This post on comfort food & comfort food on stamps started as a newsletter article last week. And came about because of a bout of work avoidance on my part.  Just toss the offer of pizza, wine and a good old monster movie my way, and I’ll cheerfully abandon my devotion to writing about stamps. Yes, I’m a bit shameless that way.  Instead of writing about the planned topic, I wandered off to have a laugh with some friends. I took my tablet with me, thinking I’d write the newsletter there, but well, the best laid plans are easily discarded when an enjoyable conversation and a bit of wine is offered.  I’ll blame my non-stamp collecting friends for this serious philatelic lapse. 

… and the wine 

… and the pizza. 
 
Part of last night’s conversation included comfort foods and food on stamps. There are some glorious culinary stamps to collect, or simply drool over. While munching on some left over pizza, I wondered if my favourite comfort foods were represented.  

Not sure if the phrase comfort food is a universal one, so I’ll offer up an explanation. Comfort foods are dishes or foods that bring back fond memories and a sense of well-being. They could be meals that trigger memories of family or friends, happy events in your life – anything that gives you a feeling of contentment or safety.  

   
Stamps: Slovenia “Stajerska Sour Soup, Pohorski Pisker (Stew)” 2007, South Korea Jeongol (Stew) 2005, Surinam Brown Bean Soup 2019

For me, many comfort foods are strongly associated with my mom. My earliest memories are being in the kitchen with her, going through our cookbooks and the cupboard, deciding what to make.  And one of the best meals she made was her stew – rich with onions and herbs, some garlic and slow cooked meat. It was completed with large chunks potatoes and carrots, and sometimes split peas – all topped with her special fluffy dumplings.

Now I didn’t expect to find a stamp with a stew  just like mom made, because it changed with each cooking.  But, there are some tasty ones to examine from almost every continent.  

That was one of the first meals I remember learning to make. And whenever I smell that combination of herbs, onions and garlic simmering away, I am transported back to the kitchen, standing on my stool learning how to chop up the ingredients. I still remember Mom telling me “some herbs will always make it taste better”. 

I suspect stews are a universal comfort food.  We used to argue over what a stew is – Mom was a fan of broth so her’s was more like a soup, and mine, in her opinion, more like a ragu or goulash.  It was one of those eternal arguments in this house. So much so, we made a rule: whoever made the stew, made the rules about how much broth there would be.

      
   
Japan Goulash Soup 2019, Hungary Goulash 2019, Malaysia Spring Roll & Lotus Root Soup 2017

Comfort food can be anything from an aromatic Turkish coffee with cardamom to a rich stew, Biryani, noodles or gingerbread cookies. There are no limits. 

Türkiye (Turkey) Turkish Coffee Culture 2020, Canada Gingerbread Cookies 2012

Whatever triggers good memories fits this category.

Now comes the fun part of this article. I want to hear about your comfort foods. I’d love to hear what you love the most and why. Chocolate? Biryani? Congee? Spice cookies?  Is it a special memory or event, or does the smell simply surround you with a feeling of well-being. I am going to collect stories for an article on what makes something a comfort food and showcase the stamps that celebrate them. With your help, we can put out an excellent post. 

Use this contact form to send me your comfort food & why you love it. 

[contact-form to=”contact@bittergrounds.com” subject=”Comfort foods”][contact-field label=”What name do you want me to use?” type=”name” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Where are you from? ” type=”text” required=”1″][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” required=”1″][/contact-form]

I’ll find stamps to match your comfort food, unless you have a specific one in mind. If so, include the year and country in your message. Even if I can’t find the perfect stamp, your help will make this an article to celebrate. 

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