My Top 10 Foods

One of my favorite questions to ask complete strangers, generally as an icebreaker, is what their last meal would be. It’s both a worst and best case scenario in that you’re probably on death row awaiting your final hours, but at least you’ll go out with a bang knowing you’re belly is filled to the brim with lobster and filet mignon or whatever tickles your fancy. And while we might fantasize about being able to eat the most outlandish and exuberant dishes that we cannot indulge in on a daily basis, these whimsical answers won’t truly address the question. At the end of the day, what do you eat that truly brings you comfort and makes you feel good? Perhaps it's an old favorite that reminds you of home or maybe it was a dish you tried for the first time when you went abroad in your twenties. 

I’ve thought about this for a long time, and it’s simply torture to narrow it down to a single meal. I realize my hypocrisy here, because I still insist that others answer my death row prompt with at most three courses. If we relaxed the limitations, however, I can think of at least ten foods that simply make me happy. My top ten is a work in progress, as not every meal can make my list of the ten very best foods I have ever tried based on my limited, earthly experiences. In no particular order I selected:

1. Burrata. Mozzarella’s sexier, more successful cousin. It has the same outer “shell” as mozzarella, but the inside holds a creamy bright white center of stracciatella (not the ice cream — I know, bear with me). It is mild in taste but never monotonous or boring. I urge you to try it over a simple salad of tomatoes and olive oil. 
2. A tuna fish sandwich. We are switching gears here a little bit, but I want to take the time to shed light on this underdog. So many people hate on canned tuna. So many people hate on mayo. A combination of the two leads to a wildly unpopular sandwich, but I love it just the same. It’s funky glory is best appreciated spread between two pillowy slices of white bread.
3. Scrambled eggs. Made with a knob of butter and salt and pepper like God intended. No cream or milk needed. And as Ramsay says, if they are cooked in the pan they will be overcooked on your plate!
4. Tacos de lengua. These are cow tongue tacos, and honestly if you haven’t grown up eating it, you missed out. Tongue is a muscle, so it has lots of fibers and connective tissue that break down beautifully if braised for enough time. 
5. Quiche. Warning: not the last egg dish on this list! A quiche is a beautiful way to enjoy eggs, and in my opinion it is a completely underrated dish. While quiche Lorraine is classic, there are endless combinations. I personally like the southern signature broccoli, ham, and cheese combo. 
6. French Fries. I’ll do anything for these golden light and crispy bits. I love potato in all its forms, but a french fry is truly king. 
7. Homemade flour tortilla with butter. I love watching a pat of butter glide across the puffy surface of a freshly rolled tortilla. They puff up when they are cooked on the skillet and they leave browned pockets all throughout.
8. Tiramisu. Be careful not to inhale the dusted cocoa powder before the first bite, as I often do. This layered dessert of delicate lady fingers and silky zabaione is classy but also comforting and timeless. I love dessert, but this is the only one I couldn’t live without.
9. Lumpia. This is a filipino staple that has slowly made its way into my heart. My future mother-in-law fries them up quite frequently. They are best enjoyed with sweet chili sauce.
10. Shakshuka. While frittata used to be my weekend go-to breakfast, I have now moved on to shakshuka, a dish with roots from the Middle East and North Africa. The eggs are poached in a spicy, peppery aromatic tomato sauce. Although not traditional, I usually enjoy my bubbling plate with a side of crusty bread or hot tortillas (corn and flour both work well). 

I hope some of these foods were familiar to you as well, and maybe some of them piqued your curiosity. I'll probably never be able to settle on my last meal, but I'll forever be looking for new favorites. 

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