Food… good for the heart

Comfort food is an increasingly prominent concept. Indeed, the term's increased use in the English language is likely in response to increasingly stressful living conditions. The editors of the Oxford English Dictionary added, "comfort food" to the list of 1997 entries, defining it as "food that comforts or affords comfort, hence any food (frequently with a high sugar or carbohydrate content) that is associated with childhood or with home cooking”. That same year Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary added "comfort food" to its 10th edition, defining it as "food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal, hence, "Grandma's cooking!"

Comfort food may be best thought of as any food consumed by individuals, often during periods of stress, which evokes positive emotions and is associated with significant social relationships. Some get together and dive into huge tubs of milky ice-cream through low periods (much like my niece), those who can't sleep drink hot milk or chocolate to calm the nerves. Nutritionists also advise insomniacs to eat white rice before bed-time to assist them into the sleep process.

We all know that another way to warm the hearts of a particularly meat-loving nation is by way of barbecued beef – indeed, good for the heart. In Surry Hills the Clock Hotel’s head chef, Simon Wise, lives up to his surname by adding familiar buzz words to his menu – words such as "smooth" and "warm". Char-grilled Beef Sirloin with smooth Mash Potato, warm Tomato, Olive & Green Bean salsa… Exceptionally good and moderately priced too at around $20.

While you are there, why not also sip away at one of the establishment’s delicious, time-stopping "Clock-tails". Sit out on a cold balcony, with a fiery passionfruit Santosa Smash in your hand. Mid-winter nights have never been so good. 

Up the road at the Dolphin Hotel the classic Sunday Roast is meant to keep punters feeling at home, and still on the subject of sirloins, Steerson’s on Lime Street, a newcomer to the scene, is fast becoming one of Sydney's most talked about premier beef restaurants. [Steerson’s Steakhouse Bridge St and Steerson’s Steakhouse Lime St, King St Wharf were formerly known as Kingsley’s Steakhouses. Kingsley’s Australian Steakhouse, King St remains as the Original Kingsley’s, established 1994.]

Throughout history and across cultures, food has been associated with the provision of comfort. Indeed, from the moments following birth, the crying infant is soothed with mother's milk or, in more modern times, infant formula. Only since the last decade of the 20th century, however, has the notion of “comfort food” as a unique concept become part of the vernacular.

Café of the Month is Angelino’s in Waterloo!

The Meriton apartment community really needed a wholesome as-good-as-mama-makes pasta and pizza place. The area was only surviving on fast-food joints. Fantastico Angelino!