Fall Food And Drink Favorites From Our Meteorologists

There is, of course, the temperature drop. But fall’s arrival brings so much more. Something for every sense.

We watch as the green leaves yield to yellow, orange and red. Then we reach for a rake to make the perfect pile. Fall returns the familiar crackle of a fire and smell of woodsmoke. But for many, the season is all about seasoning.

More than half of the nearly 4,500 people surveyed by The Weather Company last fall said they’d add fall foods to their meals. And while not all of our meteorologists are excited about summer’s exit, fall is certainly imprinted on their taste buds.

Domenica Davis calls it “eating season” and, for her, that means wings. The hotter the better.

(​MORE: 4 Things To Know About The Fall Equinox)

That choice is seconded by Chris Dolce, but a Philly cheesesteak or calzone also works while he’s cheering on his “back-to-back National Champion Georgia Bulldogs.” His words, not mine.

The comfort food theme is carried on by Jonathan Belles, who looks to pot roast or something else he can cook low and slow in the oven to heat the house on a chilly day.

For Danielle Banks, it’s butternut squash soup dressed up with a dollop of sour cream, a few pepitas, a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Comfort with a side of class.

The All-American apple was the most mentioned food by our meteorologists.

Orelon Sidney orders them every year from Washington state and prefers them unadulterated.

(​MORE: 7 Destinations Fall Travelers Need To Visit)

Caramel apples take Jonathan Erdman back to his childhood visits to a local orchard in southeast Wisconsin.

Fall for Madeline Scheinost is a mug of warm apple cider. Bourbon additions are happily accepted.

A contrarian view on the season’s eatings is offered by Ari Sarsalari, which I present without commentary despite the desire to do so.

“In general, I really don't like fall food, but I'll say pomegranates. They're my favorite fruit. Delicious and fun to prepare. My little secret is to sprinkle a small amount of salt on the seeds before you eat them,” he said.

Not exactly tailgate food, but the word pomegranate is rooted in the Latin word for apple. So there’s that.

The season’s signature scent is what James Wilson is most looking forward to. Pumpkin spice coffee and doughnuts take him back to his college days in Vermont.

For Dina Knightly, it’s sitting around a firepit with her family making s’mores and drinking hot chocolate.

Fall is romanticized in books, movies and music, with even the great Taylor Swift singing about autumn leaves falling down.

For me, fall is when the modest spoon gets its solo. When blowing on each bite makes you slow down. When weather invites you back inside. Time to grab your gravy boat and RSVP. Unless, of course, you’re more of a pomegranate person.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.