I am going to be honest with you. I put fried chicken first and I know what that means. It means Betty will sigh loudly in my direction. It means Anton will write something measured and slightly devastating in response. It means the comment section, if we had one, would be chaotic.
I am fine with all of that. Fried chicken is first. Here is my full explanation.
Fried chicken is the most universally beloved food on this list. It is also one of the most technically demanding. The best fried chicken requires timing, temperature, and an understanding of the food that borders on intuitive. When a grower picks fried chicken, they are making a statement. They believe they can execute under pressure. They believe the judges will reward excellence. They are probably right.
| Rank | Food | My Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fried Chicken | 1 |
| 2 | Hamburger | 2 |
| 3 | Pizza | 3 |
| 4 | Steak | 4 |
| 5 | French Fries | 5 |
| 6 | Meatloaf | 6 |
| 7 | Spaghetti | 7 |
| 8 | Pancakes | 8 |
| 9 | Magic Bars | 9 |
| 10 | Ice Cream | 10 |
| 11 | Tacos | 11 |
| 12 | Mac & Cheese | 12 |
| 13 | Grilled Cheese | 13 |
| 14 | Donut | 14 |
| 15 | Salad | 15 |
Hamburger is second. I want to be specific about why. A hamburger is not a lesser food. It is a different kind of excellence. The hamburger rewards confidence. The grower who picks it and delivers consistently will score well all season. I respect the hamburger. I ranked it second because I think it will perform.
Steak is fourth on my list. Betty will tell you this is a mistake. She is not wrong that steak is excellent. She is also not wrong that it is technically demanding. Where we differ is in what we value. I value sustained performance and broad appeal. Steak is exceptional at its peak and sometimes frustrating below it. Fourth seems right.
Now. Meatloaf. I have it sixth. Anton has it second. I want to be on record: Anton is not wrong about meatloaf. Meatloaf is a serious food that does not receive serious attention. I gave it sixth because I believe in it and I think the grower who picks it will be underestimated, which is its own kind of advantage. I will be watching the meatloaf pod with great interest.
At the bottom of my list is salad. I want to be respectful. Salad is food. It is healthy and fine and I do not wish it any harm. But in a direct competition with fried chicken, hamburger, pizza, and everything else on this list, salad is fighting uphill every single week. I ranked it fifteenth. I think this is fair.
That is my full explanation. I stand behind every line of it.