WAY Beyond the Basics

Looking for some out-of-the-box menu ideas? Try the delicately named http://thisiswhyyourefat.com. On the site you will find culinary delights like Bacon Cinnamon Roll, Deep-Fried Banana Split, Hot Beef Sundae and Fried Chicken Skin.

Deep frying seems to be a running theme, with everything from the above-mentioned banana split and chicken skin to cheesesteak, cheesecake (coated with tempura batter), pizza, guacamole and black pudding(!) subjected to the process. Some are quite imaginative in a disturbing way. Our favorite is Bacon Wrapped French Toast Sticks Stonehenge, an impressive presentation in which the French toast sticks are stacked to resemble the famous ruins on Salisbury Plain.

The entries are apparently submitted by readers. Most consist only of a photo and name line, though others have some elaboration on the ingredients. Some seem to be actual dishes from actual restaurants, at least judging from the backdrops and servingware, though this could be faked. For example, there's a Two Pound McDonald's Cheeseburger (six patties glued together with melted cheese, from the looks of it) that may or may not be an actual menu item from some demented franchise location. One we're pretty sure is not real is the McSurf 'n Turf, a McDonald's Filet O Fish tucked into one of the chain's Quarter Pounder burgers.

As for serious menu ideas, there may actually be some. The abovementioned Hot Beef Sundae — a scoop of mashed potato covered with beef stew and topped with a cherry tomato — is not a bad presentation of a fairly tame traditional dish. There's also the Pizza Cone, in which the crust is a cone containing the “toppings” — portability, anyone? Or how about the Deep-Fried Cupcake With Chocolate Syrup and Sprinkles or the Candy Pizza (a pizza crust covered with caramel and chocolate sauce and topped with mini marshmallows, gum drops, M&Ms, coconut flakes, candy hearts, etc.).

Just stay away from the Pork Brains in Milk Gravy…