Comfort food comes in many flavours, food columnist says
It doesn't have to be high fat or high carb; but it probably brings back good memories
Food trends come and go, but On The Coast food columnist Gail Johnson says some things in the world of food have staying power.
Comfort food is one of them.
"[Comfort food] certainly has become an overused phrase. The term always comes up when fall turns to winter and people want to cozy up at home and make something like a thick stew for dinner. It's also often associated with high-fat, high-carb dishes: think gooey mac n' cheese," Johnson told On The Coast host Stephen Quinn.
"Comfort food is essentially anything that makes a person feel happy, no matter what time of year it is. … It's something that nourishes the body and the soul."
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But comfort food means different things to different people, and Johnson spoke to several prominent British Columbians about what comfort food means to them — and some had slightly odd choices.
Just ... plain popcorn?
For example, rocker Bif Naked picked plain popcorn. No salt, no butter.
"When I asked her why popcorn, she told me that, as a child, her mom would make incredible Hindustani meals most nights of the week," Johnson said. "Sunday evenings, however, her dad ruled the roost, and those nights were spent as a family watching the Muppets on TV and eating popcorn. And this was their Sunday dinner."
Johnson also asked Ballet British Columbia artistic director Emily Molnar (she picked salad with avocado); Chef Trevor Bird, who runs Fable Restaurant on West 4th Avenue (shepherd's pie); Richmond city councillor and former Olympic snowboarder Alexa Loo (soups like pho); and Squamish Mayor Patty Heintzmann (French onion soup).
And what about Johnson's pick?
"I'd have to say a simple tomato sandwich. My mom used to make these for me when I was living at home in Edmonton," she said.
"It was the simplest thing: tomatoes, salt, pepper, butter, and mayonnaise on white bread, cut into four triangles. To this day, the tomato sandwiches I make don't taste nearly as good as my mom's."
With files from CBC Radio One's On The Coast
To hear the full story, click the audio labelled: What's your comfort food? On The Coast food columnist asked prominent British Columbians