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I like what I like

Sep 17th 2007Karen Rose
Karen RoseWhen Goddesses Fall To Earth

I am a creature of habit.  I will freely admit to this fact.  It is both annoying and comforting.   ivory-cropped.jpgSometimes I want to live on the edge, to try something new!  But 99.44% of the time I go with the tried and true.

DH and I will sometimes go out for dinner.  He’ll always say, “What do you want to eat?”  Now I have been married to this man for more than 20 years.  He knows what I like.  Still he is chivalrous enough to ask (and perhaps hopeful that ONCE he’ll get a different answer).  I say, “Steak.”  He nods.  It’s what I like.

Ice cream.  Ahhh….  I am an ice cream connoisseur and the trip to the neighborhood ice cream stand is a rare treat.  I will stand at the counter, looking at the sign longingly.  All those flavors, so little time.  And in the end I say, “Mocha chip, please.”  It’s what I like.  blackraspchip.jpgI will, on rare occasions, choose something else like Black Raspberry Chip, but this is when the Mocha Chip is out of stock (Le gasp! Oh, the horror!)  FYI, this picture is of Graeter’s Ice Cream.  In my studied Ice Cream Connoisseur opinion, this Cincinnati ice cream is the best I’ve ever tasted.  It’s what I like.

Mr. R, on the other hand, loves variety.  He goes to the Big City and stares, wide-eyed at all the restaurants.  Thai, Indian, Tibetan , Ethiopian … He’s in food choice heaven.   Me?  Steak.  Burgers and fries.  It’s what I like.

And by gum, I like it that way.  I got tired of apologizing for it.  Now, if it’s Mr. R’s turn to choose, I don’t complain.  Not out loud anyway.  Okay, not too loudly.  And he saves his really weird restaurant trips for outings with the kids or his uncle, who is his cohort in weird food tasting. 

Sometimes I wish I were more adventurous.  I have eaten lots of weird food in my travels, either out of hunger or so as not to dishonor my host.  But at the end of the day, I like what I like and it’s what I come back to and that’s comforting.

I like to read.  I like romance.  Occasionally I’ll peruse the bookstore to see if a title from another genre catches my eye, but in the end I wander back to Romance and buy … what I like.

So are you a creature of habit?  Or do you like to walk on the wild side?  Have you tried every ice cream flavor on the sign (even the dill pickle)?  Or are you a Vanilla kind of person?  What do you like?

63 Comments »

63 Responses to “I like what I like”

  1. Judy F on 18 Sep 2007 at 4:43 am #

    I would have to say I am a creature of habit for the most part. Depending on the restaurant I usually get a fav there. It never fails I try to be brave and order something new and I hate it. So its rare that I am brave.

    Several years ago on a cruise with friends we made a vow to try something new every night at dinner. I drew the line at snails. shudder…..

    Karen Graeters is the best. My favorite is Double Chocolate chip. Yummy. I may have to stop today after work and get a scope. I will eat it in your honor.

    ps…. Loved Die for me….. So who is in the next one????

  2. Stacy ~ on 18 Sep 2007 at 5:16 am #

    I’m a bit of both. For example, I love trying new restaurants, or food I’ve never had…within reason. Calamari is about as wild as I’ll get. But there are certain places, like the Cheesecake Factory, where I always order the same thing: chicken Madeira. I just love it, and I go there maybe only once or twice a year, so I’m gonna get the chicken madeira…and a godiva chocolate martini *g*

    I also I wish I were a little more adventurous, but I’ve done a lot of things on my own - flew to Finland when I was 21 to visit relatives, went on a cruise by myself, occasionally go see a movie alone. I think it’s good to relax in the comfort zone, but then every once in awhile do something that keeps me from getting too complacent. There’s an awfully big world out there to explore. Now if only I had the funds to back it up.

  3. AliB on 18 Sep 2007 at 5:30 am #

    Interesting how you and DH are opposite, we’re the same, except he’s the steak man. In life as in resturants? It used to be the case. I nagged him to get out and travel more. But old age is creeping up on me, I like the comfort of my own bed and sometimes he’s the one who suggest s a break (though usually places we’ve been before - ‘cos he likes what he likes!)
    Cheers AliB

  4. elsiehogarth on 18 Sep 2007 at 6:55 am #

    I too am a creature of habit but I do like trying new restaurants of different cuisines. To test them out and give them the once over. I have resturants that have been my favorites for the past 30 years: Italian, Dominican, French, Steak House etc. I love the food but I also like the owners because they make you feel welcomed every time you go there.

    Ice Cream wise, I love chocolate, chocolate chip mint, etc. but when I go into an ice cream shop I always ask for Coffee. I don’t drink coffee but I love Coffee ice cream.

  5. DebMarlowe on 18 Sep 2007 at 6:56 am #

    OMG, Karen. I am so married to you. :-)

    “I like what I like” is my dh’s mantra. I can order for him wherever we go. Sometimes he even asks me–”what do I like here?”

    And now I’m craving ice cream!

  6. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:01 am #

    Hey Judy F - of COURSE Graeters is the best. In a way I’m happy I can’t get it here in FL or I would be there every day. Double Choc Chip - a close runner up to Mocha Chip and Black Raspberry Chip. Yum! I went on line recently and found you can have it shipped. But it’s too expensive for me.

    I tell you what - next time I’m in Cinci for a booksigning, we’ll do Graeter’s afterward. And before the booksigning… And later that day …. Yep, it’s good they don’t have them down here! LOL.

    The other thing I miss about Cinci is Grand Finale restaurant - please tell me it’s still there! DH and I celebrated many an anniversary there. Crab crepes, oolala! And that chocolate macadamia gooey brownie dessert, yummmmm.

    YAY!! Glad you liked DIE FOR ME. Next up is SCREAM FOR ME - it’s Daniel Vartanian’s story. And guess what! It’ll be hardcover! SCREAM FOR ME comes out 5/08. The last book in the series is KILL FOR ME, Susannah’s story.

  7. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:07 am #

    Stacy - I’m with you on the Cheesecake Factory. It’s pricey enough that we don’t go often and when I go, I want to make sure I’m gonna like what I get! And they have a BOOK to choose from! Ack. I was in a minor panic when I found they no longer made Pad Thai. I did like that (I ate a bite once off a friend’s plate and that’s how I knew). But they have burgers and fries, so I can still be a happy girl.

    Oooh, Godiva martini? Ooooh. I’ll have to try that. Arkansas Cyndi turned me onto chocolate martinis. She looked like she was in such heaven drinking hers that I gave it a whirl.

    I guess I can try new things if I have the proper inspiration!

  8. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:09 am #

    Now, AliB, I do like to travel and go to interesting places. Interesting places must have hotels with room service (remember what Suzanne E said about this topic the other day? She’s right!)

    Backpacking across anywhere? No. Sorry, but no. I wouldn’t backpack across my own backyard. I hear snakes live out there…

    I do like my own house - specifically my own sofa, which is more comfortable than my own bed. I like a soft mattress, DH likes the bed hard. I’m contemplating one of those adjustable number beds.

    But, coming back ’round, from my woolgathering, I do like to travel! If the countries have a variant of burgers and fries, fish and chips, pizza - life is splendid!

  9. FreshEChelle on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:15 am #

    Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone. I love being a creature of habit when it comes to food. I’m surprised my friends haven’t started ordering for me, each restaurant has it’s “usual”.

    Someone sent a 6 pack of Graeter’s to work but I was out of town. My coworker forgot I asked her to look for the box and refrigerate it and well, a week later. Those Graeter’s folks now how to pack to avoid mess. I pass the shop next to Kenwood Town Center when I’m in Cincy but it usually is just before dinner. I’ve got to make it a point to stop in next time. What part of town is Grand Finale in?

    Congrats on hardcover status!!! I read Nothing to Fear when my B&N’s were sold out of DFM. ooh, scary good. DFM is in this week’s TBR pile; it’ll be my reward for getting through the week without making anyone cry. Wish me luck.

  10. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:17 am #

    Hey, Elsie! Remember when you and Laurie and my friend Terri and I went to that Cuban place in NYC? I LOVED that. To me, that doesn’t seem weird. Just really tasty.

    Maybe you’re on to something regarding the owners making you feel welcome. The company was delightful that day!

    DH’s company is delightful, too. Which is why when he wants to eat weird, I still go :-)

    Deb Marlowe, “what do I like here?” LOL. I’ve been known to say that! I think DH is a bit of a creature of habit, too, even though he likes to try new things. We went out for our anniversary a few months ago and he wanted to shake things up, so he ordered a Mojito! My jaw dropped. Then the whole effect was spoiled when the waiter told him the bartender couldn’t make those. He got a different meal and guess what? Didn’t like his! I got my tried’n'true and sighed in delight. And I shared mine with him. Cause he’s sweet.

    I want ice cream, too. Bummer. It’s only 8:16 here. But it’s 5:00 somewhere!

  11. Kay on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:21 am #

    Oh Karen, My Dh is right there with yours! He will ALWAYS order the strangest thing on the menu. LOL

    I like to try some new things—when I travel–but at home, I will order the same thing EVERY TIME at favorite restaurants. When we try a new local restaurant, I will order something that sounds promising and if I like it, that will become the meal I order any time I go there. I know I will like it, so I don’t have to think, or worry about a bad meal.

    When it comes to ice cream, chocolate with nuts is my requirement. Once, my Dh and I were at a small ski resort, and were out for a romantic dinner. For dessert, I dearly wanted chocolate ice cream with nuts. THEY ONLY HAD VANILLA! Here we were, at the top of a mountain in the Canadian rockies, and no chocolate ice cream. :-(

    CONT….

  12. Kay on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:23 am #

    My Dh is soooo creative. He asked the waiter to bring the ice cream, along with chocolate syrup they used to make hot chocolate, and slivered almonds that were in something else on the menu. He proceeded to make my heart’s desire (for dessert, anyway) and I had my chocolate ice cream with nuts. :-)

    It was Valentine’s Day, and we then went on a sleigh ride under a full moon. He is such a keeper. LOL

  13. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:23 am #

    Fresh - why would you be making people cry? I must know.

    You HAVE to stop at Graeters. I used to take new employees and out of town friends there and made them all addicted, LOL. And your coworker - for shame! Wasted Graeters. My heart aches at the thought…

    Grand Finale is south of TriCounty Mall, off Springdale Pike. The food is delish, but the desserts are incredible - which is why it’s called Grand Finale.

    Glad you liked NOTHING TO FEAR. I think you’ll find DFM’s villain is as bad as the evil Sue! Your B&N was sold out? That’s good to hear! That they got in more copies afterward is better yet!

  14. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:26 am #

    Aw, Kay, your DH is a keeper. We’ll add master sundae maker to his long list of wonderful attributes. This man is remarkable, folks. Brilliant, sweet, generous, a good dad …

    Kay and I were each others’ maids of honor at our weddings and we got great DH’s. I’m grateful every day for the both of us.

  15. Ellen the Foodie on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:42 am #

    Escargot with gar-licky butter sauce and some crispy French bread, anyone?

    I am from the dark side when it comes to food. If you can present it on a plate in such a way that I can forget the animal it came from, I am happy. Snails and Lobsters are exceptions to my rule, but usually I don’t like the food I am eating, to watch me do so.

    I will try ANY cuisine ANY time. I cannot remember the last time I ordered a steak in a restaurant. If I can cook it at home, I don’t order it. Hamburgers, however, would be another exception. I LOVE a great cheeseburger and will judge a restaurant by how they prepare one.

    What’s the most outrageous food you have ever tried?

  16. FreshEChelle on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:49 am #

    Kay, that is such a sweet story (no pun intended). What a great guy to appreciate what a great woman I’m sure you are. You’d think the Canadian Rockies would have nothing but Rocky Road.

    Karen, I’ve got scores of people reporting to me at work. When they veer off course, putting them back on track can make some weepy. Sometimes it’s genuine introspection and regret but sometimes it’s a ploy to get me to back off. Today I have to face a someone who is supposed to set the example but is late 20% of the time for a time-sensitive job. No fun (except when I’m PMSing) If I can handle this without her crying and get her to be on time going forward (’coz we’ll have to let her go if she can’t get it together), it’ll be success.

  17. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:51 am #

    Duh, Ellen, a fish that was still alive, blinking and tail flipping. I blogged on this once. The Triple Dog Dare…

    I’ve tried some pretty outrageous things, but like I said, only out of hunger or to avoid dishonoring my host. The live fish turned out to be a hazing by some business associates in Japan.

    People ask, “What did it taste like?” Warm and fishy. Nasty. So totally nasty.

    On the flight home from Osaka after that live fish incident, the flight attendants would ask you if you wanted “Western or Eastern” food on the flight. I was in the very back row. Before she asked, I snapped, “Western, for the love of God, WESTERN.” She was taken aback - and informed me they were out of Western food. I said “How could you possibly be OUT of Western food? We haven’t taken off yet!?!” She said it had to do with the set ups. This was business class and they would give you a tray. Western had salt/pepper shakers. Eastern had porcelain chopsticks.

    cont…

  18. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:52 am #

    I said, “I don’t care about salt and pepper. I ate a freaking live fish a few days ago. Make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but please don’t make me eat more fish!!” And sushi? It’s still right out. No way. Not even if you beg. Not even for Graeters.

    Okay, maybe for Graeters…

  19. FreshEChelle on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:07 am #

    Oh Karen you poor thing. Very impressive that you honored your hosts by going along with it. Live fish is bad, being treated like the unwashed because you’re in the last row of business class is worse. How dare they? Look at the price of your ticket. They should be serving you Chateaubriand and a chocolate souffle. A flight attended once tried that with me. I freaked out on her, said I’d never put those other choices in my mouth (lobster and rabbit). She scurried away, came back with beef and a hearty helping of attitude. The guy next to me tried the same, was refused. He turned to me “guess the pilot’s not eating beef today.” Shallow victory was mine - it was airline food after all.

  20. cookeemama on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:19 am #

    LOL, Karen. Several members of my family eat sushi. They claim to love it. My often voiced opinion is that I don’t eat bait disguised as food.

    I believe I would have brought that live fish right back up there at the table. Frankly, I think it’s rude for anyone from any country to coerce someone unused to their culinary ways to eat the stuff. I’m sure there are American foods that would turn a Japanese tum. Ewwww

    Margaret in Lancaster County, PA

  21. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:21 am #

    I know. Business class. So hard to bear! All the china and lace napkins and all the wine you can drink!

    Ha! I didn’t buy the ticket. In those days, my company would allow business class if you crossed an ocean. Those were the days.

    Nowadays, I’m back in coach, schlepping it with everybody else. Sigh. I bring my own lunch aboard - at least it’s something I know that I like, LOL.

  22. SuzyQ on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:30 am #

    I find that if I am going to a new restaurant, I will try anything. Since I don’t know what their food tastes like anyway, why not be a little adventurous? However, if I am going to one of my favorite restaurants, I will always get the same dish because I know I’m going to enjoy it. Our local Italian restaurant – the Chicken Marsala (yum); our Chinese restaurant – the Sub Gum War Bar (no fish, just meat).

    As for ice cream it’s always Chocolate Chip Mint. One exception was Ben and Jerry’s American Apple Pie, but sadly has been discontinued. I do steal a little taste from my kids ice cream – they always get the flavors like rainbow cake mix, cotton candy, chocolate peanut butter, etc.

    OK, now I’m hungry . . .

  23. Chantal on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:32 am #

    Ah, very good question. I think that I am a creature of habit. I like to kknow what I am getting into, and the only way to make sure of that, is to always do the same thing every time. LOL

  24. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:33 am #

    Cookiemama - haven’t seen you in a while! I don’t think they thought I would eat it, honestly. I knew something was afoot by the twinkle in my host’s eye and the way he kept asking if I “would accept” the different foods.

    But after that, I was Karen-san for a while. Until I made them mad about something else, I think.

    Fresh, I’ve made people cry before. They’ve made me cry, too. I think we’re even.

  25. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:38 am #

    Chantal - your logic is sound. It’s exactly what I think!

    Suzy Q - if it’s a new restaurant, I think you have to try something new, as every chef/cook will do a dish a bit differently. Like, there is this dish called BangBang Shrimp at a place near here called Bonefish. Again, this is pricey for us and only for celebrations (like a USA Today showing or my birthday). BangBang is fabulous - but the first time I tried it, a friend ordered it and I was a happy moocher. I went to another place recently and tried their BangBang and it was icky. So every restaurant is a new experience.

    I usually rely on friends’ recommendations if it’s someplace I haven’t been and if I’m solo, I go with something “normal.”

    Maybe I’m less afraid of trying new things than I am of paying for a meal or an experience I’m going to hate. I hate to waste money and eating out is such a treat.

    Hmm. Self-discovery. I think I need to be lying on a couch for this…

  26. Erica R on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:41 am #

    I go out of my way to try new things, at least 50% of the time.

    EX: my favorite Indian dish is saag paneer (aka palak panir). But if I had it last time, then the next time I go to an Indian restaurant, I choose something I’ve never had before. Or even if I didn’t have it last time, if I’m at an Indian restaurant that has a vegi entree I’ve never heard of, I order it to see what it’s all about.

    And that is how I ended up with Shahi Paneer Korma earlier this week, and… it was fabulous! Equally as tastylicious (if not better) than saag paneer! And I never would’ve known if I didn’t try new things.

    With writing, it wasn’t until my fourth completed manuscript (and fourth genre, *sigh*) that I totally fell in love with what I was writing. I never would’ve guessed it (and, in fact, went down that path as a lark/joke initially) and am unutterably glad I did so.

    Same with travel… ah, how I love me some unchartered territory!

  27. Sabrina Jeffries on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:41 am #

    I am adventurous, especially when it comes to food. I’ll try just about anything, but I do know what I DON’T like. No mayonnaise, no sushi, no horseradish, liver only in pate, and no ginger. I can tolerate cilantro, but I don’t like it–it tastes like bug spray to me. BTW, did you know that some people are actually genetically predisposed to dislike cilantro? It tastes like a chemical to them. Something to do with an enzyme in it. I’m one of those people.

    But other than my strong dislikes, I love to try things. I eat a multitude of cuisines, and I tend to order different things every time I go to a restaurant.

    My dh, on the other hand, likes what he likes. Grant you, he likes a lot of different cuisines, too, but only one or two dishes in each. So if we go eat Thai, he always orders Pad Thai or curry. If we go to the Indian restaurant, he always get the same four things off the buffet. He’s very picky but has a wide range of cuisines he’s picky in, if that makes sense.

  28. Ellen the Foodie on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:42 am #

    LOL…too funny, Karen.

    My brother spends a lot of time in China, and every time he is there, he calls me groaning about the latest delicacy that was served to him. There have been some real doozies! Duck feet, poisonous blow fish, bats, and the most horrific of all, pickled fish eyes.

    Every time he calls, I suggest that his business associates in China hate his guts and are just making him eat that stuff so they can share a laugh later.

    Waaa Haaa…ugh ree ah merican eat fish eyes!

  29. Erica R on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:44 am #

    Darn you, technical restraints! My big mouth got cut off. Grrr. =)

    ANYway, all that said, I do like familiar things, though. My very favorite ice cream flavor can only be had at the Flavor Freeze in Elkhart, IN and is called Ooey Gooey Chocolate Mess. Yummmm.

    My favorite city is Madrid. It makes me happy just to look out the window and see it.

    And so on… So, I guess I’m both!

    P.S.
    Sorry ’bout my long-windedness. I can’t seem to shut myself up.

  30. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:49 am #

    I have this German friend who used to do the uncharted territory thing. Kind of. She was a delightful mix of contradictions!

    She backpacked across China with another friend (NOT ME) and had index cards with the Chinese characters - blue cards were foods she would eat and pink cards were foods to avoid like heck.

    But this same friend was afraid to get on a bus with me in Rome. She said she was afraid we’d end up in Poland. Ha, very funny it wasn’t. But I do have the reputation for getting lost wherever I go. Possibly this is because I get lost wherever I go.

    I like traveling to uncharted territory, too, Erica, as long as at the end of a travel day, a hotel with good food and a soft bed awaits! Oh, and A/C is always a plus, but never a given, even in the snazziest places…

    Not fearing for your life is also a plus. I try to avoid travel to places where I must have a bodyguard. Been there, done that, don’t need to do it again…

  31. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:54 am #

    Ooey Gooey Chocolate Mess. Definite possibilities, Erica. Next time I’m in Elkhart, IN, I’ll give it a spin!

    My favorite city is London. It’s so cool and old. History seeps about you. And I LIKE English food. I like peas, I like fish/chips wrapped in newspaper, I like baked beans for breakfast. The grilled tomatoes I can do without and we don’t want to talk about nasties like haggus. Yes, I know that’s Scotland, but I did both places on the same trip and all the food is jumbled together in my mind.

  32. SuzyQ on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:55 am #

    Karen, I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who likes to mooch on others dishes. That’s the best way to try something without being stuck with the dish. One thing you always hear with me and my friends is “mmm, this is good. Wanna taste?”

    I do have my limitations – no snails, like others have states above. And I don’t think I could eat a fish that was staring back at me. Make that ANYTHING that is staring back at me.

  33. Julia London on 18 Sep 2007 at 8:59 am #

    I’m with Sabrina. I’ll try anything once. I don’t have any favorites besides brownies. Brownies and me go way back. As for restaurants, I usually order whatever the diet du jour is demanding.

  34. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 9:09 am #

    Sabrina, how do you know what bug spray tastes like?

    Just askin’.

  35. gannon on 18 Sep 2007 at 9:11 am #

    Karen, I actually tried haggis when we were in Scotland and it was not as bad as I thought it would be. But then again, I wouldn’t want it every day!

    I’m pretty adventurous and will try most things, unless they are really out there….like duck feet and fish eyes. Gross! I like just about any ethnic cuisine, but when I go to my favorite restaurants, I usually order the same thing. My excuse is that if I’m not cooking that at home, then I should get it there.

    BTW, Graeter’s Ice Cream sounds fab-o! If I ever get to Cincinnati, I’ll be sure to make that’s a must on my places to go!

  36. Claudia Dain on 18 Sep 2007 at 9:53 am #

    Karen, DebMarlowe may be married to you, but I AM you. I like what I like and I know what I like and I’m perfectly happy to have it every time. Why is this so hard for people to understand and accept?

    Well, to be fair, my DH understands this perfectly. He’s the one who’ll try something different every time, but of course he can eat anything, so what kind of testimony is that? If you like everything…eewww.

    Also, to be fair, every single one of my friends does me the infinite kindness of remembering what I like to eat at our favorite restaurants. “What do I like here?” is a common question from me, but they each remember and can tell me. I ask you, is that not LOVE?

    As to ice cream, I could live on it. Ice cream and steak. Steak and salad. I do love salads, all those little crunchy bits of flavor.

  37. cail on 18 Sep 2007 at 10:11 am #

    ah, food. one of my favorite things in the world.

    i’m a cross between a picky eater and an adventurer.

    When i go to my favorite restuarants I usually have a fairly good idea of what i like, and order it with some varience. Generally thats because i’ve had everything on the menu and have figure out what my favorite combinations are.

    new places i usually ask the waiter what their favorite is, or whats most popular and why. frequently, if they respond with something i’ve been considering, i’m sold.

    luckily, i live in NYC and therefore have an infinite number of excellent restaurants to try. (if you ever need advice of where to eat if you’re in town visiting, ask away!)

    Just don’t ask about indian food, sadly, as yummy as it is, my stomach can’t handle the ingrediants.

  38. cail on 18 Sep 2007 at 10:11 am #

    oh, and i won’t eat vanilla ice cream.

  39. Aemelia on 18 Sep 2007 at 10:13 am #

    I’m a bit of both…I love to try new foods-esp. ice cream (my favorite food group!), but when it comes to reading, I almost always stick with Romance-though I do tend to try different genres of that-historical is my favorite, but I like contemporary, suspense, paranormal…as long it is well-written, and has a HEA, I’m all for it!

  40. Lisa H on 18 Sep 2007 at 11:00 am #

    I am so a creature of habit. Every morning I start my day with a can of Coke.

    I always order Enchiladas Supreme at my favorite Mexican place and always order Chicken Egg Foo Young at my favorite Chinese Rest.

    I always have soft vanilla if I get ice cream.

    I do like to try new things, but generally only if I am cooking them!

    I usually only read Hist. Romance but have ventured out into some Contemporary and even a Koonz and Stephen King occasionally.

  41. colinfirthfan on 18 Sep 2007 at 11:21 am #

    I am fussy about food. I like to try new things but I am pretty sure that half the time I won’t like it so I stick with the tried and true - or I order something but I make sure that my DH will order something that I can eat in case I don’t like my order - I will switch with him. :-)

    I love ice cream - especially cold stone creamery. My fave is coffee with heath bar and almonds and chocolate fudge. Mmmmmm!

    I don’t eat most seafood (and definitely no shell fish) because it tastes fishy!!!!

    I used to read historical romances and Silhouettes only. Now I read a wide variety of contemporary, paranormals and historicals.

  42. doglady on 18 Sep 2007 at 11:39 am #

    While I have lived, traveled and eaten all over the world, I tend to be very much like you, Karen. I like what I like and I tend to order the same thing in certain restaurants. There is a little hole in the wall place here in Wetumpka called Mrs. Mary’s Kitchen. They know me so well, that if they see me pull up, by the time I get inside they have my plate ready - baked chicken, black eyed peas, taters and gravy and corn bread and a big to go cup of Mrs. Mary’s iced tea, sweetened of course! When I was in grad school at USM there was a Subway across from the music dept. They would see me cross the lawn and my roast beef would be ready, bagged and rung up by the time I crossed the street. Made the people standing in line furious! I have eaten all kinds of strange stuff (fried Madagascar hissing cockroaches) and I will try most things once, but I tend to go back to what I love. Now I need to go and find some mint chocolate chip ice cream!! May, 2008 is so far away, Karen! Not fair!

  43. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 11:50 am #

    May will unfortunately be here before we know it, Doglady! That’s when my baby turns 18, wahhh.

    Colinfirthfan, do you also read romantic suspense? Cough, cough.

    Lisa H - that’s the thing - I don’t cook, so anything I eat is either micro-zapped or DH’s creation or a chef somewhere else. I love meatloaf and DH will make it for me a few times a month. I’d have it every Wednesday if I ran the menu. Alas, I do not…

    Cail - I’m planning a trip to NY soon, so I’ll ask your advice!

    Claudia - so not fair that you can say you eat ice cream and be as little as you are. I gained a few pounds today just blogging about food. So not fair … grumble, grumble.

    Gannon - I’ve had fish eye soup. It really didn’t look like fish eyes, I have to say. It looked a lot like barley floating around in broth. But me, I have an imagination, and every dang one of those eyes was STARING at me! Ew.

  44. colinfirthfan on 18 Sep 2007 at 11:51 am #

    Hissing cockroaches?? Brave brave soul!
    I refuse to eat frogs, snakes, snails, oysters, and any other creepy crawly bug things.

  45. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 11:51 am #

    Amelia - I’m with you! It’s the HEA I’m looking for!

  46. Lisa H on 18 Sep 2007 at 12:12 pm #

    Karen,

    Your husband cooks delicious meatloaf AND takes you out for steak?! I think I’m in love.

    Sounds like you have a good man!

  47. ladydawgfan on 18 Sep 2007 at 12:14 pm #

    Alas, I can’t eat ice cream (severe lactose intolerance) so I’ll leave the imaginings and droolings for the rest of you. However, on the rest of the food argument, although I am a creature of habit on some things (the steak fajita’s at Marguarita’s Mexican Cantina in Jackson, MS ROCK!), on others, I like to try new things. So, yes, I have tried goat, frogs legs, alligator, shark, sushi, callimari, buffalo, ostrich, and others. One of my college roommates was from Seoul, SK and used to cook for both of us. What a culinary adventure THAT was!!! Her Korean BBQ was sooo good!!!

  48. twolilhahas on 18 Sep 2007 at 1:53 pm #

    I’m a creature of habit. I’m not usually even remotely interested in trying anything new. Because of this, I refuse to eat over at people’s houses and such, because I’m so very very picky about what I eat.

    I’ll tell you what I did just do that was a break from normal. I bought DIE FOR ME. Two days ago, in fact, and almost got it free as I explained in my post yesterday. lol I am SO not into being scared, but so many here said it was good and I was just too tempted to not buy it. I’m going to tell you right now, I still don’t like being scared, and MAN is that book scary! It’s too interesting to stop reading, though, so I have to admit I like it. I was sitting in the bathroom last night, reading DFM, the lights were on in there, and the kids were in the bedroom across the hall watching a movie, so I couldn’t read in bed, and the bathroom is usually very quiet. lol The lights were off everywhere but the bathroom and the door was cracked, so I didn’t see my daughter…cont

  49. twolilhahas on 18 Sep 2007 at 1:56 pm #

    …when she slipped to the crack in the door and the little stinkhead burped her LOUDEST burp ever. I liked to have had a hard attack right there. I’m such a WIMP. Such a wimp. My daughter is four and is just learning the burping trick, she thought it was hilarious! I, however, thought it was time to put the scary book down and go curl up with the babies!

    So, I tried something new, and it’s way out of my normal arena of safe! lol

  50. karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 2:07 pm #

    Oh, two, I was laughing at your burpingg daughter! Mine is 13 and still thinks burping is hilarious. If she can spook me, it’s just bonus. Thanks for going out of your comfort zone to try something new!!

  51. twolilhahas on 18 Sep 2007 at 2:09 pm #

    You’re welcome, Karen. lol It was a big thing for me, too. I’m 27 and still really appreciate that the light on my cell phone stays on while it charges at night so I can see when I wake up. lol

  52. MJ on 18 Sep 2007 at 2:36 pm #

    Very interesting, all of you….. clues to personality….??

    I’m both. A creature of habit or adventurous. Sometimes I go with tried and true favs (and I have more than one at any restaurant…) and other times I’m looking for something different and will deliberately pick something more unusual for me. Just ’cause.

    I’m the same with books. Some days (esp. if they’re trying ones) or if I have only a half hour to read before I must sleep, I go with an old favourite (love it and can put it down). Other days, I wander back and forth amongst the TBR shelves, picking up one here and there, wondering what to pick next….

    Can’t handle spicy, I’m afraid, so do less Indian or Thai…and I don’t eat Sushi…. Japanese or other ‘mixed grill’ type restaurants I have to be careful with, as I’m allergic to scallops and they often use the same grill….so if they serve grilled scallops, I can’t have anything grilled in that venue….

    Guess I’m either schizophrenic or inconstant

  53. Judy F on 18 Sep 2007 at 3:26 pm #

    Karen its a date. THere is a graeters about a mile or less from my office. Its so tempting. I didn’t stop today but now that I have it on the brain I will have to.

    I love Grand Finale. Yes its still there. We used to stop there after we went out to a movie or whatever just to get dessert. I love Chocolate mouse Pie. Oh man I got to go there too.

    Congrats on the hardcover.

  54. Sherri Erwin on 18 Sep 2007 at 3:31 pm #

    I tend to walk on the wild side. I love trying new things, but sometimes I have to go back to my favorite comfort foods. Black pepper ice cream is surprisingly good, but you can’t beat a perfect sweet creamy vanilla.

  55. Kay on 18 Sep 2007 at 4:28 pm #

    My youngest son likes to try everything strange! Spicy octopus is his favorite meal! LOL

    He’s the only kid I know who LIKES the strange flavors of the (HP) Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. He loves the pepper and the anchovy! He says if you eat them with the spaghetti one, it tastes perfect –YUCK.

  56. Sabrina Jeffries on 18 Sep 2007 at 4:52 pm #

    “Sabrina, how do you know what bug spray tastes like?”

    Ah, the things you don’t know about me, Karen. I have led a wild and woolly life.

    Okay, so I’ve never tasted bug spray, but I know what it smells like and that’s how cilantro tastes. So there.

  57. Ladytink_534 on 18 Sep 2007 at 5:39 pm #

    I’ll “walk on the wild side” and try new things but only if they aren’t totally off the wall (dill pickle ice cream, no way! Not this girl). Have you ever been to Cold Stone Creamery? I swear they have some of the best ice cream in the world and they put whatever you want in it right in front of you like Subway. The ice cream birthday cake is pretty good there.

  58. FreshEChelle on 18 Sep 2007 at 5:50 pm #

    Twolil- I refuse to eat over at people’s houses and such, because I’m so very very picky about what I eat. Whoohoo!!! I do the same. I also lie and say I’m allergic to all seafood. It seems more grown up than saying “ew, who would put that in their mouth?” Someone once yelled at me publicly for not eating cold veal in jelly. So many unappealling things put into one dish! Oy vey. Love the burping daughter story. So funny.

  59. Karen Rose on 18 Sep 2007 at 6:39 pm #

    I’ll confess - I have said I’m allergic to bananas. In reality I cannot stand the smell of them. It’s kooky I know, but they have always made me ill. If there’s the littlest bit of banana flavoring in something - I can taste it. Once at a fast food place near me, I got a chocolate shake. One taste told me it was made on the same machine as the banana and somebody hadn’t cleaned the mixing tool well. I pitched the shake - and in my memory I have NEVER pitched anything chocolate before or since. I hate bananas. Ew. So I guess it’s technically not an “allergy” but you guys will cover for me, yes?

    Okay, Sabrina, I knew what you meant about the taste of bug spray. Something that has a fake lemon taste I’ll say “tastes like Pledge.” I was just being a smart mouth :-) :-)

    Judy, think of me as you eat the Mousse Pie. Aaaahhhh.

    Ladytink - I’ve been to Cold Stone and I admit they are VERY good. Not as good as my fave, but definitely worth stopping for!

  60. Kathy on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:01 pm #

    Since having children the eating thing has become less experimental. Try fixing a huge turkey & dressing meal with all the trimmings for the child and you, because you want something BESIDES macaroni & cheese and still end up making macaroni and cheese. Insult to injury~thatsa lotta leftovers!!
    A man who cooks and shops is my dream. I will eat about anything someone else fixes. I stick to the tried and true at restaurants. I knows what I like, but I am willing to be tempted. (How does one spell persuaded….I hate the mind holes!)
    Bon apetite……

  61. twolilhahas on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:03 pm #

    LOL FreshE. I’m so glad I’m not the only one that does that. I can’t believe someone yelled at you for not eating cold veal in jelly. Yuck! I’ll have to remember the “I’m allergic” comment, that could come in really handy!

    My burping daughter really thought it was funny, too. She was very pleased with herself. She hid behind a chair today and scared my dad as he walked by it. She’s really full of spunk today!

  62. Kathy on 18 Sep 2007 at 7:06 pm #

    Ohhhh…..gravy on pancakes. Yum!!!!! Yorkshire pudding with a delectable roast of beef and fluffy buttery mashed potatos, and gravy.
    Lefse and chili for Christmas eve. And gravy with porkchops and mashed potatos, meatloaf and gravy, etc…….baby peas. Fresh asparagus….
    Almost dinner time….I can tell.

  63. darkshire007 on 20 Sep 2007 at 6:59 pm #

    As I sit here and ponder this question (while having a Tanqueray and tonic) I am surprised by my own answer. My sweetie ALWAYS picks where we eat or what we eat. If at home, he lets me know what he wants and I make it. If we are out, he picks the restaurant. This is mostly because he is so picky; where I will eat anything (and it show; around the thighs, hips and stomach!). If I had to choose a favorite food it would be curry chicken but the rabbit is very good at Hofbrau house in Vegas. For the ice cream, I am a chocolate covered cherry sort of person.