A claimed Utah invention, from Arctic Circle restaurant circa 1948, according to Wikipedia. We had few choices for lunch in an unfamiliar part of town this weekend, so tried a small Utah chain restaurant that looked like a diner in the back of a mall by the guitar store.
Jim got the cheeseburger, of course. I ordered a full breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries for $6.95. They placed an opaque plastic squirt bottle of pale salmon-colored stuff between us and I asked Jim what it was. Yes, me asking Jim about a food item, must be the first time in eight years!
He piped up and told me it was fry sauce. I looked it up and it’s based on two parts mayo to one part ketchup and yes, one eats it with fries. He knows this by going out to lunch with the guys at work every day, like “taco Tuesdays” et al.
While the thought of a particular “regional eccentricity” may not appeal to me, the knowledge that they exist makes for a vibrant dining scene and local personality. After all, I grew up in the land of the hot wing, my relatives had their “smoked meat” and I was the one who flew BBQ from Austin to Western NY for July 4th a few years ago so they could taste “real” brisket, sausages and ribs.
Keep eating and cooking! And feel free to send in any regional eccentricities from your neck of the woods. Cheers! Dee
Cooking with Dee 