Ketchup: Delicious or no?

catsup

Why the alternative spelling? Are you channeling your pre-industrial persona?

World Wide Words: Why is ketchup also called catsup?

No, I hadn't given it any thought, that's just the usual way I normally spell it, although I don't know that it makes any difference as the two word forms are, as I understand it, interchangeable. I'm not even sure that the different spellings follow regional areas. Maybe it is just what one was brought up with? There is likely a guy one door over from me that has always spelled it the other way.

However you spell it, it sure isn't my favourite condiment - most of it has way too much sugar in it. I prefer piquant sauces, hence my fondness for various mustards and horseradishes, although piquant tomato based sauces are certainly in my range too.

Our fridge contains the aforesaid horseradish, several mustards, Worcestershire sauce, some Sriracha, some black bean sauce, a bit of hoisin (sparingly used), oyster sauce and a couple of soys. We had a large bottle of catsup and one of French's mustard because my wife did a birthday party and figured that guests might like them, and then she lagged on her promise to consume or ditch teh remnants, but she finally managed to finish all that.

BTW, on regional variations, my wife is a vinegar fan, which is common here in Canada, but apparently not in the US as you never see bottles of vinegar on restaurant tables, at least not where we've noticed them. What's that about? Are there areas in the US that do put vinegar on chips, or is that a purely Canadian proclivity?

[Robin Garr]

BTW, on regional variations, my wife is a vinegar fan, which is common here in Canada, but apparently not in the US as you never see bottles of vinegar on restaurant tables, at least not where we've noticed them. What's that about? Are there areas in the US that do put vinegar on chips, or is that a purely Canadian proclivity?

That's though to be a British practice in the U.S., and it was customary - at least back at the dawn of mega-industrial fast-food chains - to have malt vinegar on the table at chips houses like Long John Silver's. Outside of that narrow faux-ethnic specialty, I don't think it's commonplace on this side of the border, but because it was the custom at a major chain, the concept is certainly well-known.

[Robin Garr]

I don't know that it makes any difference as the two word forms are, as I understand it, interchangeable. I'm not even sure that the different spellings follow regional areas. Maybe it is just what one was brought up with?

No criticism intended. I just ran across that article and thought I'd share.

My brother-in-law came on holiday with us when my kids were young - staying in a caravan.

At breakfest he decided to help out and sort the kids breakfast out - just cereals - he then plonked the Ketchup on the table.

'What's that for?' I asked

He replied 'Well, they've had it on everything else this hoilday so I guessed they had it on their cereals '

Cheers, Dave C

I think they are all approximating a malay original. KETJAP or KETCHAP.

Ketjap Manis is a liquid used in seasoning which has little in common with Catsup.

My brother-in-law came on holiday with us when my kids were young - staying in a caravan.

Now there's another interesting word. Caravan. When I see it, I think of a line of camels marching across the desert or Duke Ellington's "Caravan". But I gather that in British usage it refers to what in the U.S. is called a "trailer."

I think Kecap (or Ketjap) is just the word in Indonesia for sauce. And in English early ketchup/catsup just meant preserved sauce, tomato came later.
We do keep Kecap Manis in house, but as Frank says it's not at all related to US ketchup- it's a thick sweet soy sauce with star anise seasoning.
Doesn't one brand (not Heinz) keep the catsup spelling to differentiate?

[Robin Garr]

Doesn't one brand (not Heinz) keep the catsup spelling to differentiate?

A little googling brings up quite a few images of Del Monte with the Catsup spelling, but you can also find the same brand as Ketchup, which is puzzling.

BTW, on regional variations, my wife is a vinegar fan, which is common here in Canada, but apparently not in the US as you never see bottles of vinegar on restaurant tables, at least not where we've noticed them. What's that about? Are there areas in the US that do put vinegar on chips, or is that a purely Canadian proclivity?

Most eateries in the Buffalo area have vinegar (usually malt) on the tables for French fries.

My brother-in-law came on holiday with us when my kids were young - staying in a caravan.

But I gather that in British usage it refers to what in the U.S. is called a "trailer."

Yep, a caravan is a thing on wheels that is pulled behind a car and in which people sleep and cook when they stay in caravan parks with hundreds of other caravans. See http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/

Hated by those stuck behind them for mile after mile unable to overtake on our small roads

[Jenise]

Doesn't one brand (not Heinz) keep the catsup spelling to differentiate?

You're right. At least, Del Monte used to, but I don't know if they still do.

Never touch the stuff. Mustard, yes; salsas, pues sí; hot sauces, you betcha; no ketchup (not even as catsup).

Mark Lipton

ETA: the closest I get is cocktail sauce with shrimp, but it'd better have lots of lemon and horseradish

Dogs and burgers = ketchup and onions.

I saved the recipe below to try but have not made it yet. I'd like to avoid HFCS too.

Healthy Ketchup
Recipe yields 345g, or about 1.5 cups.
Can be sugar-free!

Ingredients

3 cups grape tomatoes (450g)
1/4 cup sliced onion (35g)
scant 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar) (12g)
1/4 tsp salt
sweetener of choice, to taste, or omit for unsweetened ketchup
1/8 tsp powdered ginger (omit if desired)
optional: pinch garlic powder or minced garlic

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400 F. Roast tomatoes and onion 40-45 minutes, or
until the tomatoes are shriveled and most of their liquid is absorbed.

Blend with all other ingredients. Let cool before putting in the
fridge, and for thickest results leave uncovered a few hours even
after putting in the fridge. (Recipe yields 345g, or about 1.5 cups.)

Sir Kensington is the hipster brand in my house: http://sirkensingtons.com/thedifference.html

Still have Heinz on hand for making cocktail sauce and for childhood purposes.

[Robin Garr]

We went to a new hipster place in town today, a storefront eatery (grown up from a food truck) that specializes in many forms of grilled cheese sandwich. They do a house-made ketchup that's a thick, tart tomato sauce with a whiff of curry. THAT, I was willing to dip my fries in.

For those who have a Trader Joe's around, try their Organic Ketchup - it is really quite good and has replaced Heinz in my kitchen.

I can honestly say that I only use it for burgers and once in a while on fries. I wouldn't use the word "delicious" (like I wouldn't call milk delicious) but sometimes with a certain chocolate item milk is a must-have and that's how I feel about ketchup on a burger.