1. No raw onions in or on anything, ever.
1a. If raw onions must be added to an otherwise tasty dish in a buffet-type situation, then slice or chop them in large enough pieces that I can easily identify and remove them.

2. No raw carrots in or on anything, ever.

3. Butter or margarine on the side, always.

Carrots should be served raw in salads or stir fried in cooked dishes. Boiled carrots are against the Geneva Convention.

My personal rules:

Try everything. Once in a while, try things I think I don't like. Sometimes, I discover my tastes have changed.

There's very little I won't eat, though organ meats and hot dogs are probably up there.

If the "bagel" doesn't come from a reputable place in the Tri-State Area it's just bread with a hole in it.

Texas best foods done right.
 

4. Chili must never contain beans, then it's just called a good meat and bean dish. I'm from Texas, we invented few dishes, but chili is one of them. No tomatoes, and there is no such thing as veggie or chicken chili. It should only be made with diced beef, dried chili peppers, salt, and beef stock or water. Anything else should never be labeled as chili. Food labeling laws are not stringent enough.

5. Pecan pie, another thing Texas excells at, considering we have been the top producing pecan state, we know it. It should be simple and goey hot. And never pronounced Peeeecan, it's only pronounced Pahcahn.

6. Non Texas specific, but there is no such thing as beef, turkey, chicken, or tofu bacon. Bacon is pork belly that has been cured with salt and seasonings and SODIUM NITRATE. There is no such thing as bacon cured without pink salt, then it's not bacon. All those products saying it's been cured with celery juice, that's where SODIUM NITRATE comes from to cure it, still the same chemical. There is no possible way to make bacon without it, same with corned beef and pastrami. SODIUM NITRATE or NITRITE will never kill you, and you eat it all the time, way more in vegetables naturally occuring than you will eat in your life in bacon. Bacon should be thickly sliced, and never crispy, you don't eat steaks or any other meat like that, why do it to bacon.

What tri-state area is that?

Starting to adopt a care free approach..

trying different foods..

and escaping habits..

I had assumed CMK10 referred to the tri-state area in which you appear to be centrally located. ;) In fact, I would argue the only true bagels are in NYC, with the best coming from Brooklyn.

You've obviously never had a Montreal bagel.

Off to Montreal in 2 weeks and looking forward to much bagelage! :D

• Don't ever eat/chew with your mouth open, or slurp your food near me. That will result in a punch in the face.

• Try everything twice.

I don't like getting punched in the face while eating.

I have not, but I will be sure to try the next time I am there.

You are correct. But I am stubborn and fiercely loyal to where I grew up (and yes CopperSteve is correct I meant the NY/NJ/CT Metropolitan Area) so no matter how good it was, I wouldn't change my statement. Hence why it's "Your personal food rules" :D

Good point. :) Personally, I think some of these rules are a bit wierd, if not in your face, but hey...whatever floats your battleship. ;)

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]