In today's poll about condiment preference, gaffer commented:
Your omission is sliced pickles. They come in a jar (or bottle) just like the condiments you listed
The comment led to a short, pseudo-conclusive discussion in our office. We decided that pickles seem to straddle the line between condiment and plain ol' topping (i.e. onions, lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon, and the like), which is a topic for a different poll. Relish could be considered the condiment form of pickles.
I wouldn't consider anything so vile to be a condiment. No offence to the cucumbers, it's the dill and vinegar combination that really churns my stomach.
But in all seriousness, spicy eggplants is not a condiment, saukraut is also not, so why would pickles be, simply because they are more widely used?
The Rick's Pick's green tomato pickles officially are designated on the jar as a condiment. Robyn, perhaps you should poll them on this. However, I am not going to be the one to provoke the people who make jars of such delicious pickley goodness.
Sliced cucumber pickles are pickled and so are mustard and (less so) ketchup. All three have a good amount of vinegar in them. Ketchup and mustard never get rotten or moldy due to the vinegar. Pickles will get moldy but you have to make an effort.
Adam, the toppings you mention (onions, lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon) are fresh vegetation with two other fresh items. None are preserved with vinegar. None of them come in bottle or jar though I'll admit cheese whiz can come in an aerosol can
@gaffer: I'm Robyn! Although Adam was part of the discussion too.
Anyhoo, the conclusion is: some people think it's a condiment, some people think it's a topping; it doesn't cleanly fit into either category. Not that helpful, I guess. I'm not sure I see vinegar content, rotting ability, or whether it comes in a bottle or jar as defining factors of condiment status though..?
I think that pickles would be considered in my point of view a topping. But most people said that if a pickle is in relish fourm it is considered a condiment. I think relish is more of a topping and ketchup and mustard are condiments because ketchup and mustard are kind of like a puree with some extra ingredients. So if you were to make pickle puree with vinegar than it would be considered a condiment.
yes, i do believe they are!!! My favorite pickled cucs are asian style--like this spicy cucumber salad. Perhaps with a tuna burger, wasabi mayo, and a little of these super tart marinated cucs.
Pickles are a side dish. Spears and chips only. New dill, old dill, sweet, dill or bread and butter will work. The salty vinegar help cut through the fat of the burger. It allows you to taste the meat. They also are a great pallet cleanser like pickled ginger between sushi bites.
Thanks for commenting! Your comment has been accepted and will appear in a moment.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it pleasant. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
Print
16 Comments:
Pickles are heaven, duh! ;)
Uh, but I'll vote that they're a topping. Relish; condiment. Yesh.
anglerfish96 at 12:26PM on 08/24/09
Not a condiment unless you are at a hot dog stand and the pickles have been made into relish.
redfish at 12:35PM on 08/24/09
I'm going with condiment, because I was looking for it on the poll. But only on a burger.
syd888 at 12:54PM on 08/24/09
I agree. Pickels would be a condiment if they were relish and served in those little packets you get at the ball park.
A pickle or pickle slice would be considered a topping I think. And yes, I put them on my burgers.
Scoreboard44 at 1:37PM on 08/24/09
Pickle is not a condiment. I'd say, if you eat it on its own, its not a condiment. No sane person is eating relish or ketchup but they'd eat pickles
ESNY1077 at 1:58PM on 08/24/09
I wouldn't consider anything so vile to be a condiment. No offence to the cucumbers, it's the dill and vinegar combination that really churns my stomach.
But in all seriousness, spicy eggplants is not a condiment, saukraut is also not, so why would pickles be, simply because they are more widely used?
Not a condiment.
Food Monstar at 3:44PM on 08/24/09
In my view, pickles are a topping, not a condiment.
For an opposing view, go here:
http://rickspicksnyc.com/pickles/green_tomato_condiment
The Rick's Pick's green tomato pickles officially are designated on the jar as a condiment. Robyn, perhaps you should poll them on this. However, I am not going to be the one to provoke the people who make jars of such delicious pickley goodness.
Mizbee at 4:12PM on 08/24/09
Sliced cucumber pickles are pickled and so are mustard and (less so) ketchup. All three have a good amount of vinegar in them. Ketchup and mustard never get rotten or moldy due to the vinegar. Pickles will get moldy but you have to make an effort.
Adam, the toppings you mention (onions, lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon) are fresh vegetation with two other fresh items. None are preserved with vinegar. None of them come in bottle or jar though I'll admit cheese whiz can come in an aerosol can
gaffer at 4:18PM on 08/24/09
@gaffer: I'm Robyn! Although Adam was part of the discussion too.
Anyhoo, the conclusion is: some people think it's a condiment, some people think it's a topping; it doesn't cleanly fit into either category. Not that helpful, I guess. I'm not sure I see vinegar content, rotting ability, or whether it comes in a bottle or jar as defining factors of condiment status though..?
Robyn Lee at 4:31PM on 08/24/09
I love the pickles on my burgers..
sfmitch at 5:11PM on 08/24/09
Sorry about that Robyn! I guess "condiment" is in the eye of the beholder
gaffer at 5:30PM on 08/24/09
@gaffer: Haha, that's okay! You wouldn't mix us up in real life. ;)
Poor pickle. It doesn't know where it belongs.
Robyn Lee at 5:42PM on 08/24/09
I think that pickles would be considered in my point of view a topping. But most people said that if a pickle is in relish fourm it is considered a condiment. I think relish is more of a topping and ketchup and mustard are condiments because ketchup and mustard are kind of like a puree with some extra ingredients. So if you were to make pickle puree with vinegar than it would be considered a condiment.
vanillaburger at 9:08PM on 08/24/09
yes, i do believe they are!!! My favorite pickled cucs are asian style--like this spicy cucumber salad. Perhaps with a tuna burger, wasabi mayo, and a little of these super tart marinated cucs.
http://www.biggirlssmallkitchen.com/2009/02/cooking-for-others-do-you-want-bibimbap.html
BigGirlPhoebz at 9:39PM on 08/25/09
Pickles are a side dish. Spears and chips only. New dill, old dill, sweet, dill or bread and butter will work. The salty vinegar help cut through the fat of the burger. It allows you to taste the meat. They also are a great pallet cleanser like pickled ginger between sushi bites.
srfchf at 10:45PM on 08/25/09
I agree with you that pickles are indeed a topping, and that relish is a condiment.
Katalina76 at 3:20PM on 08/26/09