The Tenth Ten: Fried Foods

1. Beignets: A true Louisiana signature and the single best fried food ever.

2. Fried Pork Chops:  I had these for the first time recently at Dim Sum in Baton Rouge.  I normally don't eat pork chops but when they are deep fried, they are delicious.

3. Cracklins:  Another dish commonly found in Louisiana and something that by description doesn't sound like it would be good.

4. Mozzarella Sticks:  You take an amazing food like mozzarella and you deep fry...genius.

5. Fried Pies:  Hubig pies are one of those delicious memories from my childhood and one of the highlights from 4:00am fishing trips.

6. Monte Cristo Sandwich:  A ham and cheese sandwich (occasionally including turkey) battered and deep fried to perfection then usually served with some sort of sweet dipping sauce makes this heaven in your mouth.

7. Fried Stuff Avocado:  I had this for the first time when visiting some friends in Austin a few years ago.  They take the avocado and mix it with pulled chicken, batter it and deep fry it.

8. Fried Biscuits (a.k.a. Chinese Donuts):  I suppose I have a penchant for fried dough but I loved these as a child.  My mother would bring me to a Chinese buffet and I would only eat sweet and sour chicken and these.

9. Fried Plantains:  I've always enjoyed fried plantains, however; when I had them in Hollywood, FL as fried plantain chips, I was hooked.

10. French Fries:  How could there be a top 10 list of fried foods that didn't include the most basic one.  When done right, they are the food of the gods.