Comfort food is an increasingly prominent concept. Indeed,
the term’s increased use in the English language is likely in response to
increasingly stressful living conditions. The editors of the Oxford English
Dictionary added, “comfort food” to the list of 1997 entries,
defining it as “food that comforts or affords comfort, hence any food
(frequently with a high sugar or carbohydrate content) that is associated with
childhood or with home cooking”. That same year Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate
Dictionary added “comfort food” to its 10th edition, defining it as
“food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or
sentimental appeal, hence, “Grandma’s cooking!”
Comfort food may be best thought of as any food consumed by
individuals, often during periods of stress, which evokes positive emotions and
is associated with significant social relationships. Some get together and dive
into huge tubs of milky ice-cream through low periods (much like my niece),
those who can’t sleep drink hot milk or chocolate to calm the nerves.
Nutritionists also advise insomniacs to eat white rice before bed-time to
assist them into the sleep process.
We all know that another way to warm the hearts of a
particularly meat-loving nation is by way of barbecued beef – indeed, good for
the heart. In Surry Hills the Clock Hotel’s head chef, Simon Wise, lives up to
his surname by adding familiar buzz words to his menu – words such as
“smooth” and “warm”. Char-grilled Beef Sirloin with smooth
Mash Potato, warm Tomato, Olive & Green Bean salsa… Exceptionally good and
moderately priced too at around $20.
While you are there, why not also sip away at one of the
establishment’s delicious, time-stopping “Clock-tails”. Sit out on a
cold balcony, with a fiery passionfruit Santosa Smash in your hand. Mid-winter
nights have never been so good.
Up the road at the Dolphin Hotel the classic Sunday Roast is
meant to keep punters feeling at home, and still on the subject of sirloins,
Steerson’s on Lime Street,
a newcomer to the scene, is fast becoming one of Sydney’s most talked about premier beef
restaurants. [Steerson’s Steakhouse
Bridge St and Steerson’s Steakhouse Lime St, King St Wharf
were formerly known as Kingsley’s Steakhouses. Kingsley’s Australian
Steakhouse, King St remains as the Original Kingsley’s, established 1994.]
Throughout history and across cultures, food has been
associated with the provision of comfort. Indeed, from the moments following
birth, the crying infant is soothed with mother’s milk or, in more modern
times, infant formula. Only since the last decade of the 20th century, however,
has the notion of “comfort food” as a unique concept become part of the vernacular.
Café of the Month is Angelino’s in Waterloo!
The Meriton apartment community really needed a wholesome
as-good-as-mama-makes pasta and pizza place. The area was only surviving on
fast-food joints. Fantastico Angelino!
Source:
South Sydney Herald July 2008 www.southsydneyherald.com.au