It is interesting how the food you grew up with stays with you as a major part of who you are. Especially when stressed people reach for familiar, comfort food, and that really does vary all over the world. Comfort foods always have that element of nostalgia. I guess there are 2 categories - snack foods versus a meal. I don't think of ice cream or peanut butter or Buttermilk Fried Chicken or "goulash"...
Most South Africans can tell you that that they miss biltong, bobotie and of course Mrs Balls chutney (which is essential in the bobotie and other curries). Hey I just found out I can buy it on Amazon - who would have thought!
http://www.mrsballschutney.com/History.html
And of course biltong - always miss it. I tell friends it it like jerky, but honestly that is being rude to the wonderful taste and texture of biltong. It is dried meat and I was always partial to the ostrich which is a little drier than the game biltong. As wiki says, biltong is salty not sweet like jerky which is definitely the appeal to me. Why would you sweeten cured meat?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biltong
As this image says "bledie lekker"...very good!
