It all began as I was describing to a co-worker just how badly a local fast-food restaurant completely messed up my order.
I will admit, I went there under duress, as I've been avoiding fast food but I had spent the majority of my lunch hour snuggling my friend's brand new baby (love!) and needed a quick meal before returning to work. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger, no onions, no ketchup (hey, if I'm going to eat crap, I reckon I should enjoy it). Instead I received a cheeseburger - sans the bacon - slathered in ketchup.
I declared to said co-worker, that ketchup on a hamburger is a total abomination to which she replied, "Really?" I looked at her in horror as it dawned on me that she is of the "ketchup on a burger camp."
I asked her, "Do...you eat your hamburgers with ketchup?!" She replied that she did - but preferred just a little on it. I was horrified.
I looked at her and said, "What about hot dogs? Please tell me you don't put ketchup on hot dogs." To which she nodded again, qualifying that she only wanted a little. But, apparently, her husband and daughter love the stuff and coat everything in it.
In my mind, hamburgers should be eaten with either mayo or mustard - alone or together. And hot dogs get mustard period. The only things that require ketchup is meatloaf and occasionally I'll use just a dab for french fries. And my little family agrees with me. Neither The Husband or Man-Child put ketchup on anything else.
Considering I've known this woman for 16 years this was quite the revelation. We've had lunch together many times and I'd never known this about her. Apparently, we don't eat hamburgers or hot dogs at these lunches - come to think of it, it's usually Mexican food.
After this conversation, it occurred to me, surely I can't be the only one who has firm beliefs about the use of ketchup. And surely, her family can't be the only one who uses ketchup so indiscriminately.
Where do you fall - in the ketchup should only be used in conjunction with meatloaf and french fries camp or the ketchup on everything camp?
well, I don't eat hamburgers, I haven't for decades anyway, but I do like a bit of ketchup if I ever eat fries, which is rare. Hot dogs? Never! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm in between: I was raised to eat ketchup on hamburgers, mustard on hotdogs. I will confess here, though, that my kids have put ketchup on everything, including cauliflower.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely in the ketchup on burgers camp. I do believe it's all in how you were raised.
ReplyDeleteBut hot dogs? Can't even eat those things....too many unknowns in them.
I only like cheese (American) and ketchup on my burgers. Nothing else. (I hate mustard and mayo.) And back when I ate hot dogs, only ketchup. I do not like ketchup on fries - salt only and sometimes pepper, too.
ReplyDeleteKetchup and mustard together for me on hotdogs. Burgers well mayo. How you doing oldfriend. I'm back but not blogging. I will get back there one day but not just yet.
ReplyDelete