Cravings: The Strong, the Strange, the Inexplicably Specific

[bloviatrix]

Funny how corndogs come up again. Last night Blovie and I went out to eat and on the menu they had corndogs. I spent some time considering whether or not to order one but in the end common sense won out and I refused.

[fifi]

ok fifi

this one's for you:

http://www.corndogfestival.com/homepage.html

BWWWWWAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

OMG! And it is in Dallas, too. Good, something for me to needle Richard Kilgore about.

Now this is scary:

As always, everybody is encouraged to decorate a corndog, or as many corndogs as you like, and enter them in the competition.

And this is just deeply disturbing.

[Susan in FL]

This is the first time I looked at this thread, so I just read the first few and last few posts. It got my attention because I thought tonight was pretty strange... I was craving Olive Garden salad. I think that's pretty weird. Even weirder, I abandoned my plans for dinner and went to Olive Garden and ate salad, by myself. It surely didn't sound good to my husband, so he stayed home and ate by himself.

Another thing struck me funny... several other people were at the bar by themselves, eating salad.

[fifi]

This is the first time I looked at this thread, so I just read the first few and last few posts. It got my attention because I thought tonight was pretty strange... I was craving Olive Garden salad. I think that's pretty weird. Even weirder, I abandoned my plans for dinner and went to Olive Garden and ate salad, by myself. It surely didn't sound good to my husband, so he stayed home and ate by himself.

Another thing struck me funny... several other people were at the bar by themselves, eating salad.

Oh dear. It sounds like it is time to get out the tin hats.

[Daddy-A]

This was about 20 years ago, so the details may be sketchy ...

I was recovering from a 4 week bout of mono & pneumonia. During this time, my appetite was non-existent ... I lived on dry toast and vanilla yoghurt, and lost almost 30 pounds. One morning, I woke up with the most incredible craving for a large salad bowl (yes, that specific) of Raisin Bran with orange juice instead of milk. Once I had convinced my mom I wasn't kidding, she brought me the Raisin Bran.

One mouthful later I had lost my appetite again.

DA

[fifi]

Yep... That is pretty strange. However, you did have the great good sense to not eat it. Tragically, such was not the case with my corndog episode.

[suzilightning]

This is the first time I looked at this thread, so I just read the first few and last few posts.  It got my attention because I thought tonight was pretty strange...  I was craving Olive Garden salad.  I think that's pretty weird.  Even weirder, I abandoned my plans for dinner and went to Olive Garden and ate salad, by myself.  It surely didn't sound good to my husband, so he stayed home and ate by himself.

Another thing struck me funny... several other people were at the bar by themselves, eating salad.

susan, susan, susan

i think the heat and humidity finally got to you

at least you enjoyed it right?

go home and have a dope toasted dream

frito pie and corndogs all around

(fifi - check out the current saveur - in the datebook they show "venus rising from the sea" and yup - venus has been replaced by......)

edited to say: it is so freakin hot/humid that i am planning what to make for dinner tomorrow- a cold tomato soup with some sort of salad and good county bread with cheese i think - we shall see

Edited August 3, 2004 by suzilightning (log)

[fifi]

(fifi - check out the current saveur - in the datebook they show "venus rising from the sea" and yup - venus has been replaced by......)

Ummm... Help me out here. I don't have a copy of the current copy of Saveur. I am having a scary vision of a corndog emerging from the waves. Tell me that this is not true.

[Susan in FL]

susan, susan, susan

i think the heat and humidity finally got to you

at least you enjoyed it right?

go home and have a dope toasted dream    

I think the heat and humidity did get to me, and that craving was the first sign of it. I'm home sick today! Nothing serious... But yesterday I spent almost the entire day outside, including pulling weeds and I think it kicked up some allergies. So anyway, brunch today is oatmeal with toast dope, and green tea. Oh, and yeah, I did enjoy the salad!

Just checked out that bizarre picture in Saveur... Fifi, I don't think she's going to be able to tell you it's not true.

[suzilightning]

(fifi - check out the current saveur - in the datebook they show "venus rising from the sea" and yup - venus has been replaced by......) 

Ummm... Help me out here. I don't have a copy of the current copy of Saveur. I am having a scary vision of a corndog emerging from the waves. Tell me that this is not true.

OH MY, MY

OH, HELL YES

though technically from a shell - as the pearl does - must be part of this year's stylings <evil >

Edited August 3, 2004 by suzilightning (log)

[Ms. Meliss]

I tend to go through cycles of craving random foods. I'm not talking about the usual cravings that occur from time to time for certain things but recurrent cravings for specific things that I just can't stop thinking about until they are statisfied (and I'm not pregnant).

For example, lately it's been those dried apple bananas (the kind that cost a small fortune from Kokua or Down to Earth, go figure!), plain old Vanilla Yami Yogurt (even over good ice cream), and anything eggplant that's spicy.

What are your wacky and/or unexplainable cravings? Or is it just me?

[Ms. Meliss]

What? No body wants to share? Come on guys. It's kind of funny and nice to know you're not alone don't you think?

[PakePorkChop]

What? No body wants to share? Come on guys. It's kind of funny and nice to know you're not alone don't you think?

←

Sorry, but in my life I just have constant cravings (I bought the k.d. lang production just for the title; the genius of the work was a bonus).

Three kids in school. Debt over my neck. College and wedding expenses looming.

So we could talk about everything under the sun. Bluefin Chu-toro. Hairy crab from Hokkaido. Bison filet. Chiu Chow goose.

But I gotta admit that if I had one inquiry, I would ask: is there any regular source of ox-tail stew in Honolulu? The nearest source I know of is the Main Street Casino in Las Vegas, where it is a wonderful feature of their brunch.

So there! I've outed myself. Will I find my oxtail stew?

[gmi3804]

I can eat chocolate turtles at any given hour of the day.

[Jenny McClure]

This morning, all morning I was craving a calzone from a wee place that I used to go to a lot as a child, it had sooo much garlic stuffed inside, but devine,I think it;s been about 10 years since I had one. DOn't know where that craving popped up from. Now I'm craving Cadbury's Mini-eggs. No chance I'm going to get eihter any time soon. Had to settle for some crackers as I forgot to bring lunch to work :(

[Ms. Meliss]

What? No body wants to share? Come on guys. It's kind of funny and nice to know you're not alone don't you think?

←

Sorry, but in my life I just have constant cravings (I bought the k.d. lang production just for the title; the genius of the work was a bonus).

Three kids in school. Debt over my neck. College and wedding expenses looming.

So we could talk about everything under the sun. Bluefin Chu-toro. Hairy crab from Hokkaido. Bison filet. Chiu Chow goose.

I hear you! I know, I just started to think about kumomoto oysters yesterday and the mandoo from Sis Kitchen which I guess I'll never have again!

But I gotta admit that if I had one inquiry,  I would ask:  is there any regular source of  ox-tail stew in Honolulu?  The nearest source I know of is the Main Street Casino in Las  Vegas, where it is a wonderful feature of their brunch.

So there!  I've outed myself.  Will I find my oxtail stew?

Although I don't share your love for ox-tail stew (sorry). Maybe it's cause I was raised on my grandmother's and any other is just not as satisfying. But I would imagine you can get ox-tail stew at many places. I Feel like more people I know prefer the soup instead...hummm now you got me thinking stew...like tripe mmmmm!

It can't be as difficult as finding good Mexican maybe someone else will be kind enough to help you out. Happy Hunting!

[Ms. Meliss]

I can eat chocolate turtles at any given hour of the day. 

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Wow! Thats amazing! I think my craving would be gone after about 7th or 8th hour. I'm more of a periodic long-term craver myself (I think the APA classifies it as something different, ha, ha) but will need to eat a lot of it right away and fast, then won't crave it again for a week or two when the viscious cycle repeats itself again!

[Ms. Meliss]

This morning, all morning I was craving a calzone from a wee place that I used to go to a lot as a child, it had sooo much garlic stuffed inside, but devine,I think it;s been about 10 years since I had one.  DOn't know where that craving popped up from.  Now I'm craving Cadbury's Mini-eggs.  No chance I'm going to get eihter any time soon.  Had to settle for some crackers as I forgot to bring lunch to work

←

I don't know if I"m really supposed to post 3 separate replies in a row! Is that bad gullet etiquette? Oh well.

Anyway, I feel for you. There's nothing worse than a sudden craving while your're stuck at work with crackers! This is the story of my life (I work on a college campus) but usually it's crackers and a protien bar or shake. Blahhh! I used to get that Cadburry thing when I was a kid. I tried some not too long ago and haven't craved them since.

I think someone should do some scientific studies on "Cravings Across the Human Life Span or "Growth, Development and Cravings". Really, isn't it funny how a year ago you couldn't get enough of something and now you barely remember what it tasted like?

[PakePorkChop]

Although I don't share your love for ox-tail stew (sorry). Maybe it's cause I was raised on my grandmother's and any other is just not as satisfying. But I would imagine you can get ox-tail stew at many places. I Feel like more people I know prefer the soup instead...hummm now you got me thinking stew...like tripe mmmmm!

It can't be as difficult as finding good Mexican maybe someone else will be kind enough to help you out. Happy Hunting!

←

[touaregsand]

Pan fried Spam, rice and kimchi.

This has got to be a Hawaiian favorite. Yes, no?

[Lone Star]

I have been craving a Bloody Mary for about a month. Where that craving came from, I don't know!

I will get the craving for a fried Spam sandwich about once a year too!

The worst craving I get is the one I think is genetically inherent in Texans - a plate of tacky Tex-Mex. Just gotta have it!

[Gastro888]

I would just about give anything to have some fresh pineapple from the islands, a big o' bowl of poke, and huli huli chicken...ono!

Edited April 28, 2005 by Gastro888 (log)

[Basilgirl]

Every once in awhile I get a serious jones on for the hot & sour soup from a really bad Chinese carryout near my old job. That soup was the only thing on the menu worth eating, along with a side of fried wontons for 99 cents. The total for this fabulous lunch came to $2.10

Also have been craving the scallion pancakes from a different Chinese place. They have recently taken them off the menu . When they came to the table, 3 to a plate, they looked exactly like balloons. I always wondered how they did that.

[petite tête de chou]

My husband craves loco-moco about once a week. Doesn't do much for me, but, man, he loves the gravy, rice, meat patty and egg combo. Yikes!

edited to get the name of the dish right!

Edited April 28, 2005 by petite tête de chou (log)

[skchai]

PPC, I think you're right about oxtail stew - I haven't seen it anywhere. Bea's Drive In! Makes me think about Jolly Roger, Chunky's, and now KC's. All the local-style drive-in landmarks that have gone to meet their maker. . .

But getting back to your question, it was not oxtail stew but I though I saw stewed oxtail (as in red-cooked style) at the okazu section of Shirokiya the other day. That might not satisfy the cravings, but. . .

Ms. Meliss, having lived in Tucson for a few years, I emphathize with your remarks about good Mexican. There are a few good places that serve either decent tex-mex or taqueria-style food - the latest that people are talking about is Taqueria la Michoacana, which is run by the same people that run Quintero's.

There are actually a number of academic studies of food cravings - look, if a subject exists academics will find a way to render it incomprehensible. Most of these studies are from the physiological side, but a number look at psychological and cultural issues as well. You might seek out the journal called Appetite - yes such a journal exists.