# Preferring the cheap, gross version of a food to the good, expensive version **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2009, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819 "2009-04-03T06:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/81 "2009-04-05T16:35:49Z")
Another one: gravy. Oxo is far, far better than ‘real’ homemade gravy. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/82 "2009-04-05T17:30:09Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > When my dinner companions are raving about how tender their steaks are, I am usually thinking that mine is too mushy. Call me a savage, but I happen to like my steaks a little tougher than the gourmands prefer. Hmm…I’d say gourmands prefer steaks that have some bite to them, not the mushy stuff. That’s why a lot of foodies will prefer, say, a NY Strip steak (which has flavor and bite) to a filet mignon (which is relatively bland and overly tender). Don’t get me wrong–I like both cuts in certain contexts, but my experience is that the more foodie-types prefer the cuts you do. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/83 "2009-04-05T18:42:13Z")
I order my steaks medium or medium-well. Which utterly horrifies the foodies. 🙂 ---
**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:** [April 5, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/84 "2009-04-05T18:45:55Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > I order my steaks medium or medium-well. Which utterly horrifies the foodies. 🙂 OK, you’re on your own there. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/85 "2009-04-05T19:15:03Z")
> [@gwendee](#): > > Stroganoff flavored Hamburger Helper. I don’t care for large fresh easily recognizable mushrooms in most dishes (I’m starting to enjoy them more and more, but it’s a slow process). We don’t go as far as Hamburger Helper, but my family’s “stroganoff” recipe is a pound of hamburger, a couple cans of Campbell’s (condensed) cream of mushroom soup, and some sour cream. We usually also put sauteed garlic and spices into it, and sometimes worcestershire sauce, real meat, or real mushrooms, but never wine, which I think is a vital component to real stroganoff. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/86 "2009-04-05T19:23:19Z")
> [@MissGypsy](#): > > I like Totino’s frozen pizzas, those one that are usually $1, better than more expensive frozen pizza, and better than some actual fresh pizza. Kitty litter pizza! There’s some times when only that will do, although normally I prefer the Publix premium thin crust guys for frozen pizza. And I know I’m supposed to prefer chicken thighs, but I just _don’t_. I don’t like them. I don’t like how they’re all weird-grained, and have gross parts in them, and all. I like breasts. I want them to taste like whatever I cooked them in. I also don’t like meat on the bone because it’s disgusting, and I know I’m supposed to like it better. So, not more expensive, but more “good”, but I prefer the crappy stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/87 "2009-04-06T03:55:27Z")
Tacos. ---
**Author:** ![Mesquite-oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@Mesquite-oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mesquite-oh)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/88 "2009-04-06T06:50:40Z")
A big chain supermarket sells menudo (a hispanic traditional tripe soup) in a big gaudy plastic tub that I like as much as my mother’s. My mother’s menudo is very good and she puts a great deal of work into it. I have to say that this product doesn’t really fit the OP because it is not “gross,” it is actually pretty good. However, it appears as if it would be gross and I would be embarrassed and grilled if anyone I knew saw me buy it. "Mesquite, does your mother know that you are buying…uhg…that stuff? I imagine that Hispanic people that I don’t know who see it in my cart probably think that I am either orphaned or have no taste. psst- they make some giant sized tamales that aren’t bad either. Don’t tell my mom. She knows about the menudo, but not the tamales, yet ---
**Author:** ![velvet\_goldminer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5daacb/32.png) [@velvet\_goldminer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvet_goldminer)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/89 "2009-04-06T07:39:36Z")
Of all threads to start out on, I have to be foolish and pick the wacko food fetish subject. It’s 3:30 am and now all I want are some of those waxy chocolate doughnuts that were mentioned above. sigh PS the tougher, more burnt, hockey puck like in texture, the better the steak. Red is NOT dead in my book. and oh yum tombstone pizza… gah I’ll never sleep now! ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/90 "2009-04-06T12:28:08Z")
> [@tygre](#): > > I have a very varied palate but I LOVE white castle cheeseburgers. Probably a good thing the closest WC is 6 hours from here. Every now and then I just _gotta_ get me a sack o’ sliders. Only thing is, I can only do so if Mrs. Wheelz is out of town; and nobody better get _near_ me for the next 24 hours, for their own protection. Still, I keep eating them, at least a couple times a year. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/91 "2009-04-06T12:47:09Z")
I prefer the queso dip made with Velveeta and a can of diced tomatoes and chilis over a dip made with real cheese and fresh veggies. ---
**Author:** ![Arglefraster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@Arglefraster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arglefraster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/92 "2009-04-06T13:28:02Z")
Slim Jims \> real beef jerky ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/93 "2009-04-06T14:09:55Z")
> [@Heropsychodreamer](#): > > My wife and her family are Irish, and they cringe everytime I tell them their mashed potatoes are just as good as from the box. It is meant as a compliment. > > Yes, I prefer boxed mashed potatoes. I’m with you on this one, plus I LOVE the gelled cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. mmmm ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/94 "2009-04-06T14:13:07Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I’m with you on this one, plus I LOVE the gelled cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. mmmm Can shaped. :d ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/95 "2009-04-06T14:28:06Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I prefer the queso dip made with Velveeta and a can of diced tomatoes and chilis over a dip made with real cheese and fresh veggies. Canned tomatoes are used by professional chefs, because that way they’re not relying on the appearance of the fruit to tell how it tastes. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/96 "2009-04-06T14:35:23Z")
I’m with the spaghetti heathens - if I’m going to make spaghetti and red sauce, I’m better off with a jar of Newman’s Own than trying to make it from scratch. And then to top everything off, grated parmesan cheese with cellulose powder to prevent clumping. Not that I don’t use parmigiano reggiano quite often. But sometimes I just want tons of sauce, with mass-produced american parmesan granules to bind it to my spaghetti and make it salty. Normally processed foods with preservatives and artificial flavorings taste weird and off to me. But when I tried my neighbor’s baked spaghetti, I thought it was fabulous - only to find that the key ingredient is Velveeta. I was surprised, but hey, if it tastes good, it tastes good! ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/97 "2009-04-06T14:46:57Z")
ALDI’s coffee. It’s several$ less for a 39 oz. can than Folger’s or Maxwell House, has a slightly bitter note to its flavor like M.H., which I like, and a rich color,unlike the washed-out tan of Folger’s. The aroma is better than either IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/98 "2009-04-07T17:48:25Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I adore those little mini chocolate doughnut packs that Hostess makes. I don’t care much for “real” doughnuts, but I’m a sucker for the horrible mouth-coating waxiness of their “donettes”. I think it’s a throwback to college when I’d get one of these packages plus a carton of milk for my between-class snack. I love the crumb ones, and my husband mocks me for eating them. When I was a kid there was a store brand packaged donuts that were “apple” flavored. I loved those and still miss them. Every few years I want a poptart. Normally, if I want a danish I’ll go to a decent bakery and get one, but no danish makes the poptart cravng go away. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/99 "2009-04-07T18:12:09Z")
Boxed ma’n’cheese, but not Kraft, the store brand. And I will buy margerine ONLY for the purpose of making it, because the “realness” of butter somehow undermines the metallic goodness of the fake cheese flavor. Yellow mustard. I really hate the brown stuff; the tiniest scrid of it will spoil a sandwich for me. Miracle whip - especially for lobster salad. There, I said it. And on the rare occaisions when I put sugar in my coffee I want Brown sugar. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819/100 "2009-04-07T23:33:01Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I’m with you on this one, plus I LOVE the gelled cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving. mmmm This is absolutely a must at Thanksgiving. Not the stuff with the whole cranberry in it either, just plain gelitanized cranberry sauce in the shape of the can for slicing. I’m happy to experiment with peoples homemade sauce, just make sure you also have the canned stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preferring-the-cheap-gross-version-of-a-food-to-the-good-expensive-version/491819.md?page=6)