

Earlier today, we published a review of the controversial (and delicious) new Everything Bagel flavor from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Everything Bagel, which is very, very bagel-y indeed, is billed by Jeni’s as ice cream suited for “any time of day,” including breakfast. Coincidentally, National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day is coming up on Saturday, February 6. This got us wondering: should certain foods be restricted to certain times of day? Is ice cream, or other food, best consumed after dark?
Personally, I think life’s too short to restrict ice cream habits, but my coworkers do have some designated nighttime foods. Takeout editor-in-chief Marnie Shure has what she describes as “a weirdly long list of nighttime-only foods” like pizza, which she only eats after sundown. My fellow staff writer Allison Robicelli hates eggs at breakfast and lunch, but loves eating them after dark. I can’t do poultry for breakfast, but other than that I live life pretty free and easy. What about you? Do you have designated daytime/nighttime foods, or do you live life on the wild side? Please discuss.
DISCUSSION
These are all such bad takes as to be worthy of immediate banishment.
Cereal should never be eaten after 12pm (controversial in the US, I know, but I stand by it). If you rise after noon proceed directly to lunch.
Nor should congee, or any other form of porridge, including grits.
Roast meats are typically only appropriate after dark, unless we’re talking barbecue, which should be eaten when it’s done. If that’s at 5am hold my beer and pass the napkins.
Parsnips, brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes etc should never be seen when the sun is up (if at all). Hall pass on Thanksgiving.
Eating mashed potatoes at any other meal than dinner is barbarity.
This is a thorny one, but sandwiches that are unambiguously sandwiches are best served at breakfast or lunch. Burgers and their ilk are dinner-appropriate but for whatever reason a pastrami on rye or a turkey club is not, although this is a rule I would break under certain circumstances eg road trip or high AF (when high AF all rules go out the window). An EBC, of course, is always breakfast. Bagel sandos can pass muster at lunch, especially in the case of lox with onions, capers, and a schmear, but only those without egg.
That’s it for now, although I’m sure there are more.