Food bests are tricky because they are easily altered by a bad recipe, change in taste buds, or daily cravings. There are, however, some pretty powerful combinations of foods that we can all agree are pretty great. Here is my list of the Top Ten Foods that are match made in heaven. May it be the salt to your pepper on this fine Tuesday.
1. Chips and Salsa
Can you think of anything better than sitting down to a basket of crispy, warm tortilla chips and dish of freshly made salsa? I cannot. This “Mexican” dish is actually fairly American, though it is served in most Mexican restaurants in the states as a gratuitous appetizer. I salivate at the thought of them! Chips and Salsa is great any time of day, all year round.
2. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Think: blizzard, cold, wet, windy, terrible, winter. Now think: hot bowl of tomato soup and warm, buttery, cheesy grilled cheese. This dish is the perfect remedy for any winter blues, and it’s a combination that can be as unique as its maker. My favorite grilled cheese can be found here.
3. Spaghetti and Meatballs
If I could only eat one meal the rest of my life, I would choose spaghetti. Most of the time I serve spaghetti sans meatballs, but for this list I’ve included the extra oomph because meat can be pretty tasty too.
Spaghetti is great for no other reason than it tastes spectacular.
4. Cookies and Milk
Are you hungry yet? I am. Nothing satisfies a sweet tooth like a warm cookie straight from the oven and into an ice cold glass of milk. Oreos and milk are pretty great too. Milk + Cookies = Instant Comfort.
5. Cheese and Bread
There is nothing like a fresh loaf of bread, a dish of olive oil, and a plate of cheese to make someone feel welcome. This combination of foods creates an almost reverent space when friends gather together. Also—it’s a pretty perfect blend of flavors when put together. A taste explosion. Pass the brie!
6. Burgers and Fries
Nothing screams America! like a sack of burgers and some freedom fries. Truthfully I hate fast food burgers, and not at all because I’m a fast food snob (I love Wendy’s) or because they are terrible for you (I love lots of terrible things). I simply don’t enjoy them. I do, however, love a homemade burger on the grill piled high with lettuce, tomato, and onions on a freshly made bun. Fries are the perfect side because they are delicious. I am not picky about fries; even when they’re bad—they’re so good.
7. Rice and Beans
Never have I ever made two foods as much as rice and beans. These two cheap and simple foods have frequented my kitchen ever since I learned to cook. Black beans and brown or white rice make their appearance weekly in all sorts of dishes. Often I simply mix them together and add a bit of cheese and hot sauce.
If you want the good stuff, make your way to an authentic Mexican or Spanish café or restaurant and order up their version of rice and beans. ¡Ole!
8. Pizza and Beer
Want to chunk up in college? This will help. Pizza and beer is a deadly combination, but ohhhh-so-good. Pizza is one of those universal loves that can make any miserable Monday into a little party. Like most foods, this combination is also as unique as its maker. I personally enjoy a thinner crusted pizza and wheat flavored beer.
If you’re in AA, wearing a bonnet, or simply don’t like the taste of beer—try a tall glass of iced tea or lemonade instead.
9. Tomatoes and mozzarella
In the unlikely event that you have never eaten a fresh garden tomato with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, and a slice of soft mozzarella cheese, please mark your calendar for this summer’s batch of tomato goodness and feast on this combination as soon as possible. Tomatoes are responsible for some of summer’s finest foods. A plate of bruschetta sends me into ecstasy, but plain tomatoes and mozzarella is just as great. Tasty—and healthy!
10. Eggs and Bacon
Bacon makes me pretty sick, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this classic combination that has been sustaining diners all over America for decades. When hunger strikes, it’s easy to salivate over crispy strips of bacon and those white and yellows sunny side up.
Bacon and eggs is not just for breakfast, plenty of Brinners (Breakfast for Dinner) are served daily. Definitely a match made in heaven, or at least in diner heaven.
Bon Appetit!
remember the grilled cheese and tomato soup from high school? that was some good stuff!
Oh my gosh–so good. But Taco Salad Day was best :)