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Ever have those days when you just want to be bad? I’m not talking terrible bad, but call in sick from work to go to the beach bad. Ignoring your best friend’s call because you know she’s just going to complain about her boyfriend bad. Or skipping the gym to get ice cream. In a waffle bowl. With caramel syrup. Yum. Now that is indeed, the sweetest kind of bad.

With all of the good that we do, a little bad now and then can keep life interesting, and spontaneous, and fun. The same goes for taste buds. We are good for the most part. We eat our vegetables – setting the right example for our children – and make a conscious effort to grab instant oatmeal instead of pop-tarts on our way out of the door in the mornings. We even limit our dessert intake to only three days per week. That’s less than half the time!

So when it is time for me to be bad, I go for a gold. Distance, time, money – no matter. I want what I want and a substitute just won’t do. I even get bad cravings seasonally! These are a few of my favorite things, and as a bonus, exactly where in southern California you can find them.

Nachos de Mariscos: Javier’s Cantina, Irvine, Calif.

Normally, you’d think anything seafood would be on the healthier side, but not this filling appetizer. Javier’s Nachos de Mariscos are smothered in melty Monterey Jack cheese and topped with scrumptious bites of crab and shrimp. Good down to the very last bite.

Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries: L.A. County Fair, Pomona, Calif.

There are so many great (terribly bad for you) foods at the L.A. County Fair, including chocolate covered bacon, but this one takes the deep fried cake. Add a side of pickles and a few packets of mustard, and I am in pure, processed meat heaven.

Spicy Cashew Chicken: Cheesecake Factory, a strip mall near you.

This last one was tough. I was really struggling between the Tiramisu and the afore mentioned bowl of chicken goodness. Once again, meat – being near and dear to my heart – wins again. Crisp scallions lay atop a bed of sticky rice, crunchy cashews, toasted sesame seeds, and juicy delectable chunks of chicken breast. Don’t even get me started on the spicy savory sauce. Way too many calories for one person, and though I may try, I have never been able to finish this scrumptious dish in one sitting. Better for me, because after marinating and merrying those flavors for a day, the leftovers are to die for.

We can’t be bad all of the time, but when are, it can definitely taste oh so good. And these are just a few of my favorite things.

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