It started out as a staple of carbs. Simple, bland, but capable of sustaining life. Early curmudgeons probably ate them raw like apples. Eventually hominids learned to cook them, even season them. And how warm and “mashable” they became! Throughout it all, however, the potato has pretty much remained what we call a “side” to a main course. It complements a meat and appears in menus alongside baked beans, broccoli, corn on the cob, and the like. It’s the filler that keeps us from overindulging, and it keeps meals affordable. How… sensible. Overlooked and unappreciated, poor potato has always been, at most, a sidekick. And that’s even IF it is chosen over another side selection.
It was therefore inevitable that the potato would someday avenge itself. Enter the stuffed potato.
The stuffed potato elevates this common starch into a main course. In fact, I ordered one tonight to relieve me of guilt. It was impregnated with chicken, which until recently was its own main course. And as if to laugh in the face of tradition, it was stuffed with broccoli — a side dish in its own right. Poor broccoli, doused in alfredo sauce and melted cheese to the point that it is no longer recognizable. Should the meal be too cold, too hot, too saucy, too salty, too flatulent… it can all be blamed on broccoli, the fall guy.
Something magical happens when a potato is stuffed. The skin, basted in alfredo sauce, becomes part of the meal rather than just protective shoe leather. Its “eyes,” which were once considered defects, are now sequins of light, sparkling on the plate. It has graduated from sensible to sensational!
It will happen soon, this author predicts, that other side dishes shall rise to glory. Perhaps out of eons of oppression or simply out of jealousy. Stuffed zucchini? You laugh, but it wouldn’t surprise me if that zucchini has been slit open and stuffed with mashed potatoes.
Jefferson Feil is a producer/screenwriter living in the Los Angeles area. A California native, Jeff spends his time relaxing by his backyard pool, writing captivating screenplays, frightening his neighbors, entertaining his three cats with pretend mice, and exploring the versatility of common household items. He also dabbles in photography, voice acting, and kitchen fire management. His charm and sarcastic sense of humor create an eclectic mix of intrigue and sophistication, which pour through his literary works like nacho cheese. He is the recipient of several top honors, including the prestigious Mrs. Schumacher 5th Grade Perfect Attendance award.