Top Ten: Things Not Worth the Doggie Bag

So, watching SportsCenter's Top Tens a thousand times over, I've been inspired to add a new segment to The Man With a Fork blog.  I'll be posting Top Tens from time to time that pertain to the culinary world.  The top ten this time around is shaped around those left overs that really shouldn't be left overs.  Yes, I'm talking about the food you wrap up in your doggie bag, only to find in the garbage the next day.

Top Ten Items Not Worth the Doggie Bag

10. Sushi

The stale rice isn't worth it.  If you forget about it for a couple days, as many left overs are, the protein may get a little slimy (like spoiled lunch meat).

9. Hamburger/Cheeseburger

The soggy bread paired with a dried out, overcooked puck of hamburger meat is detrimental to your taste buds.

8 & 7. Eggs & Hashbrowns

Don't know anyone who sits down at their local diner and thinks to themselves "I'm not going to finish my 'full balanced' breakfast today."  Frankly, breakfast is a time to pig out and get the energy for the start of the day.  That being said, if you do happen to leave some eggs and hashbrowns on your plate, don't bother bringing them home.  Breakfast is all about fresh eggs and bacon hittin' the flat top early in the morn'.  There is no way to recreate that with yesterdays product, so don't even bother trying.

6. Mexican Food/Burrito

Ever try and reheat a burrito?  No matter what you do, there is always a cold spot.  There is no good way to reheat a burrito.  Say you do, somehow, miraculously heat the burrito to perfection.  You will have to battle the dryness of the entire dish.  Anything fried in the meal will only worsen the dish.  Avoid a reheated burrito at all costs.

5. Fish

Our family has somewhat of a tradition in making a tuna bake with potato chips on top.   It's a lovely dish the first time around, but once the cream of mushroom marries the potato chips, say goodbye.  Soggy is not a pleasant texture to me.  That goes for any type of fish.  There are people who swear that fried fish is as good tomorrow as it was today, but I just can't appreciate that.  Fish is only good the day it was boiled, fried, or seared.

4. Nachos w/ The Works

There's nothing worse then biting into a soggy, oily chip that's coated with yesterday's molten cheese and sour cream, gross.

3. French Fries

It's number three on my list for a reason.  Let's face it, the dry, staleness doesn't compare to the oily goodness we pick up from McDonald's everyday (myself excluded, but that's another story).  If your looking for a potato option that's good the second time around think mashed potatoes.

2. Salad w/ Dressing

My my, there is no reason your salad should be wilted, unless, of course, it is a wilted salad.  A cold, soggy piece of lettuce doesn't please the palate.  Never fear, if you find yourself guilt-stricken by leaving food at the table there is a solution.  A salad that leaves a lot of toppings (i.e. meat, peppers, cheese) consider dropping the lettuce, chopping the toppings, and adding a little lemon or lime juice.  This can create somewhat of a salsa.

1. Garlic Bread

While it's tasty the first time around, there is no delight in soggy bread.  Which reminds me, beware of the area restaurants who don't butter their garlic bread to order.  I don't want to name names, but some Italian restaurants are just not Italian restaurants anymore.

The lesson here is that if it wasn't eaten at the table, it belongs in the bin.  Don't guilt yourself into having to take a Styrofoam present home.  Besides Styrofoam isn't biodegradable, not to mention the 10-20 years it will take the plastic bag you carry it in to disappear.  Instead, allow the freegans to sift through the restaurants' garbage for their own 'tasty' meals.  I do not condone wasting, "only order what you're going to eat" my parents would always scold.  However, I do believe that your palate should come first in any food decision you make.  Think with your taste buds before your wallet.  Will the couple dollars your saving today, be worth a frozen meal-tasting food tomorrow?

Matthew M. Giguere
The Man With The Fork

Eat. Drink. Be Well.

The Man With a Fork is a foodservice based blog providing an insight into restaurants in the Greater Green Bay, Wisconsin area and Matthew M. Giguere’s study of Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism Management studies at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and University of New Orleans. The opinions expressed in this blog are that of its authors and in no way should directly affect your palate.  The Man With a Fork strongly urges you to try for yourself the restaurants reviewed on this site and sound off on your thoughts.

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