Sweater weather is officially upon us! As the thermometer drops and the leaves start to fall, winter’s arrival means one thing above all else for foodies: the return of comfort food! Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon, along with highlighting some cold weather favorites perfect for warming up your customers from the inside out this season.
The 411 on Comfort Food
Just how mainstream has the concept of comfort food become? It’s now referenced in the Oxford English Dictionary, which describes it as, “Food that comforts or affords solace; hence, any food (frequently with a high sugar or carbohydrate content) that is associated with childhood or home cooking.”
Which begs the question: Why do we love it so much? According to a Time magazine piece on food and nostalgia, it’s not just because these foods are tasty, but also because the act of eating them leads to feelings of belonging.
This link isn’t merely emotional, as it turns out; it’s also biological. When we eat familiar food in the company of loved ones, “We receive positive reinforcement by obtaining physical sustenance along with great flavors and taste,” according to Spoon University.
And it’s not just about taste, either. As Virginia Commonwealth University researcher Chelsea Reid and coauthor of a study on “Scent-Evoked Nostalgia,” told Time, “Psychological research has demonstrated that smells are powerfully linked to memory, and to autobiographical memory in particular. The olfactory bulb, which is involved in the sense of smell, is linked to areas in the brain associated with memory and emotional experiences.”1
Top Six Comfort Foods
While different things count as comfort food for different people, the mere act of preparing a delicious, wholesome meal for others kick-starts the process. Ready to add some comfort food classics to your menu? Use these hearty, heart-warming recipes for insiration.
1. Chicken and Waffles
Butter Be Ready may have shared this homemade chicken and waffles recipe in honor of the Juneteenth holiday, but this Southern classic is also the quintessential comfort food. Its crowning glory? Impossibly crispy, flavorful and juicy chicken, which pairs perfectly with light and fluffy waffles and a hearty drizzle of maple syrup.
Your customers won’t be able to resist digging into this deliciousness.
2. Classic Beef Chili
Think the best beef chili recipes require endless hours of simmering on the stove? Think again. Canned beans trim some serious time off this one-pot recipe with no sacrifice of flavor thanks to a potent mix of layered ingredients including chili powder, cumin, and fresh oregano. This one is guaranteed to keep customers coming back for more!
Vulcan’s Kettles are perfect for cooking chili and other winter soups and stews, and the embossed gallon/liter markings will never wear off.
3. Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin Mac n Cheese
Vegetarians don’t have to feel left out of the comfort food action, thanks to recipes like this one from Rachael Ray. A sophisticated spin on the macaroni and cheese of your childhood, this recipe is surprisingly healthy thanks to ample quantities of veggies and whole-wheat pasta.
4. Chicken and Dumplings
Offering everything you know and love about savory chicken and dumplings. It's hearty but not too heavy. Boil the broth on a Vulcan Range while cooking the chicken in a Vulcan Combi Oven.
The heavenly aroma will have mouths watering long before this authentically-inspired meal hits the table.
5. Shepherd's Pie
If you're looking to add something savory and delicious to your menu, this shepherd's pie recipe is perfect. Created by Vulcan’s very own Culinary Team, this dish features southwest seasoned beef along with corn, tomatoes and green chilies topped with creamy mashed potatoes and cheese. Your customers will thank you!
6. Cornbread Pudding
What shortlist of comfort foods would be complete without a decadent dessert? We can think of no better way to end a meal at this time of year than with a crowd-pleasing cornbread pudding like this one from Pastry Chef Kelsey Geremia. Even better? One served straight out of Vulcan’s VC Series Gas Oven, and topped with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream.
In addition to calling on your tried and true favorites this winter, why not try these six picks, too? You'll have satisfied customers who are craving comfort food coming back for more.
1. Reid, Chelsea A et al. “Scent-evoked nostalgia.” Memory (Hove, England) vol. 23,2 (2015): 157-66. doi:10.1080/09658211.2013.876048