Erica R. Buteau

Sometimes you just want food that feels a bit over the top. You don’t want to think about what’s in the fridge, and you don’t want to head to the latest McDonald’s that’s just open in your area. But you want something that makes you pause after the first bite and feel like what you’re eating is ridiculous because your taste buds have just exploded. It’s the good kind of ridiculous. So let’s take a close look at a list of indulgent foods that are absolutely worth trying at least once in your life. If you don’t have a food bucket list, you’re about to start one.

Butter drenched seafood.

Yes, really. There is something unapologetically indulgent about cracking into a pile of shellfish with melted butter on standby. Think Alaskan king crab legs, where the meat is sweet, delicate, and basically made to be dunked. It’s messy, it’s dramatic, it’s completely worth it. And even if you do need a bib or an apron you need to tuck in, it’s not an everyday meal. And that’s kind of the point.

Proper truffle dishes.

Truffle has a reputation for being a bit posh, and fair enough. Whether it’s shaved over pasta or stirred into a creamy risotto, the flavour is rich, earthy and very hard to describe unless you’ve tried it. Only a little goes a long way, but that first proper truffle dish is memorable.

Butter drenched seafood.

Yes, really. There is something unapologetically indulgent about cracking into a pile of shellfish with melted butter on standby. Think Alaskan king crab legs, where the meat is sweet, delicate, and basically made to be dunked. It’s messy, it’s dramatic, it’s completely worth it. And even if you do need a bib or an apron you need to tuck in, it’s not an everyday meal. And that’s kind of the point.

Proper truffle dishes.

Truffle has a reputation for being a bit posh, and fair enough. Whether it’s shaved over pasta or stirred into a creamy risotto, the flavour is rich, earthy and very hard to describe unless you’ve tried it. Only a little goes a long way, but that first proper truffle dish is memorable.

Image source: Pexels

A decadent chocolate dessert.

We’re talking full on, no holding back chocolate here. Think of molten centres, silky ganache or rich, dense cakes. The kind of dessert where a few bites are enough but you’ll probably keep going anyway. It’s definitely comfort food, but it’s turned all the way up. Decadent chocolate desserts may be a bit too much for an everyday meal, but we’re not talking about eating everyday food here. We’re talking about doing something that tastes delicious at least once in life. If you can get a good French chocolate mousse, for example, it’s going to change your life.

Bold cheeses.

This isn’t about your standard cheddar, but you want something stronger, creamier, and maybe even a little bit smelly in a good way. Whether it’s an oozy brie or a punchy blue, trying a proper high quality cheese can change how you see the whole category of cheeses. When you pair it with the right style of crackers and chutneys, you’re never going to look back. 

Indulgent food isn’t really about being fancy for the sake of it, it’s about the experience. Eating is an experience and it’s a pleasure. It’s about slowing yourself down, enjoying something a little bit more special than your usual go to options, and maybe even sharing it with people who would really appreciate it just as much as you do. You don’t need to eat like this all the time. It’s probably better if you don’t, but every now and then it really does hit you in the right way.