Pasta Carbonara

11/15/09 - I know it is only pasta, white sauce, pepper and bacon, but I still had never had it before and I figure I should have a post about something I like by now, so it looks like I'm making some progress. Anything with bacon is good (even scallops) so this was an easy food to try, especially when the bacon is real, thick, and in plenty. Oh, there was also freshly grated real parmesan to top it with, so I had no hesitation to try this.

As much as I enjoyed the bacon, I also enjoyed the white sauce. The creamy, garlickiness was a delight. I have gone from fear, to trying it and finding it not bad, to be able to now say definitively, "White sauce: I like it!" Pasta Carbonara is good to eat!

Not only have I learned of another food I like, but, when it was served,  I also heard a story about how it got its name. The pasta part is pretty obvious, but why carbonara? Pasta carbonara is topped with freshly ground pepper, but in Italy, where it originates, it isn't just topped with pepper, but literally covered in pepper. So much so that it looks black, like charcoal, or carbon. I don't know how well I'd do with that much pepper, but I definitely like the North American version.

VERDICT: Make

photo borrowed from http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1052/ultimate-spaghetti-carbonara

Hard Boiled Egg

11/08/09 - So, I'm a little picky when it comes to eggs. I prefer scrambled or fried and like the yolk to be thouroughly mixed with the whites. Going to extremes with eggs is frightening for me. Cut into it and the yolk starts leaking everywhere? No way, José! Boil it to the point of retaining its shape? No, thanks. I've always associated hard boiled eggs more with bouncy balls than with food.
However, I have now tried them. I had supper/a crepe party with the family we practice our French with and they were a topping. I figured they were inside of a crepe so why not? I was a little bit hesitant, but I had melted cheese on my crepe so that gave me extra confidence. Surprisingly hard boiled eggs taste just like eggs. Who knew?
Now, I probably won't start buying egg dishes and boilers anytime soon. The whole yolk still freaks me out and I really enjoy fried eggs, but I could have a hardboiled egg if I wanted to. So many more salads are available to me now and I'm one step closer to deviled eggs.
VERDICT: Polite, Owen List (I don't mind them and I just love eggs Owen-style too much!)

picture borrowed from http://monsterguide.net/files/2009/04/hard-boiled-egg-with-yellow-yolk-150x150.jpg

Fish Sticks

10/??/09 - I haven't had fish since I was a young kid. We mainly had breaded fish and once in a while some regular fish. As a kid it wasn't a good experience. I have avoided it passionately since. However, In honour of living on the east coast we bought some breaded fish (from the fresh fish section of Superstore) and cooked it up with some fries for some good ol' fish 'n' chips.
When I tried it I wasn't surprised by the taste, I was surprised that I remembered what the taste was like. It wasn't horrendous, but familiar. Not a taste I enjoy though. I would say I probably wouldn't want fish sticks again, but I'm willing to try fresh or fancy fish now, so that's growth right?
VERDICT: Polite