by Jackie Youngman

Created on: May 06, 2008   Last Updated: September 24, 2011

My Top Ten Foods

Next to music and sleeping, eating is my passion in life. I would like to share my personal top ten epicurean delights with you.

1. CHICKEN KIEV

Who can resist that mouth-watering, tender chicken breast, stuffed with butter, parsley and garlic, coated in breadcrumbs then deep-fried? I am very greedy with chicken Kiev.....whereas most people are satisfied with just one piece, I must have two. Even then, I am always filled with regret when the last buttery/garlicky mouthful slides down my throat and there is no more.

2. CHOCOLATE

For me, chocolate can be regarded as what I call a "psychological health food" in that it can lift the spirits, comfort, satisfy and please more deeply than can most other foods. It has to be very good quality chocolate, as cheap chocolate has very little taste other than that of sugar. I love to suck chocolate gently as opposed to chewing it, because that feeling of the chocolate slowly melting in my mouth and the flavor gradually infusing through my taste buds, is almost on its own what makes life worth living.

3. PLAICE

Whenever (me being a Brit) I have fish & chips from one of our famous "chippies", I always have plaice. Most people prefer their plaice skinless, but for me the skin is the best part. Plaice has that beautiful flavor which, though it sounds contradictory, I can only describe as strong and delicate simultaneously. I also love it breaded, bought from the deep-freeze in the supermarket, and baked in the oven until the coating is crispy. It's particularly good that way with a jacket baked potato and baked beans (Heinz, of course!).

4. ICE CREAM

What more satisfying dessert can there be than ice cream? Haagen Dazs is my favorite, with Ben & Jerry's following a very close second. I can quite easily eat a family-sized carton of good quality ice cream with no assistance from anyone else, and in one sitting too. Laden with fat and dreamy calories, ice cream for me is an essential item on my shopping list. I can't keep a stock of it though, as I just keep thinking about it sitting in the freezer until I am driven mad with desire, then down the hatch it goes.

5. EGG & CHIPS

How British can I get? Egg & chips always sounds so very boring, yet when indulged in, we realise it is a wondrous trip into a true Epicurean paradise. The chips have to be thick cut and home-cooked, and the eggs must be fried to perfection - with every single piece of the white firm and not in the slightest bit runny, and

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