote "OTHER", since my very favorite foods are usually Mediterranean in origin... give me Greek or give me death type stuff

If I HAD to vote for something that was listed, I think I'd go with Japanese, because I enjoy sushi (both its flavor and presentation) more viscerally than most other foods.

I don't mean to be a trouble maker. But sometimes it's hard.

[Kelli Kerrigan]

I had to put my vote in for 'other' as my favorite is Indian. After my first bite of Indian food about 4 years ago, I simply can not get enough!

[boisewinesnob]

I also chose other. My very favorite food is Thai, especially phad thai. But I also have a little story to go with this.
A little over a year ago we moved from Seattle (lots of diversity in ethnic foods) to Boise, Idaho (almost no ethnic foods, other than Mexican). The week before we moved, I must have gone out for Thai food about 4 times because I knew I wouldn't have much to pick from here. They did have one Thai restaurant here and we tried it but the food was horrible.
Last May I went back up to Seattle for my cousin's wedding and, of course, had to stop by the Thai place that I loved. They all knew me there and asked why I hadn't been in for a while. I proceeded to tell them of our move and also my sob story of not being able to get decent Asian food in Boise. The owner of the restaurant said, "Oh, just stop by tomorrow and I'll show you how to make it (phad thai)". I had already tried to make this at home before that, but never got the great result that they did. Now I can make it, and frequently do, and it turns out exactly like theirs!!
Suzy
PS, I also like most other Asian foods