by Thos Robert

Created on: September 01, 2007   Last Updated: September 14, 2011

When accepting the task of narrowing my favorite foods to a field of 10, I, at first, thought it would be an easy one. But I must now admit that it is much more complicated that I had previously thought. There are foods that I like to prepare, foods that I like to snack on, foods that I prefer in a restaurant. So, narrowing it down to an overall list of 10 was difficult, but I was able to do it.

PASTA I love preparing pasta because it really allows my creative culinary juices to flow. All the different meats and vegetables and sauces that can be put into a pasta, and the myriad of combinations is the stuff, when discovered, of a life-long relationship. I like eating pasta out, but truth be told, I always prefer my own pasta.

CHIMICHANGAS There has been far too much talk in regards to defining what Tex-Mex or American Southwest or Mexican cuisine is, so I am hesitant to promote a new designation, but if anything represents what can be called Sonoran cuisine, it is the chimichanga. Basically, a deep-fried burrito, I prefer mine with chicken on the inside and lots of salsa, guacamole, cheese and sour cream on the outside. A nice side of rice and re-fried beans, it's a package that speaks of wonderful culinary indulgence to me.

COFFEE ICE CREAM For an adult, the truest form of ice cream is the coffee flavored variety. I don't trust any manufacturer of ice cream who cannot produce a quality coffee blend. True, I like my caramel and peanut butter and pecans and whatnot in an ice cream, but at the end of the day, it's a plain coffee ice cream for me. That groovy coffee flavor in a sugary frozen cream just does it for me.

OLIVES Popping pitted black olives is an acquired taste, and I have definitely acquired the taste. I picked up the habit in Croatia, of all places, and I have not looked back. I eat them the way most consume potato chips or cookies or peanuts.

BURGERS I never eat a burger in a restaurant. Mine are simply just too good. And they're just too much fun to prepare. As a rule, I like mine medium-rare, but beyond that, I'm up for experimentation. Different cheeses, vegetables, spices, sauces. Every burger is a different experience.

SAUSAGE I'm not sure which style I prefer, but if I had to say, I would go with the German or more specifically, the Swiss. A hot white sausage straight off the grill served up on a paper tray with a dollop of mustard and a baseball sized roll; that's living.

PLAIN DOUGHNUT I really don't understand why people want to mess with perfection; there is no doughnut better than a plain, good old fashioned doughnut. I like mine from Dunkin Donuts, and yes, I like to dunk mine in coffee. Give it a try, you'll never look back.

BEER Technically, according to the American government, beer is a food, so I thought I would include it. Given that beer is really just barley, hops, yeast, and water fermented, beer is just a liquid form of food. And it goes so well with other foods.

CHILI To date, I've never been happy with my own chili. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying the chili of others. I agree with chili purists who object to beans in chili, but I must admit I like a lot of fried vegetables, mushrooms, peppers, onions. Then the hot stuff. The hotter the better!

PIZZA I am loath to add pizza to this list seeing how I have not had a decent pizza in years. In New York, there is a rule of thumb that one cannot get a good slice west of 3rd Avenue. And however unfair that may sound to the hard -working and dedicated pizza makers on the wrong side of the avenue, I have, in my experience, found it to be true. You can't get a good slice of pizza west of 3rd Avenue.

Learn more about this author, Thos Robert.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.