Many a rant has come and gone over the six years of blogging about food. I have opened myself up to criticism, taken long introspective looks at my fixation with food and admitted to liking the non-food passing as food, Cheetos. I’ve tried the baked kind, the better for you kind – you know what I’m talking about but I always come back to the original, like a moth to a flame.
Do you remember my post, Cheetos Meltdown, about finding the last drips of Cheetos, rolled up tightly in their bag in the trash? My craving so great that I, like George Costanza from Seinfeld who garnished a partially eaten éclair from the top of trash can, removed the Cheetos bag from the trash for the last little crumbs.
How can I be a respected food writer if I like Cheetos? Today, I have been vindicated, there has been absolution. Yes, I can now hold my head up high because Saveur Magazine Chefs’ top 100 issue arrived today and in it, focusing on favorite food items of chefs was a segment on Cheetos. It was number 19 out of 100, and being born on the 19th, it was a sign that I must write about this epiphany.
Chef Craig Koketsu, from Park Avenue Winter in New York City is using Cheetos in a broccoli side dish. A real chef, in a real New York City restaurant is using Cheetos as an accoutrement – my guilt is gone and I can proudly hold up my orange stained fingers with pride.
Pssst, you there, you reading this post who like tater tots, you were vindicated as well – Chef Michel Richard of Citronelle picked tater tots as his favorite. He admits to have purchasing the frozen kind in the supermarket - but of course (I’m saying that with a heavy French accent), he now makes his from scratch.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Comments
I'm not sure why you can't be a serious food person if you eat junk food. I got into a huge dustup today with someone on Facebook because I ribbed him for enjoying the hell out of some Subway sandwich. I happen to detest Subway because it's gross, but I have no beef with junk food. I ate Easy Mac for lunch, for cry pete.
For the true snack food enthusiast, I recommend taquitos.net. All the snack reviews you can handle, and more. Enjoy.
A double absolution...whooo hoooo! Thanks Wendy.
Utz cheetos are gluten free. There IS a god!
Really!, that is good to know. It is nice to know I'm not alone in the Cheetos obsession
Dara, my guiltiest pleasure is a gussied up Kraft Mac and Cheese...just like grandma used to make.
We all have our guilty pleasures. I remember a chef who liked Hamburger Helper. But knowing you and how you can cook, that is probably some fine gussied up Kraft Mac and Cheese.
Actually, I transform the blue box into a tricked out Hamburger Helper. It may not be fine dining but it is an old friend.
Speaking of Cheetos, how about a Grilled Cheetos Sandwich? Stumbled across this via Twitter. http://bit.ly/ikz4rq
Love this, Dara!
HNY to you Joanna - Hope I brought a smile to your face
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