i would probably not make a lot of points with James Beard, Julia Child or Alton Brown.
Don't get me wrong. i like quality food. i'm not a huge fan of rich creamy sauces delicately surrounding succulent slabs of roasted lamb, (i prefer leaner meals since that seems to have more of the flavor i prefer), i do realize that there's a definite advantage to knowing how to make your own steak rather than going to Outback. i tend to go for places that may cost a bit more, but have the kind of food that one realizes is worth every bite. i don't consider myself a "foodie" by any stretch, but i think i can say that i'm pretty far beyond considering fine dining to be served wrapped in Styrofoam.
Well, most of the time.
Thing is, there are times when crap food is pretty darn tasty.
Not just any crap food. i'm talking high quality crap food. When i'm over at the local mall, for instance, i try and grab a bite at the food court. Specifically, i go to the only Ivar's outside of Washington state and get an order of clams and chips. Maybe the fish and chips instead. Oh yeah, and be sure to ask for the cocktail sauce since they won't give it out if you don't.
It's deep fried and served in a little recycled cardboard tray that shows how little grease actually got into the food. (or maybe i just eat it that fast.)
That's the kind of crap food i'm talking about. It's the little places you wind up going to that aren't top of anyones list but have some of the bestest whatever's you've had. They're the places you feel just a little bit guilty going to or telling your friends about after they spend hours talking about the latest Iron Chef entres.
Thing is, you need places like that. You need that cheap, take out pizza joint that serves the best fold up New York style you've been able to find. Or that sketchy road side taqaria that serves tamales of the gods on Tuesdays.
Why do i mention this? Because after a mutual grouchy day today, i decided to go grab a bag of deep fried appetizers from a local hole-in-the-wall Chinese joint and oh sweet and sour god it was good. Yeah, probably shaved a good half hour off my lifespan, but it was worth every crunchy, sesame flavored wanton and crisp egg-roll second of it.
Yeah, i could have gone to the insanely good Chinese place i found in Los Gatos, but i don't consider them "crap food" material.
And yeah, i'll be topping off tonight's less than health conscious dinner with a serving of oven roasted crispy orange chicken with a side of stir fried harvest veggies from trader joe's. Hey, some crap food you don't have to go out to get.
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There are a few specific foods (not necessarily gourmet) that I've learned are better to get from their vendors than make myself. Sure I could make my own hot dogs at home, but they're so bad for me that it should seem like a luxury to grab one occassonally from a guy in a cart, the way God intended.