Feel Good Friday - Comfort Food Edition 🍚

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Hey Community! 👋

Some days, productivity feels like a myth, Jira issues multiply like rabbits, and “just a 15-min call” turns into a full-blown sprint planning session. 😅

And on those days… I skip the fancy meals and go straight to my comfort zone:

✨ Dal-Chawal, with crunchy papad and onion-cucumber salad on the side. ✨

                             

It’s the holy trinity of calm, carbs, and quiet joy.

No drama. No complicated steps. Just steam, stir, serve, and suddenly everything feels better.

Growing up in India, dal-chawal was the answer to every question:

• “What’s for dinner?” → Dal-chawal
• “Need emotional support?” → Dal-chawal, with extra ghee and papad please 🧈

Now, it’s my adult version of self-care. After a long workday, this plate doesn’t just feed me,  it grounds me. Reminds me of home, of slowing down, of simpler joys that don’t need a login.

So today I’m asking you:

🥗 What’s your comfort food?

The dish that brings you back to yourself, something that makes you go

Whether it’s mom’s spaghetti, a giant serving of lasagna, a steaming bowl of ramyun, a sunday roast, a simple PB&J, or a humble plate of chicken rice.

Tell us your comfort food story, what’s on the side, what makes it special, and whether it’s best savored in silence or with Netflix in the background.

Let’s share some feel-good vibes and reminisce together. 🧡

[Emily Conroy]

Happy Friday everyone. Great topic Mahima, its really lovely to hear about your comfort food (and see a photo too!)

My ultimate comfort food is what my family would make on Boxing Day - bubble & squeak made from leftover Brussel sprouts, roast potatoes, roast parsnips and carrots, with homemade sausage meat stuffing, bread sauce and gravy. The smell of this meal immediately transports me back to lots of memories.

Recently my go to has been an ice cream sandwich using triple chocolate cookies (frozen balls of cookie dough, cooked in the oven), with some vanilla ice cream (with choc chunks and mini cookie dough balls in it if available) sandwiched between the still slightly warm cookies.
It's chocolatey, got a good amount of contrasting textures and temperatures, and slightly messy to eat, which adds to the feeling of comfort and indulgence - reminds me of childhood times not caring about making a mess while eating a fun dessert for a treat. I highly recommend!

[Mahima_miniOrange]

This comment took me on a full rollercoaster from cosy holiday vibes to chocolatey chaos real quick! 😂

And that cookie sandwich? Textures, temperatures, and total indulgence - I’m drooling and also mildly jealous 🍪🔥

Might need a dessert course after my dal-chawal now!

[Andy Gladstone]

My comfort food has been the same since I was a child. I can never get enough of it, which is why I try to make sure it is never in my house!

Chocolate Chip Cookies! 

I can eat them by the bag/box. I retreat to them when stressed or when I need a break from trying to eat healthy. They are a sweet solace from life's woes!

[Mahima_miniOrange]

A timeless classic! 🍪
Chocolate chip cookies really said therapy, but make it chewy and sweet. 😄
Also, totally relate to the “never in the house” strategy-  out of sight, out of snack attack! 😂

[shruti_wagh]

I too love Chocolate Chip Cookies! Can eat a lot of them.....! 😜

I TRy  not buy it most of times but when I good discount I just buy it 🤓

Enjoy them specially at home while watching late night movies!

[Amanda Barber]

LOVE this topic!! Warm chocolate chip cookies is definitely at the top of my list. For a more savory option, I'd have to say it's probably lasagna or most Americanized Italian food - warm and garlicky! 

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Honestly, anything with melty cheese or melty chocolate = instant mood fix! Now I’m craving both - thanks a lot 😅

[Amanda Barber]

Hmm, maybe I just like melty foods actually. 🤔😅

[Andrew Zimmerman]

Love talking about food 😋. Similar to @Amanda Barber, I'm going to go with pasta in general as a major comfort food in my life. Also, I LOVE a big bowl of lentil soup as an escape from my worries and (in the winter) from the cold and snow. 

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Pasta and lentil soup? That’s like the ultimate yin-yang of comfort -carbs and cozy vibes in perfect balance 🍝🫶🥣

Also, lentil soup in winter = edible therapy. 10/10 would slurp while hiding from life (and the cold) 😄

[Brita Moorus]

Happy Friday! ✨

Honestly... my comfort food is probably McDonald's 😅 There's just something super comforting about grabbing a cheeseburger, fries, and maybe a McFlurry when the mood hits. It’s simple, nostalgic, and always consistent - hard to beat! 🍟🍔

Not exactly homemade dal-chawal levels of comfort, but it does the trick! 😄

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Honestly, no judgment- McComfort hits different on those days 😄🍔🍟
Sometimes you just need that salty-crispy-fast-food hug in a paper bag!

Dal-chawal is my soul food, but a sneaky McFlurry? That’s self-care with sprinkles 😌✨

[Laurie Sciutti]

"Self-care with sprinkles". LOVE it!

[John Funk]

A good hamburger and fries is always good. Sometimes it's pizza or other Italian. 

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Burgers, fries, and pizza? That’s the international comfort food! 🌍🍕🍔

[Daniel DuBravec]

My comfort food is Lemon Meringue pie.   I am both Gluten-Free and Vegan so I typically make from scratch, and it may be months in-between treating myself to it, but definitely worth the effort.

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Wow, that’s amazing! A pie that’s gluten-free, vegan and homemade? Honestly, I’d need a week off just to emotionally prepare for that level of dedication 😄🥧🍋
Total comfort food queen energy! 👑

[Amanda Barber]

Wow, that's beautiful, @Daniel DuBravec! I love making homemade banana cream pies. I think I may need to tackle a lemon meringue next! 

[Barbara Szczesniak]

After a stressful day, I lean toward the carb-rich foods also, though I'm more likely to treat myself to a Pad Thai to provide spicy and flavorful along with the carbs.

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Pad Thai after a stressful day? Bold choice.
It’s like carbs said, “Let’s spice things up and fix your life.” 🍜🔥
Honestly, respect. That dish carries both heat and healing 😄

[Laurie Sciutti]

Aaaaaand....now I'm hungry.  LOL 

Any Italian food works for me (I'm 3/4 Italian), but what really sprung to mind for me is a simple grilled cheese sammy.  YUM.  Throw in a bowl of creamy tomato soup and I'm in Heaven.  And maybe a few of those chocolate chip cookies everyone keeps mentioning.  ha!

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Grilled cheese and tomato soup? That’s not a meal, that’s a warm hug in edible form 🍅🧀

And those chocolate chip cookies? At this point, they deserve their own fan club and I’m signing up twice 😄🍪🔥

[Laurie Sciutti]

Yes and Yes!!

[Mahima_miniOrange]

Okay but seriously with all this chocolate chip cookie love, I say we petition Atlassian to keep cookie jars everywhere at Team’25 Barcelona 🍪

Conference snacks that double as therapy? Yes please! 😄

[Anwesha Pan _TCS_]

It's a great topic Mahima! The photo tempted me so much that I ended up having Dal chawal today lol 😄 I also love to add aloo chokha (smashed boiled potato with some spices) & smashed boiled egg and combine them both. Give a try if you haven't ;)

Beside Dal chawal, my another go to food is kadhi chawal which always makes me smile as soon as i serve it on my plate. The color, smell and texture brings back so many memories.

Thanks again for sharing it! :)