Foods You are Embarrassed to Like

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

I don't understand the hating on the rhubarb/strawberry combination. In my mind it is ideal. The strawberry tones down the rhubarb a bit without requiring huge amounts of sugar. It's a match made in heaven. It's true that you have to have the right proportions to get the right tart/sweet flavor. But Dad managed it.

Good for Dad, then! No, it's not hating on it; it's that it's suboptimal. Strawberry shortcakes, made with sweet, tangy baking-powder biscuits (avoid second-rate ideas like using yellow sponge cake) are nothing short of ambrosia if the berries are not overripe. Then their flavor starts to fade away -- and so much for ambrosia.

Rhubarb goop makes pretty good shortcake too, if you've got rhubarb preserves and no strawberries and have just got to do something with this cream... all that soaks right in there.

All-strawberry pie is fine too. Fresh-fruity goodness piled high. Whipped cream optional. Can't go wrong with it.

But rhubarb to my palate does not need toning down. That misses the whole point of the thing. It is supposed to arrive with an overwhelming crash, to explode in your mouth, and be much sweetened to balance its tartness. This is dessert, dangit! -- it should act like dessert.