That belly-warming feeling

A recent psychological study confirms that food-cravings associated with childhood memories serve as salve during distress. Anjana Vaswani goes on a binge trip around town to pick at some of the most comforting portions city restaurants can provide, on a gloomy cloudy day

Ice Cream
Where: Baskin Robbins, Godrej Nature's Basket outlets across the city.
Log on to: www.baskinrobbins.com, www.naturesbasket.co.in
Why: Studies have not only shown ice-cream to be a favourite comfort food, but also have found the psychological root for its ability to elevate moods. Ice-cream reminds you of carefree childhood days, and when you're upset, that's the memory your mind wants to retreat to. So, in this weather, you might want to find a spot in your freezer for your old friends Baskin Robbins and H agen Dazs.
Price: Rs 375 to Rs 625 (1/2 kilo tub)

Moong Dal Khichdi
Where: Khichdi Samrat, 44/46, VP Road, CP Tank, Girgaon.
Call: 22420344
Why: Packed with the nutritional value of lentils, the khichdi here is soft, moong dal and rice preparation that your mother, prepared whenever you fell ill. It's our desi equivalent of chicken soup. And so, as Wansink's study found, this is the dish you're most likely to crave when you feel run down. If you can't make it at home, Khichdi Samrat is the place to run to.
Price: Rs 22

Chicken soup for the soul
Recently, results of psychologist Professor Brian Wansink's study on comfort food at Cornell University's Food and Brand Lab, revealed that food-cravings are rooted in past associations. Candy and ice-cream, for instance, may be evocative of happy childhood memories, which is why you may find yourself reaching for these when you're upset. Interestingly, the study also revealed that men and women craved different kinds of comfort food.u00a0 Low-spirited women sought chocolates and sweets. And miserable men craved hotu00a0 meaty meals, which, Wansink believes, reinforces a sense of machismo. But some comfort food may enhance your mood biologically too. For instance, numerous studies have shown that eating chocolate and chicken soup can elevate serotonin levels and thus actually make you happy.

American Chopsuey
Where: Kamling, 82, Veer Nariman Road, Churchgate
Call: 22848184, 22042618
Why: When that wave of nostalgia washes over you, nothing can warm you like a serving of the old classic, American Chop Suey. You could have it packed to go and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home while watching a rerun of an old TV show, but you can also go down memory lane just by grabbing a seat at this old Chinese restaurant where, both, the decor and the menu have remained largely unchanged over half a century.
Price: Rs 370

Liqueur chocolates
Where: Log on to www.chocaffaires.com. Or pick a bag from Colaba (65980344), Kemp's Corner (23868240), Bandra (26462218) and Juhu (65069012)
Why: That chocolate will cheer you up should come as no surprise, with numerous studies revealing its endorphin-boosting effect. Throw in booze and you have an instant-cure for depression. For that, Chocaffaires concocts plain and fruit-and-nut remedies as well. We recommend their liqueur-chocolate bombs that are ideal for the forlorn.
Price: Rs 1,080 per kg

Bread Pudding
Where: Le Pain Quotidien, Dhanraj Mahal, CSM Road, Apollo Bunder, Gateway of India, Colaba.
Call: 66150202
Why: Just watching that gorgeous golden syrup being poured over the smoking dish is enough to make you forget about the gloominess outside. Sprinkled with enough cinnamon to warm your heart, this perfectly prepared treat does more than charm the senses. The combination of carbohydrates, protein, sugar and raisins provide a good dose of fibre, potassium and antioxidants, which is genuinely a healthy way to lift your spirits up.
Price: Rs 175

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Where: Indigo Delicatessan, Palladium, High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel
Call: 43666666
Why: Served piping hot and fresh out of the oven, these melt-in-the-mouth cookies are an immediate mood-enhancer. Just as crispy and chewy as God intended chocolate chip cookies to be, if ever there was a sure-fire remedy for the blues, this is it! Four sinful cookies make up a portion here.
Price: Rs 230