Brian's AtticThe Reading Shelf |
Mustard and KetchupBrian H. Gill Mustard and ketchup are part of the American cultural landscape, at least in this part of the country. Whenever you go into an eatery, there you'll find bottles of ketchup and mustard, or bins filled with little packets of these essential condiments. As a youth, I favored ketchup, with it's spicy yet sweet taste. My wife reminds me, almost weekly, that I still like a few French fries with my ketchup. And yet, even in my youth I felt, if faintly, the allure of mustard. Now that I have long since entered Man's estate, I find that my taste is becoming more refined. I have discovered the full pleasures of mustard. Ah, mustard! Subtle as freshly-cut lemon slices, sophisticated as a backyard grill in August! Not only does mustard delight through taste, it adds visual drama to the culinary experience. That squiggle of mustard wiggling down the length of a home-grilled hot dog: witnessing this, who has not wondered at the dynamism of that lightning-like line, or taken a moment to savor the interplay of color and texture between the condiment's liquid yellow and the subtly-charred, rugged ruddiness of the wiener? And consider that ephemeral moment, when mustard and ketchup meet, but have not yet merged. One is faced with that momentous decision: whether to swirl the two together and then experience an already-blended flavor; or to savor their fusion even as it happens, when one masticates the hot dog, bun and condiments in one penultimate act. Contemplating all this, one asks oneself, "is there more to life than mustard?" For those who may say "yes," I suggest taking a look at the rest of Brendan's Island. It is relatively mustard-free. For those who say "no," the following links may be of interest. I had no idea, when I started this project, that there were so many sites devoted wholly or in part to condiments. Before going on, I'd better say that I haven't studied these sites in detail. The links are here because I thought they looked interesting, or fun: not because I necessarily endorse their contents. Happy surfing! copyright © Brian H. Gill 2002 |
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Mustard links
The Condiment Packet Museum
The History of a Condiment The Mount Horeb Mustard Museum Online
Mustard Day
remembered (new 6/24/2004)
Mustard Facts, History and Myths
Mustard and Health
Napa Valley Mustard Festival
Online The Plochman Mustard site Ketchup links
Green Ketchup Links
Ketchups so good... you'll eat them with a spoon!
Planet Ketchup! opening narrative copyright © Brian H. Gill 2002 |
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You can reach me by e-mail at: webmaster@brendans-island.com Brian H. Gill, webmaster |
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This page last updated: December 19, 2010