c/food-combo-hot-takes

Pineapple on pizza is actually fine, but the real problem is pepperoni and pineapple together

I was at a pizza joint in Denver two weeks ago and ordered a Hawaiian. Some guy next to me started going off about how pineapple ruins pizza. But here's the thing, I think the combo works if you keep it simple. Pineapple and ham? Great. But throw pepperoni in there with pineapple and the salt levels just clash too hard. I ate half my pizza before I realized that's why it felt off. Anyone else notice pepperoni messes up the sweet and salty balance?

Warning: I blew $45 on a fancy 'gourmet' hot dog with fig jam and goat cheese

I saw this place in Portland last month that was all over social media for their wild hot dog combos. I got the one with fig jam, goat cheese, and arugula on a brioche bun. It sounded interesting, but it was a total mess. The sweet jam just fought with the tangy cheese, and the whole thing fell apart in my hands after two bites. The hot dog itself got totally lost. I stood there on the street, sticky and disappointed, $45 lighter for two of them for me and my partner. It felt like they were trying so hard to be different they forgot what makes a hot dog good. Has anyone else tried one of those over-the-top fancy hot dogs and actually liked it?

Question about a weird pizza topping combo I got roasted for

My friend said my go-to of pineapple, jalapeno, and extra anchovies was 'a war crime' and now I'm second-guessing my whole pizza order, so has anyone else had a combo they loved get totally shut down?

I used to put ketchup on my scrambled eggs every single morning for years.

Then my friend in Chicago made me try them with a little hot sauce and some green onions, and now I can't go back to the old way. It's like my taste buds woke up after a ten year nap. What's a food switch that completely ruined your old favorite for you?

My sister put ketchup on her scrambled eggs at brunch last Sunday and I'm still upset about it

We were at this little diner in Springfield, the one by the old train station. I ordered the same thing I always do, eggs and toast. My sister got her plate and just started pouring ketchup all over her fluffy scrambled eggs. I mean, a huge red pool of it. I just stared. She said it's how our dad ate them, but I have zero memory of that. To me, the sweet, vinegary taste of ketchup totally fights with the creamy, savory eggs. It's like mixing a dessert sauce with your breakfast. I tried a tiny bite off her plate to be fair, and it was worse than I thought. The textures were all wrong too. Does anyone else have a family food combo that just seems like a crime against nature?

Finally tried dipping my fries in a chocolate shake after my friend dared me

It was weirdly good for the first three bites, then it just tasted like soggy fries. Anyone else have a combo that starts great but falls apart fast?

I used to think ketchup on eggs was fine until a diner in Boise

I was at a place called Goldy's last fall and saw someone put hot sauce on their scrambled eggs instead. Tried it myself and it was a total game changer, way better than the sweet ketchup I'd used since I was a kid. Anyone else have a basic condiment swap that completely changed a meal for them?

My uncle's weird mustard trick at a family cookout in 2012

We were in his backyard in Akron and he put yellow mustard on a slice of watermelon. I thought he lost it, but I tried it and it was weirdly good. The sharp tang cuts the sweet in a way salt never could. Anyone else have a weird condiment and fruit combo that actually works?

Unpopular opinion: ranch dressing on pizza is a crime against food

My friend in Phoenix put a whole bottle of it on a slice last weekend and I almost walked out. Who actually thinks this tastes good?

I used to think putting a fried egg on pizza was a weird Portland thing.

A friend made me try it at a place on Division Street about five years ago. The yolk mixed with the hot cheese and sauce in a way I didn't expect. Now I judge any breakfast pizza by whether it has a properly runny egg on top. Anyone have a spot that does this right, or is it still a fringe move?

Just hit 100 days of putting hot sauce on my morning oatmeal

Started as a joke after a dare from my roommate, but now I can't stop. The combo of spicy Cholula with plain oats and a bit of honey is weirdly perfect. It started tasting normal around day 30, and by day 70 I was adding extra jalapenos. Hit the triple digits this morning and my roommate just stared at me in horror. Anyone else have a weird food habit that just stuck?

A guy at a diner in Boise told me ketchup on scrambled eggs is a crime against breakfast

I used to think pineapple on pizza was fine, but a trip to Naples changed my mind completely.

I was in a small pizzeria near the Spanish Steps last year and saw a tourist ask for it. The owner just shook his head and said, 'This is not a fruit salad.' It made me realize I was treating pizza like a blank canvas for any topping, not respecting what the dish actually is. Anyone else have a food combo they defended until a specific moment made you rethink it?

Hot take: I put ketchup on my scrambled eggs for 30 years until my kid asked why I was ruining them.

My kitchen disaster trying to mix peanut butter and pickles

I mean, I saw it online and thought it might be good, but it was a huge mistake. The jar of pickles slipped and broke on the floor after my first bite. Has anyone else tried a combo that went this wrong?

Saw a diner in Boise putting peanut butter on their chili dogs

I was grabbing lunch at a little spot called The Griddle last Thursday, and the guy next to me ordered a chili dog with a huge scoop of creamy peanut butter on top. He swore it was the perfect combo, said it 'cuts the heat and adds a creamy richness.' Has anyone actually tried this, or is this a local thing I just haven't heard of?

My aunt's 'fancy' party ruined a perfectly good burger for me

She insisted on serving them with fig jam and blue cheese at her 4th of July BBQ in Phoenix. I tried to be polite but it was so gross, I had to sneak mine to the dog. Anyone else had a 'gourmet' combo that just completely missed the mark?

My date in Chicago ordered a deep dish pizza with pineapple and green olives, then looked me dead in the eye and said 'This is the only way to eat it'.

My wife put peanut butter on a burger and I thought she lost her mind

She saw it at a food truck in Portland and made me try a bite. The salty beef with the creamy, slightly sweet peanut butter was weirdly good, like a fancy satay sauce. I've been adding a thin layer to my homemade burgers for about two months now. Has anyone else tried a nut butter on meat, or is this just a Portland thing?

TIL my mom's 'weird' peanut butter and pickle sandwich is actually a thing

I saw a huge difference in my opinion after trying it on a road trip last month. The salty crunch with the creamy spread just works, and now I'm hooked. What other strange sandwich combos do people actually love?

PSA: I put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in my coffee last Tuesday and it's a game changer

I was out of creamer at home, so I dropped a spoonful of plain vanilla in my mug. It melts into this perfect, slightly sweet foam that's way better than any powder. Anyone else got a weird dairy swap that actually works?

Vent: My friend put ketchup on a perfectly good grilled cheese and I almost lost it

We were at my place in Tacoma last Thursday, just hanging out after a long day. I made us some grilled cheese with sharp cheddar and sourdough, the way I always do. My friend, let's call him Mike, takes his first bite, then without a word, grabs the ketchup bottle from my fridge and just drowns the thing. I'm talking a full red sea on the plate. I was so shocked I just stared. He said, 'What? It needs something.' It needs something? It's butter, bread, and cheese! The whole sweet and salty thing just completely wrecked the simple, toasty flavor for me. I couldn't even finish mine after seeing that. Has anyone else had a friend ruin a classic food combo right in front of them?

My wife's friend said she puts ketchup on her scrambled eggs and I had to sit down

We were all having breakfast at our place last Sunday, just some simple eggs and toast. My wife's friend Sarah, who's from Chicago, asked for the ketchup bottle without even blinking. She poured a big red blob right on top of her fluffy eggs. I must have made a face because she laughed and said, 'What? It's just savory tomato jam, it's perfect.' That phrase, 'savory tomato jam,' stuck with me. I grew up thinking ketchup on eggs was a crime, something only kids did. But hearing it called that made me think about it like a condiment, not a sin. I tried a tiny bit on my next bite and... it wasn't awful. It was actually kind of sweet and tangy. It made me wonder what other food rules I have that are just dumb. Anyone else have a combo they hated until someone framed it differently?

Watching everyone drown bacon in syrup made me cringe.

I was at a family breakfast and saw this happen on multiple plates. The combo just seems to cancel out the best parts of both foods. Does anyone else skip the syrup on their salty meats?

My failed attempt at the viral watermelon and feta trend

Everyone online says watermelon and feta is a perfect summer combo. I made it for a picnic last weekend, and it was a total letdown. The salty cheese just clashed with the sweet fruit, and it made the watermelon taste weird. I don't get why people love it so much. Maybe I did something wrong, but I'm sticking to my guns on this one.