What to eat when staying at home

Minnesotans are homebound after the governor extends the stay-at-home order in an effort to curb the COVID-19 spread. That means a lot of folks are homeschooling their kids, playing games, binge watching favorite videos and plenty of time-outs for unruly kids.

It also means that home cooking is old after having to fix three squares and snacks. That’s when take out comes into play. Local restaurants have been offering curbside pick up for their patron’s favorites.

There are no surprises as to what are favorites among carry out items ordered for pickup.

Topping the list: French fries and miso soup. Yep, the French have the top spot nationwide.

Minnesotans are avoiding hot-dishes and Swedish meatballs in lieu of garlic naan (for those of us not familiar with naan, it is: a leavened, oven-backed flatbread found in the cuisines of western Asia, south Asia and the Caribbean).  I’m not certain who serves naan in Dodge County, so it must be a Twin Cities thing.

Other states ordering take out include: Arizona topping the list of French fry lovers;

Californians are hitting chicken tikka masala (I didn’t know what it was either) but it’s a dish of chunks of roasted marinated chicken in a spiced curry sauce – I’ll have to try it – sounds delicious; Coloradans are ordering carne asada fries; Connecticut folks are ordering burrito bowls; Hawaii, home of fresh tuna, is hitting BBQ mixed plates hard during this extended time at home; Kentucky is ordering up Pad Thai; get this – Montana folks are chowing down on enchiladas and New York is ordering Jerk Chicken.

None of these states are lining up with stereotypical gourmet items.

Even the home of Jersey Mike’s (one of my favorite sandwich places for the Philadelphia cheese steak) is ordering chicken sandwiches. Go figure.

Once and a while it’s just nice to change the subject from the statistical count of which state is leading the nation in new coronavirus cases and related deaths.

If you’re tired of cooking at home, and who isn’t, order take out from one of the restaurants in your town. Most of those restaurants are just hanging on like the rest of us. They’ll appreciate your business.