Dean's World

Random Thought

Dean

Ketchup is just tomato-flavored syrup.

Discuss.

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Andrew Cory (mail) (www):

Too true. Which is why I never eat the stuff...

11.14.2005 7:00pm

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Will B. (mail) (www):

Dean, you say that like it's a bad thing.

11.14.2005 7:08pm

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kbiel (mail):

No, no, no. You're confusing it with barbeque sauce: Molases, Brown Sugar, Tomato Sauce, Vinegar and spices.

11.14.2005 7:14pm

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Jay Solo (mail) (www):

Mmmm... pancakes.

11.14.2005 7:39pm

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Jerry Kindall (www):

Ketchup is an unusual food in that it triggers the five known taste sensors at once (sweet, salt, sour, savory, and bitter).

Gladwell on ketchup

11.14.2005 7:58pm

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Mark at Urthshu (www):

Nonono - like this:
Mmmm... pancakes.

[sorry - just like the pic LOL]

11.14.2005 7:59pm

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Elizabeth Reid:

No. Ketchup is a major food group. My preschooler will testify.

11.14.2005 8:01pm

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Dave Schuler (mail) (www):

Ah. That depends on the catsup. For most commercial catsups it's only too true. That's why I stopped buying them a long time ago.

For years I bought Heinz Chili Sauce. That was the company's original product and until quite recently it was made according to the original recipe: tomatoes, onions, peppers, vinegar, salt, spices, cane sugar. Now it's reconstituted tomatoes, dehydrated onions and peppers, acetic acid, salt, flavorings, and corn syrup. It doesn't taste the same. Any more than Coca Cola tastes the same since they stopped using cane sugar.

11.14.2005 8:05pm

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John_B (mail) (www):

Ketchup (I prefer "catsup") isn't restricted to tomatoes. You can also find, with a little looking, things like mushroom catsup or walnut catsup, all with equal pedigrees in age.

They all come from an Indonesian condiment which apparently has lots of local variations. Tomato catsup is the one that caught on in a big way, of course, but it's not the only one out there.

11.14.2005 8:22pm

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Cullen (mail) (www):

Bleah.

11.14.2005 8:51pm

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jaymaster (mail):

Uummmm, ketchup.

Concentrated, convenient essence of tomato.

Silky smooth, semi-sweet, slightly sour.

The topping that takes a cheeseburger from mere fast food to gustatory treat.

There is only one true ketchup, and its name is Heinz. From a high tech, multi-layer layer, plastic squeeze bottle.

Catsup is America. In a condiment.

And yes, its great on hotdogs.

11.14.2005 9:13pm

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Martin L. Shoemaker (www):

jaymaster:

You forgot one other important element: that plastic squeeze bottle of Heinz should be chilled until the moment you squeeze that cold ketchup onto that hot-off-the-grill cheeseburger; and then you have to bite into the burger right away, so that you can almost taste the thermal war between the hot burger and the cold ketchup. Every bite is tasty; but that first bite when the ketchup is still chilled is my favorite. And that you will seldom get anywhere but a real backyard barbeque.

Dean:

I'm going to have to disagree with your thesis, in that my definition of "syrup" includes the concept of a smooth, consistent texture. Syrup may be thick or thin, but it's always the same through-and-through. While the same can be said of some inferior ketchups, true ketchup has a modicum of granularity to its texture.

11.14.2005 9:53pm

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Dave Schuler (mail) (www):

What have they done with Dean's World? It's become the Ketchup Advisory Board!

11.14.2005 10:33pm

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jaymaster (mail):

Hey Dave, Dean started it.

11.14.2005 10:50pm

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Samuel Tai (mail):

For a real disgusting "culinary" offering, try Moon Pie xP

11.15.2005 12:43am

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JRogge:

The Heintz commercial says "Good things come to those who wait.". In that case, since I have waited 20 years to ever try Ketchup on another dish, perhaps I can wait an entire lifetime. Then, it may actually be tasty.

11.15.2005 1:02am

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Dean Esmay:

People who put ketchup on hot dogs should all be murdered.

11.15.2005 1:45am

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Sandi (www):

When I was growing up mom made home made catsup every couple of years. How I have no idea but this is probably similar.

How to make homemade catsup from fresh tomatoes.

Your right Dean, only mustard on hot dogs or brats, but both on hamburgers.

11.15.2005 2:02am

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Steven Malcolm Anderson (www):

I have never put syrup on my pancakes or waffles. Never. I only put butter or margarine or (these days) light-butter on my pancakes or waffles.

11.15.2005 2:57am

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maor (mail):

Tomato flavored?!
Are you kidding?!

11.15.2005 8:01am

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Robert B.:

You know I had a friend whose toddler liked Ketchup so much they had to call it "red sauce" otherwise she would scream till she got some, and then would eat nothing else ...

11.15.2005 10:59am

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JFC:

Ketchup is just tomato-flavored syrup.

I can do that too:
A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

11.16.2005 3:17am