Comfort food

[Rhett N. Cochran]

I'm interested to hear where you think the best comfort foods are.

Meatloaf, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, biscuits and gravy, chicken noodle soup, chicken and noodles, and so on. Comfort food means different things to different people, but no matter its form it typically hearkens back to a simpler time in life and may even be from a specific place.

For me, the cheeseburgers at Redamak's in New Buffalo, MI would be an example. A local example might be Yat's which serves up delicious cajun jambalaya, gumbo, and etouffes on rice.

Recently, I've found that a little place called Zest on 54th Street, by the Monon Trail, has some GREAT interpretations on comfort food. The meatloaf and macaroni and cheese dinner is to die for and their sausage gravy should be its own food groupl

But what are your thoughts? Where do you like to go when life gets a little hectic?

[Doug Theis]

Turnip greens and southern cornbread, dense and rich to soak up the pot liquor (turnip green juice). My mom is from the panhandle of Florida and I grew up on this stuff.

[Rhett N. Cochran]

That does sound good.

[Brian Huff]

My favorite comfort food at home is definitely tuna and peas. When I was a kid, whenever I didn't have school, I'd always have my mom make tuna and peas for me. It's a can of tuna, a can of peas, and a few spoonfuls of mayo. Some black pepper on top and there you go.
My away from home comfort food is, get ready for it Doug, fried smelt.

[Rhett N. Cochran]

Wow. Tuna and peas. That may be the oddest comfort food I've ever heard. And yet, it fits the definition to a T.

Fried Smelt? You must be from Northern Indiana. We used to eat like kings during the Fish Fry season on Lake Perch and Smelt! Now, because of overfishing, you have to pay "market price."

[Brian Huff]

You are indeed right that I hail from Northern Indiana (Elkhart to be exact). I miss good Fish Frys. I went to one here in FIshers last year, and was sorely disappointed. Nothing like the Polish Catholic Fish Frys that offer pierogies on the side too.

[Rhett N. Cochran]

Michigan City here

[Doug Theis]

Mmm, smelt...

Brian's brilliant wife turned me on to two locations in north Indy that have smelt. They are the Snooty Fox and Tilly's Bar. Fry me up a mess...

[Lisa Ralph]

My idea of comfort food is Shapriros cafeteria. They have great mac and cheese and stuffed peppers. I especially like the location at 808 S Meridian.

[Stephanie Daily]

Bazbeauz Pizza outside on Mass Ave with a cold beer - I could use the warmth right now!

[Matt Rouge]

I can heartily recommend the luncheon buffet at the Columbia Club, where comfort food is the theme. They also have one of the best burgers I've ever had, truly decadent.