Eight strange food combos

I'll be honest with you, I'm a traditionalist when it comes to food pairings. I'm not a picky eater per se, but I do like to eat my foods one at a time; NO MIXING. But there have been some combinations that I have been brave enough to try, and ended up loving. Others make me nauseous. As strange as some of these sound, a lot of people love them!

1. French fries dipped in chocolate shake
When I was in high school, my best friend was crazy about this combo. Every time we went out to lunch, I had to look away as she scooped up her chocolate shake with her French fries. In hindsight, she was just a culinary pioneer, because the "salt + chocolate" combination is a hot property these days.

Verdict: Even though I like salt and chocolate, I can't get behind this specific pairing. Cold wet milkshake glopped on a greasy congealing French fry… nope, not gonna do it.

2. Salted caramel
For some reason, this combination surprised me more than the salted chocolate fad. Chocolate is already practically a savory taste (witness mole sauce). But caramel is resoundingly sweet, and so distinctive. The first time I heard about salted caramel, my mind was blown.

I was brave enough to try it, and WOW IT IS DELICIOUS.

Verdict: This one's a keeper.

Image courtesy Flickr/perfectance

3. Bacon and ice cream and chocolate
Denny's periodically trots out their "Baconalia" festival, but I tried my bacon chocolate sundae at Burger King. Bacon and maple is a delicious, well-established pairing. Bacon and chocolate sundae is the same concept, except that the cold ice cream makes the bacon fat turn chilly and globby, which is completely revolting.

Verdict: NOPE.

4. Apples and cheddar cheese
The first time I heard about serving cheddar cheese slices atop apple slices, I laughed. I assumed it was a joke, some kind of Elvis-inspired ridiculousness. But no, it's a real thing.

I can't quite get behind melted cheddar cheese on apple pie (too sweet, the pie). Cheddar on slices of apple is a great pairing, though. The cheddar brings a little bit of saltiness to the equation, which balances perfectly with the sweetness and crunch of the apple. The protein and fat of the cheese makes this a surprisingly filling treat, too.

Verdict: Love it!

Image courtesy Flickr/wallyg

5. Peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich
Speaking of Elvis, this was one of his favorites. I have to confess, I can't even bring myself to try it. I like bananas fine on their own, but the thought of mixing them with another flavor is an iffy prospect to begin with. Smushing banana slices into peanut butter and adding bacon… gag.

Verdict: Grosssss!

6. Potato chips on tuna salad sandwich
I get this one, I really do. You want a bit of crunch with your tuna salad. I add minced celery to mine, but other people prefer to mash in a handful of potato chips. I will never do that, though, because the potato chips would get soggy. That thought makes me sad and queasy at the same time.

Verdict: It's probably good, but I will never try it.

Image courtesy Flickr/arsheffield

7. Avocado and grapefruit slices
One day I mentioned on Twitter that I had bought a can of grapefruit slices and I didn't know why I bought it or what to do with it. A friend replied that I should make an avocado/grapefruit salad. I thought he was kidding at first, it seemed so preposterous. But I tried it, and it was amazing!

Here is the recipe:

• Avocado slices
• Grapefruit slices
• Maybe some salt and pepper if you feel like it

Instructions

• Mix in bowl. Eat.

The citrus of the grapefruit really brings out the creaminess of the avocado, and vice versa. In a million years I never would have picked out this pairing on my own, but dang if it isn't amazing.

Verdict: SO GOOD.

8. Peanut butter and pickle
Philosophically speaking, this is just like the grapefruit/avocado pairing above. You have your creamy substance and your acidic substance. Protein/fat playing off fruit/vegetable as it does in the apple/cheese combo. And yet, because it is peanut butter and pickle, I just can't deal with it. Pickles are just so pickle-y, and peanut butter is delicious (and salty) enough on its own, don't you think?

Verdict: Probably tasty, but I just can't do it, sorry.

Main image courtesy Flickr/cdtwigg