--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We'll start with oysters on the half…" description: "\"“We'll start with oysters on the half shell and homemade salt-and-pepper potato chips, just to whet the appetites. Then a wedge salad with homemade ran..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/stacey-ballis-6284_appetizer_we-ll-start-with-oysters-on-the-half-she_1384225.jpg" --- # We'll start with oysters on the half shell and homemade… ![“We'll start with oysters on the half shell and homemade salt-and-pepper potato chips, just to whet the appetites. Then a wedge salad with homemade ranch dressing and crumbled peppered bacon. For the main course, a slow-roasted prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, creamed spinach, tomato pudding baked…” quote by Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/stacey-ballis-6284_appetizer_we-ll-start-with-oysters-on-the-half-she_1384225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/stacey-ballis-6284_appetizer_we-ll-start-with-oysters-on-the-half-she_1384225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ca/stacey-ballis-6284_appetizer_we-ll-start-with-oysters-on-the-half-she_1384225.jpg) > ““We'll start with oysters on the half shell and homemade salt-and-pepper potato chips, just to whet the appetites. Then a wedge salad with homemade ranch dressing and crumbled peppered bacon. For the main course, a slow-roasted prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, creamed spinach, tomato pudding baked into tomato halves, and fresh popovers instead of bread. For dessert, the world's most perfect chocolate cream pie. Marcy and I went on a Sunday boondoggle to Milwaukee last year and had lunch at this terrific gastropub called Palomino, and while the whole meal was spectacular, notably the fried chicken, the chocolate cream pie was life changing for us both. Marcy used her pastry-chef wiles to get the recipe, and we both love any excuse to make it. It's serious comfort food, and I can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year.”” [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A detailed description of a celebratory feast highlighting a standout chocolate cream pie that became a cherished comfort food. **In simple terms:** A memorable meal with a standout dessert. Key Takeaway Enjoy and share comforting dishes. Themes comfort food celebration food writing recipe sharing Mood joyful nostalgic appetizing Type personal narrative food review inspirational When to use this quote - holiday gatherings - family meals - recipe experimentation - food blogging Key Concepts culinary nostalgia sensory detail food culture Questions to Reflect On - What makes a dessert unforgettable for you? - How do you incorporate comfort foods into celebrations? A Different Perspective Taste preferences vary; not everyone may enjoy rich desserts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appetizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetizer/) [Better way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-way/) [Comfort food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort-food/) [Cream Pie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cream-pie-786132/) [Dessert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dessert/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Fried chicken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fried-chicken/) [Homemade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homemade/) [Last year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-year/) [Life changing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-changing/) [Main course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-course/) [Meal Spectacular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meal-spectacular-4805056/) [New year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-year/) [Palomino Meal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/palomino-meal-4805054/) [Potato Chip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potato-chip/) [Potato chips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potato-chips/) [Salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salad/) [Terrific Gastropub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrific-gastropub-4805055/) ## Related quotes > [“So," he explains. "Take the piece of bread, dip it in the olive oil and then in the spice and nut mix, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/so-he-explains-take-the-piece-of-bread-dip-it-in-the-olive-oil-and/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [Harry Styles threw a cream pie at my face in front of 15,000 people to thank me for the months we spent on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabel/harry-styles-threw-a-cream-pie-at-my-face-in-front-of-15-000-people/) [Mabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mabel/) > [“Holy mother of banana cream pie. They had pictures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/holy-mother-of-banana-cream-pie-they-had-pictures/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [“Blah! This coconut cream pie tastes like ass and feet! I hate it when things are deceptively delicious-looking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-amakan/blah-this-coconut-cream-pie-tastes-like-ass-and-feet-i-hate-it-when/) [Nicole Amakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-amakan/) > [“Blah, blah, blah. Well, the coconut cream pie was a bust, which leaves the olives. Slippery suckers. I can’t seem to spear one with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-amakan/blah-blah-blah-well-the-coconut-cream-pie-was-a-bust-which-leaves-the/) [Nicole Amakan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-amakan/) > [I got a fan letter on the back of a prison menu. And I remember thinking, 'Well, they get pie. It's not so bad.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-got-a-fan-letter-on-the-back-of-a-prison-menu-and-i-remember/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [I used to love Danish. My father used to make a Boston cream pie. You never see that anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/i-used-to-love-danish-my-father-used-to-make-a-boston-cream-pie-you/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) > [“Cream Pie French Toast ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-weaver/cream-pie-french-toast/) [Dennis Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-weaver/) > [“I'm an excellent pastry chef. My pie crust is better than my Zia Rosa's. Come on back to the kitchen. I'll make a chocolate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-mckenna/i-m-an-excellent-pastry-chef-my-pie-crust-is-better-than-my-zia-rosa/) [Shannon McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-mckenna/) > [“I gave her a Boston cream pie, even though we were in Seattle at the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-gave-her-a-boston-cream-pie-even-though-we-were-in-seattle-at-the/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“I brought a coconut cream pie, Mom's favorite. Coconut's hard, dirty, shaggy exterior didn't promise much. But when you cracked it open and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-fertig/i-brought-a-coconut-cream-pie-mom-s-favorite-coconut-s-hard-dirty/) [Judith Fertig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-fertig/) > [“Nothing was like knowing you were the appetizer for a feast of orgy, that you were what whetted the guests and enticed them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fierce-dolan/nothing-was-like-knowing-you-were-the-appetizer-for-a-feast-of-orgy/) [Fierce Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fierce-dolan/) > [Whenever you go out to eat you gotta get the appetizer. 'Cause the appetizer's just an excuse for an extra meal. You're always like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/whenever-you-go-out-to-eat-you-gotta-get-the-appetizer-cause-the/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Seriously, if someone don't like this appetizer, you gotta grab they scruffy ass by the back of their neck and throw them out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/seriously-if-someone-don-t-like-this-appetizer-you-gotta-grab-they/) [Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/) > [I'm a full-on appetizer kind of guy. I'm a Lunchables fanatic, too. I like anything tiny that you can make in front of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-barnett/i-m-a-full-on-appetizer-kind-of-guy-i-m-a-lunchables-fanatic-too-i/) [Charlie Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-barnett/) ## More by Stacey Ballis > [“Jack was the kind of guy you could take into any situation and he would figure out how to fit in. Wayne, not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/jack-was-the-kind-of-guy-you-could-take-into-any-situation-and-he/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Volnay is prancing, head up proudly; her squat little bowlegs producing a smooth gait that would make the dog show people preen. She carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/volnay-is-prancing-head-up-proudly-her-squat-little-bowlegs-producing/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Deciding that he was essentially useless, I made him a large glass of sangre del tigre- "blood of the tiger"- a lethal Bloody Mary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/deciding-that-he-was-essentially-useless-i-made-him-a-large-glass-of/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“I cooked with so many of the greats: Tom Colicchio, Eric Ripert, Wylie Dufresne, Grant Achatz. Rick Bayless taught me not one but two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/i-cooked-with-so-many-of-the-greats-tom-colicchio-eric-ripert-wylie/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Last night I read about a dish Gemma made for the staff for breakfast, which sounded really good despite its horrible name. Toad-in-the-hole. Seriously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/last-night-i-read-about-a-dish-gemma-made-for-the-staff-for-breakfast/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“I'm going to explode," my dad says, rubbing his stomach gleefully. He's just put down a massive sandwich piled with corned beef, pastrami, chopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/i-m-going-to-explode-my-dad-says-rubbing-his-stomach-gleefully-he-s/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Miss A-la-na here seems to think that my pork medallion with caramelized-onion pan sauce is a little heavy-handed, that the onions need a lighter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/miss-a-la-na-here-seems-to-think-that-my-pork-medallion-with/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Relax, princess. If your prince arrives, I'll vacate. Just keeping you company. Besides, he should know better than to leave a beautiful girl waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/relax-princess-if-your-prince-arrives-i-ll-vacate-just-keeping-you/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Yeah, just what I needed, a massive three-day Hostess binge, followed by a week of trying to replicate recipes so that if no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/yeah-just-what-i-needed-a-massive-three-day-hostess-binge-followed-by/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Going to the gym...all those people who always told me that you get addicted to it, that endorphins kick in, that eventually you crave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/going-to-the-gym-all-those-people-who-always-told-me-that-you-get/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“This year I am doing praline pecans, an old favorite family favorite, easy and addictive. And a festive holiday dark chocolate loaf cake, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/this-year-i-am-doing-praline-pecans-an-old-favorite-family-favorite/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“I pick up my teaspoon and take a small bite, and am transported. The cake is nutty and moist, the cream with the barest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/i-pick-up-my-teaspoon-and-take-a-small-bite-and-am-transported-the/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“Yep," I say, cutting a large slice of the Dutch Baby pancake and sliding it onto her plate along with two pieces of thick-sliced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/yep-i-say-cutting-a-large-slice-of-the-dutch-baby-pancake-and-sliding/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“The cake is pretty simple; they didn't want anything too fancy. Two tiers. The bottom is the Frango mint tier from the cake contest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/the-cake-is-pretty-simple-they-didn-t-want-anything-too-fancy-two/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [“In a frenetic whirlwind we chop and dice and mince, turning anything we can think of into a possible pizza topping, and packing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/in-a-frenetic-whirlwind-we-chop-and-dice-and-mince-turning-anything/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) [Explore all 99 Stacey Ballis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) ## More Appetizer quotes > [I'm a full-on appetizer kind of guy. I'm a Lunchables fanatic, too. I like anything tiny that you can make in front of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-barnett/i-m-a-full-on-appetizer-kind-of-guy-i-m-a-lunchables-fanatic-too-i/) [Charlie Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-barnett/) > [Seriously, if someone don't like this appetizer, you gotta grab they scruffy ass by the back of their neck and throw them out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coolio/seriously-if-someone-don-t-like-this-appetizer-you-gotta-grab-they/) [Coolio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coolio/) > [“So," he explains. "Take the piece of bread, dip it in the olive oil and then in the spice and nut mix, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/so-he-explains-take-the-piece-of-bread-dip-it-in-the-olive-oil-and/) [Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/) > [Whenever you go out to eat you gotta get the appetizer. 'Cause the appetizer's just an excuse for an extra meal. You're always like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/whenever-you-go-out-to-eat-you-gotta-get-the-appetizer-cause-the/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“Nothing was like knowing you were the appetizer for a feast of orgy, that you were what whetted the guests and enticed them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fierce-dolan/nothing-was-like-knowing-you-were-the-appetizer-for-a-feast-of-orgy/) [Fierce Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fierce-dolan/) > [With four-appetizer, four-entree menus, it's like, give me a break. That's not a restaurant, that's a dinner party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/with-four-appetizer-four-entree-menus-it-s-like-give-me-a-break-that/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [The appetizer is just an excuse for an extra meal. Let's see, I will start with the eighty buffalo wings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/the-appetizer-is-just-an-excuse-for-an-extra-meal-let-s-see-i-will/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [Yeah the appetizer, that's the food we eat before we have our food...No no you're thinking of dessert, that's food we eat after we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/yeah-the-appetizer-that-s-the-food-we-eat-before-we-have-our-food-no/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“Japanese Gyoza   This is a very popular Japanese appetizer you just need to try! Preparation time: 10 minutes Total time: 30 minutes Yield:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-humphreys/japanese-gyoza-this-is-a-very-popular-japanese-appetizer-you-just/) [Daniel Humphreys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-humphreys/) > [“SERVES 6 TO 8 AS AN APPETIZER     Two 10-ounce packages large white stuffing mushrooms (about 24 mushrooms) ½ cup finely chopped scallions (about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-matticchio-bastianich/serves-6-to-8-as-an-appetizer-two-10-ounce-packages-large-white/) [Lidia Matticchio Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-matticchio-bastianich/) > [“When you fall for your appetite too early, you may not be able to endure to the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-you-fall-for-your-appetite-too-early-you-may-not-be-able-to/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“It starts as an appetizer typically. That’s low risk. Then it migrates to an entrée dish. Then it becomes a food that you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/it-starts-as-an-appetizer-typically-that-s-low-risk-then-it-migrates/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [Dips are the perfect appetizer for any outdoor party! They are super easy to make and equally delicious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hollis/dips-are-the-perfect-appetizer-for-any-outdoor-party-they-are-super/) [Rachel Hollis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hollis/) > [The willingness and ability to live fully in the now eludes many people. While eating your appetizer, don't be concerned with dessert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/the-willingness-and-ability-to-live-fully-in-the-now-eludes-many/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [New York City is like the appetizer table at a Jewish wedding, loaded with salt and spice and cholesterol and flavor, with a waiter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonore-fleischer/new-york-city-is-like-the-appetizer-table-at-a-jewish-wedding-loaded/) [Leonore Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonore-fleischer/) [Browse all 24 Appetizer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetizer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We'll start with oysters on the half shell and homemade salt-and-pepper potato chips, just to whet the appetites. Then a wedge salad with homemade ranch dressing and crumbled peppered bacon. For the main course, a slow-roasted prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, creamed spinach, tomato pudding baked into tomato halves, and fresh popovers instead of bread. For dessert, the world's most perfect chocolate cream pie. Marcy and I went on a Sunday boondoggle to Milwaukee last year and had lunch at this terrific gastropub called Palomino, and while the whole meal was spectacular, notably the fried chicken, the chocolate cream pie was life changing for us both. Marcy used her pastry-chef wiles to get the recipe, and we both love any excuse to make it. 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