Thursday, September 2, 2010

Curse you and the salad you rode in on...

Have you ever noticed that there are food trends? Certain foods will go through a big surge in popularity, only to be replaced with the next big thing that comes along. They mentioned this phenomenon in an episode of Seinfeld, concerning pesto. (George referred to Seattle as "the pesto of cities.") Even though I hardly have my finger on the pulse of the culinary world, I'm pretty sure I know what the current hot food is...feta cheese.

I can tell that feta is currently having its moment in the sun, because it's not just for ethnic or high-dollar restaurants anymore--fast-food joints are picking up on it, too. Mr. Nerd and I eat out quite a bit, but I try to stick more or less to the food pyramid guides, so I'm always looking for a good salad. Recently, Wendy's introduced a new line of salads, and I was so excited. We stopped by one Sunday after church, and I ordered up a Cobb salad. Grilled chicken, bacon, veggies...how bad could it be? Pretty bad, I discovered, if it's topped with disgusting feta cheese. (And boiled egg-blerg-but that's a subject for another post.) So, lesson learned.

Until a couple of weeks ago,when Mr. Nerd and I found ourselves once again in the Wendy's drive-thru. He was interested in a salad, too, so we were looking at the garage door-sized posters of the salads on the side of the building. The chicken, apple, and pecan salad looked delicious, but! "What is that white stuff on there? Can you tell?" I asked Mr. Nerd, hoping against hope. "Looks like feta." Grrr. Another salad, ruined. By feta.

Here's the thing, feta: I'm not really big on cheese. I like the more standard varieties (cheddar, swiss, mozzarella, even gouda) just fine. But if it's squishy, has visible mold, or smells like butt-rot, I am not going to even consider eating it. So, feta, you just enjoy your popularity while you have it. I'll be biding my time, waiting for the next Big Food Thing to come along. And praying that that Thing is not some kind of fish, because I don't eat that, either.

9 comments:

Lauren said...

Haven't commented here before, but I've been following for a while. I really enjoy your posts! I'm with you on the "fad" foods, for the most part. I hate when something comes along that everyone decides is the "in" thing and then it's everywhere! Especially because just as I find that I like this item or that item, they've moved on to another food!

I will say, however, that the Apple Pecan Chicken salad at Wendy's actually has BLEU cheese, not feta. I'm sure that's not a comfort to you, but I actually like bleu (feta not so much), so I enjoyed it! I actually had the same salad Friday and Monday, and didn't even mind the POMEGRANATE vinaigrette (pomegranate is another trendy food-not so big on that one)...

Anywho, keep up the interesting blogging!

Junk Drawer Kathy said...

Uh-oh. Big feta cheese fan here. Maybe I should just come back another day, huh?

I expect this will gross you out, but I made the most delicious summer salad two weeks ago. Watermelon, onion, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and -- you guessed it -- feta.

Are you sick now?

absepa said...

Lauren: Thanks so much for commenting! It still tickles me to no end when I find a new reader. You're right, I'm not really a fan of bleu cheese, either. I do think pomegranate is delicious, but they're a huge pain to deal with.

Kathy: It's okay...my husband and sister are both cheese snobs, and they make endless fun of my unsophisticated palate. I'm sure they would have loved your watermelon salad. It sounds really tasty, right up to the feta. :)

Jewelielyn said...

i am with you on this feta cheese thing. what is wrong with cheddar? or even pepper jack?? you would think wendy's would know better...

absepa said...

Jewelielyn: Or put the cheese on the side,! Just give us some options, y'know?

cardiogirl said...

I'm with Kathy. Lo-ooove feta. Love it.

But, I must have Italian dressing with it. And black olives.

No ranch with feta. That, my friend, is disgusting.

cardiogirl said...

(Smacks herself in the head) Oy. I put my new email address in the http box. Can you fix that for me?

Many thanks.

VetTech said...

Yes.. I too am a feta-holic. I got addicted to the stuff suring the Atkins/Low Carb boom. Gorgonzola is awesome too.. its like a cross between blue cheese and feta, great with steak.

absepa said...

CG: It appears that I am in the minority with the whole feta thing. I don't like olives either, tho. I am a bit of a picky eater, in case that isn't obvious.

I'm not entirely sure how to fix your link, but I will work on it. Blogger is a bit of a nuisance sometimes.

Vet Tech: Well, clearly, everyone except me loves feta cheese. I tried gorgonzola on a sandwich at Panera and it wasn't too awful, but there were lots of other flavors there to help temper it a bit. I don't think I'll ever be a fan, unfortunately.