Jump to content

Your unpopular food opinions


Parliament

Recommended Posts

This all raises an interesting point, why do I love fish tacos (when done properly, usually by me)...but the idea of a fish burrito sounds disgusting...despite there being very little difference overall?  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Lobo said:

This all raises an interesting point, why do I love fish tacos (when done properly, usually by me)...but the idea of a fish burrito sounds disgusting...despite there being very little difference overall?  

I feel like it is partly an appearance thing.  With a taco, the ingredients pretty much stay separated.  You feel like each bite is composed of several individual components.  The fish as the base, a little slaw on top of that, topped off with an avocado and some salsa.  All of the lines get blurred on a burrito.  I would think the fish, if fried, would lose a little crispiness, and when that occurs it’s going to fall/flake apart.  Do not want.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Al_4_ISU said:

Chipotle is the classic example of a solid chain.  A lot of places have a local version that is probably better, but if you don't know the local version, or there isn't a local version, it's going to get the job done.

I live in a place way too small and white to have anything remotely like it.  I was in Rochester, MN recently and got Chipotle because they don't have a local version that's any better, and I was craving a burrito.  Good enough.

I'll stand by McDonald's analogy.  If I'm on the road, I don't have the time to pull off and find the best burger in _______.  I'd never call McDonald's the best of anything, but I know what I'm getting, and I know it will taste fine, and it doesn't matter where the hell I am.  Same for Chipotle.

I disagree. Bowls from Chipotle aren't as good as top local places generally, but they're a hell of a lot closer than a McDonald's burger is to ANY established burger restaurant in the US. However if you're just in the mood for some fries then McDonald's can scratch that itch.

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, SimonBolivar said:

I disagree. Bowls from Chipotle aren't as good as top local places generally, but they're a hell of a lot closer than a McDonald's burger is to ANY established burger restaurant in the US. However if you're just in the mood for some fries then McDonald's can scratch that itch.

I guess I wouldn't argue with that, in terms of quality.  What McDonald's does is consistency among locations, and in my experience Chipotle matches that consistency.  Chipotle is definitely closer to a local joint than McDonald's in terms of quality, but like McDonald's is almost always going to be lesser than the local option if a local option exists.  But if you don't know the area, you know what you're going to get at Chipotle, and it's going to be fine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

However if you're just in the mood for some fries then McDonald's can scratch that itch.

McDonald’s does deal for a double cheeseburger and a small fries for $3.  I rarely ever will eat at McDonald’s for an actual meal—it’s probably been years—but I’ve found it very difficult to not crush a double and fries if I’m driving by and there’s no line in the drive-thru.  if the fries are fresh they’re still delicious. 

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

I have never been able to eat fish tacos.  I just can't relate to the term with regard to food.  I've never really thought about the term fish burrito though.

Had the same general aversion to the thought of fish tacos, fish burritos, etc., before moving to SoCal, where fish taco places are plentiful.  I now love them.  Done right, a good fish burrito definitely goes hard in the paint.  Dammit, now I'm hungry . . .  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, CooterBrown said:


IIRC, it was indie and McD’s bought them.

 

7 hours ago, conVINCEd said:

Maybe, just remember them spinning it off back in the day.

You’re both correct. 
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ridiculous-reason-mcdonalds-sold-chipotle-2015-5

Chipotle was independent. McDonalds bought 90% stake. Later McDonalds divested their stake to focus on their core brand. Chipotle wanted out because they had different cultures. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, Neonmoon said:

 

You’re both correct. 
https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ridiculous-reason-mcdonalds-sold-chipotle-2015-5

Chipotle was independent. McDonalds bought 90% stake. Later McDonalds divested their stake to focus on their core brand. Chipotle wanted out because they had different cultures. 

One wanted to burn people with coffee, the other wanted to poison their customers with E. Coli. Such is the corporate world.

  • Hook 'Em 3
  • Like 3
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Lobo said:

This all raises an interesting point, why do I love fish tacos (when done properly, usually by me)...but the idea of a fish burrito sounds disgusting...despite there being very little difference overall?  

I prefer a fried fish taco, so a burrito would ensoggen the crispy fish, making it less than desirable.  Tacos let it breathe, man.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Longhornmaniac8 said:

If you use a sous vide, no resting required.

Good point.  I have a smoker, a Blackstone griddle, and a natural stone bbq pit for real flames but for some reason, I can't seem to get the motivation to get a sous vide. I go to the sous vide thread and constantly get jealous though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/10/2020 at 10:14 PM, billfromlaketravis said:

Not a terrible idea.
 

Torchy’s  wisely expanded to Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Colorado. That’s tap water in a Tex Mex desert. 

I live in Pennsylvania. I’d murder someone for some hillbilly queso and a trailer park/green chile pork tacos tonight. 

Edited by The Ace of Aces
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Making roux (at least dark roux) from scratch is silly.  I saw a Cajun blog lamenting the lost art of making roux.  Please, there is no art to roux.  It's not like brisket where every piece of meat is different and you have to sense when it's done.  If there's one food product in the world that you could 100% automate with a machine, it has to be roux.  I say this as someone who loves gumbo, who loves spending a Sunday cooking for the family and who would gladly spend an afternoon nursing a pot of beans.  But roux?  There's no magic there and I'll get it off the shelf for gumbo every time.

Gravy, on the other hand, is a different story...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, fuggled said:

Making roux (at least dark roux) from scratch is silly.  I saw a Cajun blog lamenting the lost art of making roux.  Please, there is no art to roux.  It's not like brisket where every piece of meat is different and you have to sense when it's done.  If there's one food product in the world that you could 100% automate with a machine, it has to be roux.  I say this as someone who loves gumbo, who loves spending a Sunday cooking for the family and who would gladly spend an afternoon nursing a pot of beans.  But roux?  There's no magic there and I'll get it off the shelf for gumbo every time.

Bootsie's for the win. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My unpopular opinion: I am beginning to hate the way HEB is pushing brand name stuff off of the shelves and replacing it with inferior quality products.  Example: Thomas English muffins. They are still there in my local HEB (William Cannon and Brodie), but they've been pushed to the bottom of the shelves in place of a dramatically inferior HEB product that has the texture of hamburger buns. Same with couscous. We normally get the East Palm brand. They were out of it so my gf got the HEB brand. It was not very good. I looked at the list of ingredients and compared it to the East Palm brand and there were several extra ingredients in the HEB brand. 

Edited by Hornius Emeritus
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/9/2020 at 3:37 PM, Hornius Emeritus said:

My unpopular opinion: I am beginning to hate the way HEB is pushing brand name stuff off of the shelves and replacing it with inferior quality products.  Example: Thomas English muffins. They are still there in my local HEB (William Cannon and Brodie), but they've been pushed to the bottom of the shelves in place of a dramatically inferior HEB product that has the texture of hamburger buns. Same with couscous. We normally get the East Palm brand. They were out of it so my gf got the HEB brand. It was not very good. I looked at the list of ingredients and compared it to the East Palm brand and there were several extra ingredients in the HEB brand. 

Have you tried Bays English Muffins?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/9/2020 at 8:21 AM, fuggled said:

Making roux (at least dark roux) from scratch is silly.  I saw a Cajun blog lamenting the lost art of making roux.  Please, there is no art to roux.  It's not like brisket where every piece of meat is different and you have to sense when it's done.  If there's one food product in the world that you could 100% automate with a machine, it has to be roux.  I say this as someone who loves gumbo, who loves spending a Sunday cooking for the family and who would gladly spend an afternoon nursing a pot of beans.  But roux?  There's no magic there and I'll get it off the shelf for gumbo every time.

Gravy, on the other hand, is a different story...

Wow...doing this thread right. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, Deej said:

This. They are in a refrigerated section. Substantially better than the Thomas ones.

I have a relative who sends everyone they know some fancy English muffins for Xmas every year.  They are very good.  Don’t know the name off the top of my head, but when they arrive this year I will come back and post the name as soon as I am done eating my first homemade egg McMuffin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unsweetened ice tea is better than almost all “Southern sweet tea.” Sweet tea in restaurants is just hummingbird food, it makes my teeth hurt as I drink it.
Exception is Mexican restaurants in the RGV, they use a bit less sugar and fresh lime (not lemon) juice added.  Makes all the difference. Will still give you diabeetus.

Sugar and lemon/lime in iced tea is awful.

And as I type that I realize I put cream and sugar (stevia) in my coffee.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Unsweetened ice tea is better than almost all “Southern sweet tea.” Sweet tea in restaurants is just hummingbird food, it makes my teeth hurt as I drink it.

Exception is Mexican restaurants in the RGV, they use a bit less sugar and fresh lime (not lemon) juice added.  Makes all the difference. Will still give you diabeetus.

People don't realize that that is not an unpopular opinion in Texas. That whole sweet tea is a Texan thing is bullshit and the idea was planted by transplants on facebook. 

  • Hook 'Em 2
  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, NorthLoop said:

People don't realize that that is not an unpopular opinion in Texas. That whole sweet tea is a Texan thing is bullshit and the idea was planted by transplants on facebook. 

Could be.  I first had presweetened tea in undergrad at a fried chicken place (chain) while visiting friends from DFW.  Zuckerberg would have been inventing Facebook at the time, the chain could be some bullshit Deep South thing.  
 

I do like hot tea with lemon and sugar (sweetened myself) Eastern European style. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, NorthLoop said:

People don't realize that that is not an unpopular opinion in Texas. That whole sweet tea is a Texan thing is bullshit and the idea was planted by transplants on facebook. 

Yeah sweet tea is not a Texas thing. I mean, it appears to be now, but it wasn't historically.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, NorthLoop said:

People don't realize that that is not an unpopular opinion in Texas. That whole sweet tea is a Texan thing is bullshit and the idea was planted by transplants on facebook. 

This, 100%!  Never heard of “sweet tea” until the early 90’s, and we’re restaurant junkies.  Something invented to compete with Dr. Pepper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Boston Market, especially the prime rib, is good. @ me. 
There are only 5 Boston Market locations in Greater Houston. This is inexplicable. 

The Company Man YouTube channel has an episode on why Boston Market never really took off. It’s worth a watch but beware, his videos on why various companies failed are oddly addictive.
  • Hook 'Em 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...