c/controversial-comfort-foods

Got roasted for cold pizza with ketchup at a NYE party in Philly

So I was at this NYE party at my buddy Mike's place in Philly, and someone brought leftover pizza from Pats & Genos the night before. I grabbed a slice, squirted some ketchup on it, and ate it cold. Everyone in the room literally stopped talking and stared at me like I committed a crime. My friend's girlfriend said "that's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen" and I had to defend myself. Like, I get it, ketchup on pizza is weird to most people, but it's been my comfort food since I was a kid. My mom always served leftover pizza cold with ketchup on Fridays after school, and it brings back good memories. So now I'm wondering, am I the weird one here or do other people have some strange comfort food combo that gets them roasted? Has anyone else dealt with people judging your food choices that hard?

1 comments

piperb93•14d ago

My roommate caught me eating cold canned ravioli with a fork and dead stared me for 5 minutes straight

Tbh I used to just eat Chef Boyardee straight from the can at room temp because I'm too lazy to heat it up, but she said I was 'ruining the whole point of comfort food' and now I microwave it for 90 seconds exactly which honestly tastes way better. Has anyone else had someone completely shame their cozy food ritual into something better?

2 comments

rileynelson•16d ago

Why does nobody talk about eating cold pizza for breakfast with ketchup?

I used to just reheat leftover pizza in the microwave, but about 3 months ago I tried it straight from the fridge with a squirt of ketchup and it was weirdly amazing. My roommate saw me do it last week and called me a monster, but the cold crust and sweet tang just works for me. Has anyone else tried a weird topping on cold pizza or am I the only one?

2 comments

margaret_kim13•16d ago

My mom puts ranch dressing on her grilled cheese sandwiches

I walked into the kitchen last Tuesday and caught her dipping a perfectly good grilled cheese into a bowl of ranch. She said it adds a "tangy kick" that cuts through the butter and cheese. Am I wrong for thinking this is a crime against comfort food?

2 comments

angelar57•17d ago

My grandma's tuna casserole with crushed potato chips on top... my roommates think I'm crazy

I whipped up my favorite childhood comfort food last week in our shared kitchen, and my roommates gagged when they saw the soggy chips and canned tuna mixing together. They said it looked like something a cat would eat, but honestly it reminds me of Sunday dinners at my grandma's place in Detroit. Am I the only one who actually likes this soft, salty mess over fancy mac and cheese?

2 comments

ruby_patel27•17d ago

Appreciation post: cold leftover pizza dipped in ranch, the week it saved me

Last Tuesday I had a brutal shift at the clinic in Austin, got home at 9 pm, and the only thing in my fridge was a half-eaten pepperoni pizza from Sunday. I microwaved a slice, but it was soggy and sad. On a whim I dipped it in some hidden valley ranch and ate it cold instead. That combo got me through the whole week of late nights. Anyone else have a weird cold food ritual that just works?

2 comments

finleyw99•18d ago

Can we talk about cold canned soup straight from the tin?

I know it sounds gross, but hear me out. Last winter at a motel in Flagstaff, the microwave was busted and I was starving at 2am. I cracked open a can of tomato soup and ate it cold with a spoon. It was weirdly refreshing, like a savory smoothie. Is this a hill anyone else is willing to die on, or am I just crazy?

2 comments

margaretm23•18d ago

My family thinks my spaghetti tacos are a crime against food

I tried making spaghetti tacos three weeks ago after a late night craving hit. Used leftover pasta, taco shells, and some shredded cheese - honestly it was amazing. My mom saw me eating one and said it looked like a disaster on a plate. But the crunch of the shell with the saucy noodles just works for me. I learned that some comfort combos are better kept to yourself if you want peace at dinner. Anyone else have a mix that got you weird looks from people?

3 comments

the_john•18d ago

My wife convinced me that cold pizza is actually better than reheated

For years I thought reheating leftover pizza in the oven was the only proper way to eat it. Last Tuesday my wife handed me a slice straight from the fridge at 11pm and I reluctantly took a bite. The cheese had this firm, almost creamy texture and the crust was chewy in a way I never appreciated. I still like it hot sometimes, but now I actually look forward to the cold slices the next morning. Has anyone else had a similar flip on a food they were stubborn about?

3 comments

west.henry•18d ago

That time my grandma insisted on putting ketchup on her mac and cheese

My grandma used to dump a whole blob of ketchup on her homemade mac and cheese every Thanksgiving. I thought she was nuts until I tried it last year after she passed, just to see what the deal was. Turns out the tangy sweetness cuts through the heavy cheese in a weirdly good way, especially with the breadcrumb topping she used. Anyone else got a family member with a food combo that actually kind of works?

3 comments

fisher.adam•19d ago

Canned fish on pizza is my guilty pleasure and I don't care who judges me

So I was at this pizzeria in Portland last month and noticed they had a sardine and anchovy option on the menu. I ordered it and the guy next to me literally made a gagging noise. But honestly, the salty fish mixed with melted cheese and tomato sauce is just perfect comfort food for me. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I've been doing this since I was a kid. Anyone else secretly love weird toppings on their pizza that would gross out normal people?

2 comments

the_oscar•19d ago

I used to roast anyone who put ketchup on eggs until my buddy made me try his with sriracha ketchup last Sunday.

I caved and tried it, and honestly the heat cut through the greasy diner eggs in a way I never expected. Has anyone else been converted to a weird egg topping after swearing it off for years?

2 comments

blair_dixon•20d ago

My wife caught me eating cold pork and beans straight from the can last night

I was sitting on the back porch after a long day of yard work, and I just grabbed a can of pork and beans from the pantry and ate it with a spoon. My wife walked out and gave me this look like I'd lost my mind. She said 'that's not food, that's survival.' But honestly, that cold, thick sauce and soft beans hit just right after being outside in the heat for 3 hours. Has anyone else got a comfort food that only works when it's room temp or straight from the package?

2 comments

sagew50•20d ago

Hot take: Canned tuna and crackers beats grilled cheese every time when you're actually sick

I spent 3 days last week knocked out with the flu and my roommate kept offering me grilled cheese. No offense but all that butter and bread just sits heavy when you feel awful. I cracked open a can of tuna with saltines and it was the only thing that stayed down. The protein and salt actually helped me feel human again after 48 hours of broth. Am I wrong for thinking this should be the official sick person go to instead of the classic?

3 comments

casey16•23d ago

Frozen pizza straight in the oven with no preheat is the only way...

Been doing this for about 4 years now after my oven broke mid-pizza one Friday night. Had to throw it in cold and just wait. Crust came out way crispier and the cheese didn't slide off. My wife still thinks I'm nuts but I timed it once - takes exactly 4 minutes longer than preheating first and tastes way better. Anyone else tried skipping the preheat step?

3 comments

leelewis•24d ago

The day my coworker put ketchup on a michelada

My buddy Dave brought a tray of micheladas to a backyard BBQ in Austin last summer. He was proud of the chamoy rim and everything. Then he grabs the ketchup and squeezes a glob into his glass. I watched him stir it in like it was normal. He said it adds sweetness and cuts the beer bite. I tried a sip and it tasted like a hangover and salad dressing mixed together. Where's the line between a creative twist and just ruining a cold beer? Anyone else seen a drink hack that crossed into crazy territory?

3 comments

drew_park•24d ago

Finally got my hot dog and chocolate milk combo right after trying it at a diner in Akron

I ordered a chili dog with a glass of chocolate milk at a greasy spoon last Tuesday and the weird sweet and salty mix actually clicked for me, has anyone else found a weird drink pairing that makes a normal meal feel different?

3 comments

west.henry•25d ago

My grandma's tuna casserole recipe is my go to comfort food and people keep telling me it's disgusting

I mean I get it, canned tuna and cream of mushroom soup over egg noodles doesn't sound fancy or anything. But every time I mention it's my ultimate cozy meal, people at work make gagging faces at me. Last week my roommate literally said 'how can you eat that slop' while I was heating up a batch I made on Sunday. It's got the crispy crushed potato chips on top and everything, how is that not appealing? My grandma used to make it for me after bad days at school and it just hits different. Does anyone else have a family recipe that everyone else thinks is gross but you still crave it?

2 comments

lucaslee•26d ago

Hot take: peanut butter and pickle sandwiches are the perfect salty-sweet comfort food

Had a rough Monday after my shop's diagnostic computer crashed on a 2014 F-150, but a PB and kosher dill on white bread from my lunchbox turned the whole day around, anyone else defend this combo to their friends?

3 comments

jones.anna•26d ago

My grandma's tuna casserole with crushed potato chips on top gets so much hate but I've been eating it for 30 years

Last week my roommate saw me making it and literally gagged, said it looked like cat food lol. But that crunchy salty chip layer over creamy noodles is pure comfort to me, has anyone else got a family dish that everyone outside the house thinks is gross?

3 comments

kai_park•26d ago

Appreciation post: cold leftover spaghetti straight from the fridge

My roommate caught me eating cold spaghetti out of the container at 11pm last night and looked at me like I grew a second head. She said it's gross but I swear the sauce gets thicker and the noodles get chewier in a good way. I've been doing this since I was a kid at my grandma's house in Philadelphia. Anyone else got a cold leftover habit that people judge you for?

3 comments

adam_lewis•27d ago

Found out my grandma's "secret" mac and cheese recipe was from the back of a box the whole time

I was digging through some old recipe cards my mom kept from the 70s trying to find something to make for a potluck. Saw one in my grandma's handwriting for her famous mac and cheese that everyone raved about at every family gathering. I figured it would be some complicated bechamel sauce with three kinds of cheese or something super old school. Turned it over and it was literally the exact recipe printed on the back of a Velveeta box from 1974. Even the measurement was the same weird half pound of block cheese and a cup of milk. I was kind of shocked at first but then I laughed because the stuff really is good no matter where it came from. Made it for the potluck last Saturday and nobody could tell the difference. Has anyone else found out a family "secret" was just some store brand recipe they tweaked a little?

3 comments

kai_butler83•28d ago

TIL my peanut butter and pickle sandwich obsession is not as weird as I thought

I have been eating white bread with crunchy peanut butter and dill pickle slices since I was a kid in St. Louis. Last week at a potluck in Springfield, a guy saw me making one and said his grandma used to eat them with mayo too. Has anyone else found a weird combo that actually works better than it sounds?

3 comments

west.henry•28d ago

I almost ruined Thanksgiving with canned cheese

Last year at my sister's place in Pittsburgh, I tried to make my weird comfort food of canned cheese spread on saltines for the whole family. She got grossed out and hid the cans, but I found them and ate a whole can in the pantry before dinner. I felt so sick I had to lie down for an hour while everyone ate turkey without me. Has anyone else had a comfort food backfire that badly during a holiday?

3 comments

barbaraw47•1mo ago

The time my aunt served me cold canned soup with crackers and called it lunch

It was about 8 years ago at her house in Des Moines. She pulled out a can of tomato soup, didn't heat it up, just poured it into bowls and plopped a few saltines on top. I stared at it for a solid minute before she said 'it's better cold, trust me.' I took a bite and honestly, it was kind of perfect on that hot July day. The cold soup felt more like a smoothie, and the crackers gave it a nice crunch. Now I do it sometimes when I'm alone and my family gives me the weirdest looks. Has anyone else had a moment like that where someone's odd comfort food stuck with you?

2 comments