# Best and Worst Appetizer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [December 28, 2023, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257 "2023-12-28T05:25:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/161 "2024-01-02T12:38:31Z")
You two probably buy different brands of bacon. 🤷 ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/162 "2024-01-02T12:56:46Z")
Best: Oysters Rockefeller Worst: Chicken Fingers ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/163 "2024-01-02T13:01:23Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > Worst: Chicken Fingers An employee in her 20s with two kids serves chicken fingers for dinner most nights because that’s the only thing her kids will eat. When she told me this, I imagined chicken or turkey breast cutlets with an interesting twist, similar to chicken Parmesan. Nope, most nights McDonalds does the cooking. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/164 "2024-01-02T20:56:28Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Wow, I’ve cooked bacon sous vide in the original packaging many times and never had a problem. I don’t doubt it. Bag breaks are always in the back of my mind when I SV and it’s not my first. And while it wouldn’t be strange for me to come home with some gray-market (or darker) groceries, this was a pack of regular old Oscar Mayer ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/165 "2024-01-04T00:10:01Z")
> [@solost](#): > > It turns out it’s not easy to spread a nice even layer of cream cheese on a thin slice of ham: See if you can find soft or whipped cream cheese. Much easier. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/166 "2024-01-04T01:51:41Z")
15 seconds in the microwave. I used that method on a tub of jalapeno cream cheese for these things. Nuke a bit, stir, nuke, stir until you get a smooth spreadable substance. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2024, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/167 "2024-01-04T02:05:24Z")
A few-seconds nuking works very well also for ice cream that’s so frozen it’s rock solid. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/168 "2024-01-10T20:37:59Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > anks…I usually shop at Jewel in Chicago but I have several options near me. I’ll be sure to have a look. Now that I’m back in Chicago, I had a look at a couple places, and I couldn’t find it. The Pete’s where I bought it before is well stocked with everything, but I couldn’t find it either in the hot sauce or steak/bbq sauce aisle. I’m pretty sure I found it next to the Tiger Sauce last time (years ago). The Jewel didn’t have as wide a selection and they didn’t have it there either. I wonder if something has changed in the distribution. I’ll keep an eye out nonetheless. Similarly, I’m on a hunt for 6-in-1 tomatoes in 28oz cans, which were easy enough to find before the pandemic. Now I can only find #10 cans. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/169 "2024-01-22T13:14:03Z")
@Whack-a-Mole Here we go. World Market (formerly Cost Plus) should have it according to their store inventory search: [Link](https://www.worldmarket.com/p/pickapeppa-sauce-900953.html?store=store147) Click on “check other stores” to see locations other than Evanston. They all seem to have stock, except for the Lincoln Park store. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/170 "2024-01-22T13:19:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Similarly, I’m on a hunt for 6-in-1 tomatoes in 28oz cans I looked at the company’s own website and still am mystified … why is it called 6-in-1? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/171 "2024-01-22T13:29:02Z")
No clue. Cento has an “all-in-one” product which looks pretty similar. And now Vermont Creamery butter has become difficult for me to come by. I even use their store locator and none of the stores I’ve been to have it (they used to!) It’s my favorite butter. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/172 "2024-01-22T13:33:28Z")
Thanks! I will definitely check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/173 "2024-01-22T13:36:54Z")
My favorite appetizer can be found at Cooper’s Hawk Restaurant, and it is called, “Thai Wraps”. It is a medley of delicious vegetables, and large lettuce leaves are used instead of tortillas to make the wraps. Not only are they tasty, they are light. My least favorite appetizers are heavy, fried items that are a meal in and of themselves. You get so full you can’t even eat your main course. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/174 "2024-01-22T13:39:57Z")
Ooh, I forgot about Thai appetizers. I love a flaky roti served with yellow curry sauce, or a chicken satay with peanut sauce. For that matter, I could eat nothing but the appetizers at a Thai restaurant, never venturing into the regular part of the menu. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/175 "2024-01-22T14:40:57Z")
Those lettuce wraps sound like miang kham. I definitely can make a meal of just those and, like you said, still feel light on my feet afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/176 "2024-01-22T14:56:53Z")
Just back from vacation. On the Dutch side we have gotten more into going to the hardcore local Dutch bars and the folks there have begun to accept us. There are some amazing Dutch appetizers! Their take on “cheese sticks” puts the American mozzarella sticks to shame. A [Kaassouflflè](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaassouffl%C3%A9) is a plank of exquisite cheese wrapped in thin dough and deep fried. They sure know their cheese! When I told some Dutch folks about US mozzarella sticks they made sour faces. Their [Bitterballen](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitterballen) are little battered deep fried meatballs, but they take much preparation. A very meaty stew is simmered until most liquid is gone, then the mixture is chilled. Small balls are made, battered, then fried. Delicious!! We had a few others with names I’ve forgotten. All were delicious and paired well with the Dutch beers they serve. (I was drinking Dutch beers while most of the locals drank Coors Light because it was cheap) ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/177 "2024-01-22T15:06:43Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > (_Timidly_…) Um, I kinda like those. I like them too! The rest of you can have my share of shrimp cocktail! Yuck ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/178 "2024-01-22T15:56:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > There are some amazing Dutch appetizers! Another cool part of Dutch side appetizers; each bar makes their own sauces. Curried ketchups, chutneys, various mustards, homemade mayonnaise, etc. At the local bars I visit in the US it’s ranch dressing or heinz. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257/179 "2024-01-22T16:01:18Z")
Frozen shrimp are great. I buy cooked, tail-on, the larger, the better. I detest a flabby, room temperature wet shrimp, the secret is to not just drain them, but wrap in a tea towel and give them a gentle squeeze to get the moisture out. Serve chilled with sauce. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-appetizer/995257.md?page=8)