Ketchup!

Does anyone remember the sitcom, “The Odd Couple”? To this day, it is still one of my top 3 favorite TV shows. What a contrast…the sloppiest guy in the world, sharing an apartment with the neatest and fussiest guy in the world – Pure Genius! Brilliantly written, “The Odd Couple” has given me more than a fair of belly laughs.

Why did I start a blog about ketchup discussing “The Odd Couple”? Because one of my favorite (and brilliantly written) lines come from an episode where Felix, a lover of fine wines, is complaining to Oscar about Oscar’s excessive use of ketchup on everything. Oscar, with a stroke of pure genius, responded to Felix, “I love ketchup..it’s like tomato wine!”. I can’t tell you how many times I have watched that episode, along with all the others, and it still gets a big belly laugh out of me.

I figured, in all fairness, since I ranted about Mustard a few weeks ago, that I would give equal time to ketchup. And Mauriceo can get his digs in too!!

I recently discovered that not everyone likes ketchup-Wow! In fact, when my son told me that he doesn’t like to put it on his burger or fries, I was shocked. I mean, really, who doesn’t like ketchup? Evidently, there are people who don’t – Eek!

Let’s talk about ketchup, shall we?

I recently read an article online about ketchup. In it, the author stated that ketchup is the only condiment that has not evolved over its lifetime. I thought that a little surprising, so I did a little research and discovered that the author was correct. In its current form, ketchup is basically the same today as when it was first invented (except of course ketchup manufacturers use evil high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar). Think of almost any condiment, and every one has at least a few variations, but until just very recently, ketchup has just been plain old ketchup. Within the past few months, I have seen, from time to time at the supermarket, spicy ketchup-but that really isn’t anything more than putting some spice into a batch of ketchup. Bottom line is that the base product hasn’t changed. Remember when they changed the recipe for Coca-Cola??????

So what is it about this condiment that makes it so popular? Is it really like “tomato wine”?

I happen to think that ketchup is great condiment. It goes well with beef (namely hamburgers), in sauces, as a base for BBQ Sauce, excellent in making baked beans, on eggs, potatoes, as a base for cocktail sauce, as a topper for meatloaf, it adds “Ooh, what’s that flavor” to lentil soup…very versatile. I can’t eat fries or hamburgers without ketchup…yuck!!

With its sweet and vinegary tang, ketchup seems to be a favorite among most people. I’ve even seen people put ketchup on steak. I know that repulses most people, as they believe it is an insult to the steak, but if you prefer ketchup on your hamburger, what difference does it really make? Hmm? It beats the hell out of “steak sauce”, which I find repulsive. When it comes down to it, steak sauce is over spiced and complicates the flavor of the steak. I actually find my taste buds fighting, with all the flavors of steak sauce, to actually taste the steak.

After a little research, I also learned that steak sauce is just glorified ketchup!

Steak Sauce: Water, Tomato Paste, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Raisin Paste, Crushed Orange Puree, Spices and Herbs, Dried Garlic and Onion, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate (to Preserve Freshness), Xanthan Gum

Ketchup: Water, Tomato, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Salt, Spice, Onion Powder, Natural Flavoring.

Looks like Steak Sauce is ketchup with raisins and oranges added. Hmmm..so people get their knickers in a twist because some people like ketchup on a steak, but they don’t get upset when someone puts ketchup with raisins and oranges on a steak…..Funny that! Would you put orange slices and raisins on your hamburger? Don’t think so! So why would you put it on a steak? Yes, yes..I am comparing steak and hamburgers…No one needs to tell me that they are so totally different..so save your breath. They’re not! They are two versions of the same thing, presented differently.

When it comes to food, no one can agree on everything. Ketchup is one of those things that can evoke a lot of feeling from people, same as mustard or even mayo. You either like it or you don’t. Modern-day ketchup has been around since 1824 (but appeared in various other forms as early as 1690). The fact that it has been around, unchanged, for so long is a testament for it durability and overall appeal to peoples’ taste buds.

At this point, there are two roads that one can take: Ketchup is so boring that it can never be anything more exciting than it already is…OR…Ketchup is so good that it’s lasted this long and doesn’t NEED to change.

Which road are you taking?

Until next time….Bonum appetitionem!

Mustard needs to learn it’s place!

Think mustard is a boring subject….think again! Mustard can be a hotly debated item….still in disbelief?

A bit of background first: For 41 years, I lived in what is called the NY Tri-State Metro area – comprised of the southern-most county in Connecticut, Westchester and Rockland Counties in NY, all 5 boroughs of NYC, the western portion of Long Island and the east coast of New Jersey, down to around Jersey City. THIS is the real New York City!

When I moved to California in 2004, I could not believe some of the food related things that I saw here. My biggest shock was that people actually put mustard on a hamburger! A hamburger…with mustard?? Preposterous, I thought! The first two weeks I was living here, we had to eat out most evenings, as most of my pots and pans had not yet arrived via ground delivery service.

Fast food was always a cheap and easy way to go…until we discovered that every fast food chain puts MUSTARD on hamburgers. You will be hard pressed to find a fast food place in the Tri-State Metro area that puts mustard on a hamburger. It’s simply not tolerated! Any normal New Yorker would scoff at the idea of getting a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder or a Burger King Whopper with mustard on it…YUCK!

You think that’s bad..check this out…They put mustard on Tuna Salad sandwiches here too! They use mustard here like it’s water..on everything! I simply can’t tolerate it!

For me, mustard is a special condiment, as is mayonnaise, horseradish and relish. They were created to go with certain foods..not EVERY food. Ketchup, on the other hand, goes with almost everything..but we’ll save that debate for another time.

With it’s special tangy flavor, somewhat bitter background and bold bite, mustard belongs with stronger flavored foods, hence the perfect accompaniment to a hot dog or polish sausage, pork and fish. NOT on beef (unless it’s corned beef or pastrami because they have been cured giving them a hearty flavor, in fashion with hot dogs and polish sausages).

Mustard is an excellent emulsifier for salad dressings and compliments vinegar and raw garlic, which is also used in salad dressings. Combined with white wine and butter while deglazing a saute pan, it makes a fabulous sauce for white fleshed fish, such as cod or halibut. Hot versions of mustard go well with certain fried Chinese foods, such as eggrolls or fried wontons. It even goes well with eggs…a bit of mustard in egg salad gives it a nice tang; whisked with butter, lemon juice and salt & pepper, it makes a lovely mock hollandaise sauce for poached eggs.

As you will see in future posts, I am extremely opinionated about food. One might even venture to call me a “food snob”…and you know what?…..I am! Cooking is my art..I can’t draw or paint or sketch or knit…well, you get the picture, but I can cook, and I know what I like..and I also know what flavors blend well together and which ones don’t. I’ve been cooking and creating “oohs and ahs” at the dinner table for almost 40 years…after that long, one tends to pick up some wisdom. I guess the moral of the story here, is:

Mustard doesn’t belong on a hamburger!