Would You Like Fries With That Ketchup?

This evening I was too tired to cook, enough so that I couldn't think of heating things up in the microwave either. We ordered from the Gold St. diner, which is always an event because they mix-up the order 100% of the time. Included with my omelet (which contained bacon and tomatoes instead of ham...peppers...and onions) was a side of fries which are, quite frankly, hard to mangle - well at least I'd hope so.

French fries are, in fact, one of my favorite food - aside from salt - which pairs quite nicely with the latter. Turns out, that many people fancy ketchup instead of (or in addition to) salt. I've recently noticed the sea salt shaker which I bought four months ago is almost empty. Remembering that I've asked friends to dig their salt supply out of cabinets and attic storage. Obviously, there is a degree of overuse - which is the reason why... today... I reached for the ketchup packet instead.

It's quite possible that I've only opted for ketchup over salt three or four times in 23 years. 2 of them were most likely because there was no salt available within miles, or in reach of the couch/table. Today I had ketchup and salt readily available... and like chocolate... I've had my fill for at least six months.

Thanks to About.com and the Culinary Sleuth I was able to learn a bit more about ketchup this evening:

• Kids eat 50 percent more ketchup than adults.
• 97% of American homes keep ketchup in their kitchen.
• Each person eats about 3 bottles a year.
• In 1992, ketchup sales were $723 million.
• As with wines, there are good and bad ketchup years depending on how sweet and flavorful the tomato harvest.
• The world's largest ketchup bottle is proudly displayed in Collinsville, Illinois. Built atop a water tower in 1949, it stands 170 feet tall.
• Fast food ketchup junkies may be interested in condiment packet museum collection of individualized ketchup packets.