weird combos

Tagline of my life: It's really not that weird.

I didn't think Dame's Chicken and Waffles was that weird when I first heard of it earlier.  And there's a good hour and a half's worth wait of people at dinner time who don't think it's weird either.  (Just not on Monday-they're closed on Mondays; I make this mistake quite often.)

Just think about it in terms of balancing sweet and savory (this is assuming you are a sweet and savory kind of person in the first place - think: mango salsa with fish or apple braised pork)... but it's better... because we're adding the meat and carbs component.  But it doesn't stop there - it's the fact that it's fried chicken with one of the ultimate(ly versatile) breakfast foods.  And it's not just served with maple syrup and golden butter... nope, it's various sauces (i.e. plum or whiskey creme) and the appropriate schmear (i.e. strawberry or vanilla&almond).

Now does it make sense?  It's less weird, isn't it?

The first time I went, I ordered the gingerbread waffle, but they mixed up my order with my ex roommate's ex boyfriend, who failed to realize the characteristic gingerbread spices are not characteristic of a Classic waffle.  The point of this story is that you should totally try their different waffle flavors because I didn't get the entire experience (though they generously brought me another gingerbread waffle, nom).

The second time I went, I totally forgot what I ordered because I remember debating between everything on the menu.  But I had leftovers for another meal's worth of enjoyment.

And both times we didn't have to wait an hour and a half - win.

And both times I forgot my camera (//probably felt too awkward to photograph my food in front of Jeff - but I've since realized that being an Asian girl, it's very expected of me), so these pictures are courtesy of Alicia.

I spent a good while searching the Interwebs for what other people deem "weird food combinations."  Apparently my idea of "weird" is way weirder than most people's ideas of "weird."  It must be a side effect of growing up Asian.  Or maybe I can start calling myself a "foodie."

Things that really aren't that weird:

Monut's chipotle lime peanut doughnut that was not very well received by the entire brunch crowd, except Anna.  First of all, they explain exactly what it is, so I'm surprised you're surprised.  Second of all, it's that savory and sweetness thing again.  I'd recommend an Asian peanut snack food - it's usually some form of peanuts-roasted-with-sugar-salt-and-chili.  It's not that weird.

Grapefruit with cinnamon and honey.  Apparently people like to give me looks when I tell them that's the syrupy brown stuff atop my half a grapefruit.  And here I was thinking it was a classic breakfast food - I swear I didn't make this up.  Cinnamon and fruit, come onnnn; it's not that weird.

Cayenne in chocolate desserts.  My coworkers think it's weird because it's unexpected.  But what about the Aztecs and Mayans and general Mexican desserts?  It's no weirder than salted caramel in my mind.

Peanut butter and bacon.  Though I can't vouch for chocolate and bacon (never tried it), and though I'll admit I did think the idea of an Elvis burger to be kind of disgusting, it makes more sense when you think about candied bacon.  That shit is delicious.  As are peanut butter, bacon, banana, honey sandwiches - not that weird.

Egg and strawberry jam sammy.  This one was introduced to me by Jordan whilst roughing it in New Zealand.  Also makes more sense to me now though I can't exactly explain why; note to self to try out this recipe I saw on FN (I'll get back to this one later).

Things that I'll admit are weird:

bananas and ketchup - uhhh what... just... what?

watermelon and sriracha - not a combination I'd think of myself but I'd try it once I get my hands on a watermelon

pickles and peanut butter - seen this on many lists and the idea is starting to implant itself in my head; I'm thinking fried pickles and peanut butter sammy though

mustard and peanut butter - this one was a weird combo named by a grad student in my food politics class, still think it's weird