I am sick: the sore throat, runny eyes, and snotty nose with just a hint of a fever. You know it if you've lived here for any amount of time: the Kentucky Fall Blues. That ragweed time of year when your only friends are a sympathetic ear, food that is warm, liquid, laced with cayenne, and amber dew from down Loretto way.

I am susceptible to this condition and have tried to prepare myself for the onslaught of chrysanthemums every year since I moved to Lexington by dusting off the telephone and stack of take-out menus. I know that very soon I will need spicy, stick-to-your-ribs food and it's really difficult to think about standing over a hot stove making even boiling water for yourself when you are ill.

The food to cure what ails you, especially made by someone you trust, is the best food for the ragweed blues. My grandmother makes the most wonderful vegetable soup and cornbread, but since I don't have the patience of a saint to wait until U.P.S. delivers it from South Carolina, I am relying on my brand new husband to fill my belly with the next best thing.

I have ordered up spaghetti with extra garlic, onions, anchovies, and mushrooms, and I am sure that he will accomplish his mission.

If you do not have a brand new husband (as obviously I didn't either, until recently), there are many gracious substitute food ladlers in our town. Of course, you know that everyone has his or her own version of medicinal grub, but I have chosen just a few of my current favorites to mention, in case you are in the same predicament.

In the category of chicken soup, the necessary two ingredients consisting of anything lethargy-inducing and filled with vitamins can be found at Kashmir Indian Restaurant on South Limestone. This is for the first stage of the sniffles. You can rip pieces of nan (a flat, chewy Indian bread), filled with a tidy sum of opaque chopped garlic, and dip them into mint chutney saying things like, "niss is goond," before they place an amazing, hot broth full of chicken in front of you. Even without being able to smell, the steam off of the bowl seems to help (and it doubles as a facial).

If you lean more toward vegetarian in your taste for recuperation, spicy lentil soup from The Oasis in Chevy Chase is what you may need. This is the second stage of common allergies called, "even my teeth hurt." No chewing necessary. It's smooth, thick, peppery, and complements a nice hot cup of mint or clove tea. The spices in this soup are the remedy and although you probably can't taste them, you can feel them. Your throat will be crying out for more. If you are too ill to sit in their restaurant, they have always been very efficient in prepping take-out orders - probably secretly suspecting that one might bring a hot water bottle and blanket to camp out if they weren't quick enough, so feel free to call your order in and ask a friend to pick up your meal for you.

Practically anyone in town can tell you where to get the best American, down-home, almost-as-good-as-my-mamma's type of food.

You can ask five people and get five different answers. We are just lucky like that.

I would like to recommend that you try Ed & Fred's Desert Moon for their rosemary chicken and poblano mashed potatoes. This meal is basic, good for you, easy on the eye, and delicious. It may seem strange to include this eatery in a comfort food category but when I walk in feeling under the weather, I know exactly what I want and that my favorite server will bring it piping hot.

Well, my meal is here and he it includes capers, so I could not be happier at this moment. But before I take myself, my man, dog, spaghetti, Kleenex, blankets, book, and hot toddy off to bed, I would like to ask a favor of you - the readers.

Last week, I missed a squirrel fry somewhere in our county. I had just not heard of it. I am not overly excited about eating squirrel, trust me, but it's a Kentucky food and if it's a Kentucky food, then I want to try it and tell you about it. Just let me know when the next one's coming up.

Please email your culinary heads-ups to Karen at kworkman@aceweekly.com.