The great ketchup debate

I like food.

I really like it.

But sometimes, a meal needs that something extra....ketchup.

Now I regard myself as a ketchup officianado. And I have been critical of many a poor mans tomato sauce over the years (especially those awful sachets you find in canteens with the pictures of tomatoes on).

I was, and I stress was, a Heinz Tomato sauce man for the first 35 years of my life. No other would or could beat it. Even in my student years, I shunned the "no frills/ thrills" brands and parted with my money for the premium Tommy K. But then something happened. Health periodicals. Paper reports. Bureaucrats. They all got in the act to change the taste of our ketchup (and baked Beans but thats a thread for another day). Here is a mathematical equation for the market researchers at Heinz (I like to think Prof Heinz Wolfe works there).

Less Salt + Less sugar = crabby taste.

The once mighty Heinz Ketchup has been reduced to a flavourless mess.

So I went on a mission to find a new saviour for my bland meals. Tried them all - HP Tomato Sauce, Daddies, Asda own...even Co-op own. None have recaptured that fulsome taste of yesteryear. Until I found the last bastion of tomatoey taste that I grew up on.

Yes folks, the King may be dead, but we have a new Heir to the Throne. Step forward.....Branston Tomato Sauce. A King amongst tomatoes.

So who is with me? Ditch your squeezy bottles of Daddies. Discard the glass receptical of Heinz. BRANSTON is where its at folks.

(If any one from Branston is reading this - I can provide my address details for some thank you samples)

I've got Branston red sauce, only because it was on special offer. It's not bad

Prefer Heinz but I'm partial to the Reggae Reggae tomato sauce. Basically normal ketchup with a teeeeeeeny tiny bit of spice in it

heinz tomato ketcup and lots of it

what cf said.

You two are insane - the taste is awful these days. Its not like it used to be.

Ketchup is awful. The real question however is Ketchup or Catsup.

I'm more of a BBQ sauce man myself but Hobo is right Heinz is awful

The good old Monty Burns does the shopping sketch!

They did the same thing with pot noodles. Totally ruined.

I don't like Ketchup. There, I said it.

BAN HIM for being the devil!

Ho to the Bo,

Have you tried the Balsamic Vinegar or Chipotle varieties?

Havent tried them but have seen them. Butit's like you're dreamin' about Gorgonzola cheese when it's clearly Brie time.

I am talking ketchup baby - none of this fancy stuff.

I have tomato ketchup with everything, chips... even corn flakes. Anyone would think I'm pregnant.

Prefer Mayonnaise but tomato sauce is fine, I usually have heinz too.

I'm a mayo man myself.
Says a lot.

Ketchup = evil.

Branston, tried it as was on offer, nope, sorry, still not as good as Heinz, even though that has gone off the boil a bit now

The next big question - Should Ketchup be kept in the fridge or at room temperature?

I am a room temperature kind of guy.

Same Hobo, ketchup shouldnt ever be kept in a fridge

Have you tried Branston Red Sauce - its like old school Heinz.

I have yeah, I like it. Heinz is a bit too tangy for me at times

I'd be a Brown/BBQ guy and not a fan of ketchup at all, but it seems Branston seem to do a good job on Heinz classics, I hear their beans are good too.

Gregers wrote:The next big question - Should Ketchup be kept in the fridge or at room temperature?

Any condiment, implement or instrument (xylophone) straight from hell will never be tamed by something so pedestrian as a fridge.

Branston beans are better than Heinz Dave, much much better

Hero wrote:I'm a mayo man myself.
Says a lot.

I love listening to his film review show with Mark Kermode.

I used to have Tommy K on my Sunday lunch, but I stopped doing that about 5 years ago.

Just wanted to throw that out there.

And that is relevant how?

You bloody loser!

Brantston for ever!!!!!!!





I love you really YI

I also knew a guy who put salad cream on everything, even in soup!