A quick "ketchup" for those who missed last week's column.
My father, who recently visited Arkansas, is a Pepsi-ordering Yankee who slathers ketchup on barbecue and eats ribs with a fork and knife.
And I found out he's not the only one. Several readers and Facebook friends revealed their condiment comedies, which I'm sharing nearly verbatim.
Wrote one friend:
LOL My dad puts ketchup on anything beef -- like prime rib even ... He uses the fork and knife method -- think he's afraid his teeth will fall out.
This reader is my father's kindred sauce and soda spirit:
I love your Dad!!! My family + I are 10-year transplants from Maine. Oh yes! Bring on the Pepsi (Pizza Hut has it!!) + ketchup. At my first visit to Whole Hog I, too, wanted the ketchup (Heinz is the ONLY ketchup!). My "native" co-workers thought I was nuts! They shook their heads and murmured "Yankee!!" Your column brought a sweet smile to my day!! Thanks!
Speaking of Whole Hog -- the restaurant boasting some six (seven, counting the one hotter than hell's wrath that's kept behind the counter) barbecue sauces -- that is where our barbecue came from the night my father insisted on ketchup-ing his pulled pork sandwich. I got this email from one of its founders, Steve Lucchi:
We share your pain -- on a regular basis we receive requests for mustard, Mayo, A-1, ketchup, Tabasco, etc., etc. Without offending our customer (hopefully), I gently inquire as to what menu item said requested condiment would be applied. My WOW gauge ranges from 1 to 100 (poker face required). Please tell your father we appreciate his business and will pray for his conversion. Thanks from the "Hawg!"
Others are praying for my conversion. In the article I mentioned I served my father Hunt's ketchup, causing him to sneer and pledge his allegiance to Heinz, "as if ketchup isn't just, well, ketchup." To-may-to, to-mah-to, right?
Well that set off a few readers who wanted to "Hunt's" me down.
I've always enjoyed your articles but your credibility has taken an incredible hit! You serve Hunt's in your home???? I thought Hunt's was used only in restaurants that are willing to sacrifice quality for cost. Your dad must really love you to put Hunt's on his sandwich ... what a sacrifice. Heinz is vastly superior.
Even a colleague wanted to hurl rotten tomatoes at me.
Just read the column. Oh, Jennifer! Ketchup is not "just ketchup." When my kids were young, their mission at a restaurant we frequented that served Heinz and some other ketchup was to search empty tables to retrieve a Heinz bottle for us, if we had the other one when we were seated. Go get you some Heinz, girl!
Yeesh. A lifelong Heinz girl buys Hunt's (which is admittedly rather vinegary) once with a coupon and now everyone wants to kick her in the be-Heinz!
Oh, and I deserve a kick for something else. I mentioned that Whole Hog Cafe doesn't serve fries -- and it doesn't at the main Cantrell location I frequent. But a reader pointed this out:
You might hate me for this ... but there is a Whole Hog Cafe in Arkansas that serves fries. Not only that ... think "Hog Fries." Hog Fries: a big platter of fresh french fries topped with melted nacho-ey cheese, a squiggle of ranch dressing...and a big mound of pulled pork, chicken, brisket ... whatever you choose. Add a cold beer. Wahhh-lah!!! A new bad habit! Available at the Bryant Whole Hog (and the Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Whole Hog).
They sound divine to me.
Dad's going to need some Heinz with his.
I'm on the Hunt's for your email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
Spin Cycle is a weekly smirk at pop culture.
Style on 05/03/2015