What are some foods that hit all of the basic tastes?

Most Thai dishes are by design supposed to hit all the basic tastes. Examples would be Crispy Fish with Tamarind Sauce, Red or green curries, Tom Gat soup, etc.

Salsa… It can be sweet, sour, sharp, hot, or mild. Or, all of the above.

Yeah a good curry hits all those flavours. Also certain Chinese foods, especially if they have a sweet and sour element.

Pizza.

Actually, you already gave the preeminent example. I’ve heard that various food taste engineers feel that Ketchup is the world’s most balanced tasting “food”. May be rumor, as I cannot support what I have heard.

My choice?

Ale and chips. (potato chips – preferably BBQ or sea salt)

I try to incorporate sweet, sour, salty and hot into everything I cook. It gives it the umphhhhh factor. I use a little raw sugar or palm sugar, a hit of some kind of vinegar usually balsamic or else lime or lemon, salty is usually fish sauce, soy or veggie salt and hot is chilies and sirracha. I even have it on my cereal in the morning. :-)

So to answer your question, any food prepared in rooeytoo’s kitchen.

Pizza with every topping. Different types of chinese dishes. Homemade Bar-b-que.