Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful

by Stephanie Sherrill
on Friday, November 20, 2009

It's that time of year again, when the temperature takes a sharp drop and the night seems to begin before you've made it halfway through the day. ‘Tis the season for meals that will put insulating meat on your bones and warm the cockles of your heart - it's time to start pigging out on the good ol' comfort food.

As an American, Southern cuisine tends to be the first food thought that comes to mind when I need a boost - especially meatloaf. At Boxing Cat Brewery, where the portions are huge, the meatloaf is moist and complemented with their homemade, tangy barbecue sauce. Since I can't finish the whole meal it means leftovers to eat the next day in the confines of my home - a definite comfort plus. Actually, a lot of the food at Boxing Cat could be described as comfort food. I especially like their gumbo, short ribs, tortilla soup, red beans and rice - yep, this venue is a favorite.

But when the winds start blowing from the north, sending shivers down yor spine, the perfect place to be is in front of a crackling fire. Southern Belle - also serving Southern American-style food - is warmed by its very own fireplace and has comfortable chairs to sink into while partaking of the house specialties. Although their menu is small (which they prefer to think of as specializing in core strengths) it's wholesome. The spicy chili is a sure bet to relight a fire in your belly, while your toes enjoy a gentle roasting from the burning logs.

Another favorite wintery comfort food is a great tasting stew. At KABB the beef stew is packed with all the key hearty ingredients: thick chunks of beef, carrots, celery and a filling side of mashed potatoes.

A discussion about hearty fare wouldn't be complete without a mention of Irish cuisine. O'Malley's offers many traditional Irish options to keep you warm. From their delicious shepherd's pie, to the Guinness and beef pie, to the Irish lamb stew, you really can't go wrong. In this diner's opinion, anything cooked with Guinness has got to be tasty.