"comfort" news and stories

On those days where you are simply so frustrated you want to throw something, all you need to do is hop on a plane and fly to the Philippines. There is a restaurant just outside of Manila where, for a small fee, you can hurl plates at a wall to relieve stress. The wall is covered in writing with common aggravations, like "ex-boyfriend", "boss" and "perennially complaining customers." According to the owners of the restaurant, the three most popular targets are "boss", "wine, women and gambling" and "loan sharks." A plate costs about $0.30 and, for a mere $25 more, patrons can toss an old TV set at the wall, too. It's a small price to pay for the privilege of smashing up someone else's stuff, rather than your own.

[Image via Reuters]

 

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Having spent a good part of my teenage life in the heartland of America, I know a good fried chicken when I eat one. Over the past weekend, I decided to make a stop at San Francisco's Blue Jay Cafe, one of those joints that tries to bring the comforting tastes of the South to the West Coast urban life. The decor of the place is simply amazing, and brings to mind a coming together of indie, vintage, and western.

After a quick sit at the bar, we were presented with the menus. But, I knew what I wanted--fried chicken, no questions about it. Here, they serve it up with a side of macaroni and cheese and a homemade biscuit. I immediately fell in love with their biscuit, which was crusty and moist. I'm salivating about it right now as I'm writing. The mac 'n cheese was serviceable. But the chicken--oh, the chicken. Their chicken reminded me of why I like fried chicken in the first place. The delicate breading on the outside meets with the lusciously tender and flavorful chicken on the inside. The two are a match made in heaven.

As I finished my last bite of the finger licking good chicken, I vowed to return once again to this southern oasis in San Francisco. They've convinced me that I don't ever really need to leave the tastes of the south behind.

Blue Jay Cafe
919 Divisadero Street
San Francisco, CA 94115

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Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food. It is hearty, flavorful and can be subject to nearly infinite variations. Some meatloaves are all beef, while some are made with turkey or even faux meat, which preserves the spirit of the dish, if not the meat. Meatloaves have been around as long as ground meat and are larger versions of meatballs.  Due to their size, they can easily be served as a main course and the leftovers sliced for sandwiches. Flavorings and some "filler," in the form of vegetables, egg, breadcrumbs or rice, are added to help the loaf maintain its shape. The practice of "stretching the meat" with filler was popular and widely practiced during the lean war years of the early 20th century.

After a decline in popularity, due in part to many years of inclusion in frost-bitten, over-processed, microwaveable meals, meatloaf is working its way back onto the plates and into the hearts of diners everywhere. It is on upscale restaurant menus, where it is recognized as classic American fare, as well as being a staple at diners and neighborhood restaurants across the country.