Ketchup ban at Florida restaurant sparks national food debat

[GURPS]

Ketchup ban at Florida restaurant sparks national food debate


What's a sure fire way to get people talking about your restaurant?

Ban one of America's favorite condiments.

Mad Fresh Bistro in Fort Myers, Florida does not serve ketchup to anyone over 10 years old. According to Yahoo, which published the most recent story about the Florida eatery, “'Chef reserves the right to refuse service of ketchup,' has been printed, in some form, on the menus at Mad Fresh Bistro since the south Fort Myers restaurant opened in October 2012.”

And people took note. The highly divisive culinary debate garnered over 1,700 story comments with responders on both side of the foodie fence. Many believed that if they are shelling out money for a good meal, they should be able to choose what goes on their food.

“At what point did the service industry become a front for egotism?? I am all for offering new items, encouraging customers to branch out, etc, but the guests are the ones who keep us in business. Are we really so egotistical that we are willing to lose business over ketchup or someone who wants the food they are paying for their way??? What happened to giving great guest service and giving the guest what they want??” wrote a user identified as “Sandie.”

 

[vraiblonde]

I've been to a number of restaurants that don't serve ketchup. They prepare the dishes a certain way, and don't offer you the opportunity to dick it up. Why is this outrageous?

Again, if you don't like the food at a particular restaurant, DON'T EAT THERE.

 

[Monello]

This place is trying to attract a certain clientele. They surely want a diner with a discriminate palate. No harm if they are letting you know ahead of time.

There is a little bit of Gordon Ramsey in a lot of food service, back-of-the-house types.

 

[Gilligan]

I'm that way about steak sauce. My immediate reaction to a waiter asking if I need steak sauce is something like: " your steaks are so bad that they needs steak sauce??"

 

[vraiblonde]

I'm that way about steak sauce. My immediate reaction to a waiter asking if I need steak sauce is something like: " your steaks are so bad that they needs steak sauce??"

Ugh, you sound like my first husband. When we were in high school he gave me a hard time for wanting A-1 on my restaurant steak, so to this day I won't put commercial sauce on my steak when I'm out. I'll douse that baby at home, though.

HOWEVER, when at a nicer restaurant where the chef has prepared the steak a certain way with his own sauce/seasoning, I wouldn't dream of asking for something to screw it up. It's an insult. Go to Peter Luger and spend that kind of money for a well-aged piece of perfectly seasoned and cooked cow, then slather it with ketchup - yeah.

 

[Merlin99]

Ugh, you sound like my first husband. When we were in high school he gave me a hard time for wanting A-1 on my restaurant steak, so to this day I won't put commercial sauce on my steak when I'm out. I'll douse that baby at home, though.

HOWEVER, when at a nicer restaurant where the chef has prepared the steak a certain way with his own sauce/seasoning, I wouldn't dream of asking for something to screw it up. It's an insult. Go to Peter Luger and spend that kind of money for a well-aged piece of perfectly seasoned and cooked cow, then slather it with ketchup - yeah.

I know it's sacrilege, but I don't like overaged meat. It always has a sour aftertaste and a mealy texture.

 

[Gilligan]

Ugh, you sound like my first husband. When we were in high school ....

Nuff said.

 

[vraiblonde]

I know it's sacrilege, but I don't like overaged meat. It always has a sour aftertaste and a mealy texture.

People like what they like. :shrug: But you wouldn't go to some fancy steak place where they age the beef, then demand that they give you a piece that's fresh off the cow because you're paying some outrageous price and want them to accommodate you. That's what we're talking about here: people who want every restaurant in the world to cater to their every taste, rather than just go to the restaurant that serves what they want.

 

[RoseRed]

Maybe it's just me, but I think that A-1 sauce is absolutely disgusting. Why ruin a steak by putting that crap on it? :shrug:

 

[desertrat]

Maybe it's just me, but I think that A-1 sauce is absolutely disgusting. Why ruin a steak by putting that crap on it? :shrug:

I used to go with Heinz 57 or A-1 when I was a kid, but now I have no idea why. Maybe we got crappy steaks before we moved to Yuma.

 

[PeoplesElbow]

Most restaurants over cook steak, so do many women (sorry ladies) so some kind of steak sauce is a requirement to choke it down.

My mom had to have absolutely no pink or she said it had blood oozing out of it.

 

[mamatutu]

Most restaurants over cook steak, so do many women (sorry ladies) so some kind of steak sauce is a requirement to choke it down.

My mom had to have absolutely no pink or she said it had blood oozing out of it.

My MIL was the same way. My husband says they always knew when the meat was done because the fire alarm would go off! We're talking shoe leather. He ate a lot of condiments with the meat his mom cooked.

 

[GWguy]

The reason people doctor up steaks is that the steaks aren't worthy of standing on their own. The stuff they sell around here at "steak houses" holds no desire for me.

I've mentioned this place before, the Aberdeen in Charlotesville, VA. They serve a real prime rib, not some pre-packaged crap. Served exactly how you asked, in real au jus with fresh grated horseradish. It needs nothing else.

 

[Larry Gude]

....Served exactly how you asked, in real au jus with fresh grated horseradish. It needs nothing else.

How can we be fine with adding one thing but, not another?

 

[GWguy]

How can we be fine with adding one thing but, not another?

It's on the side. Not dumped on top. It's also the traditional way to serve it.

 

[Larry Gude]

It's on the side. Not dumped on top. It's also the traditional way to serve it.

Ketchup is pretty traditional, too.

Would you be annoyed if your steak place said "No HR or au jus"?

I mean, I'm just asking. I LOVE really good HR and prime rib. Especially if it makes my eyes water a tad.

I'd be ticked if I was looking forward to it and they didn't have it. Same thing for someone who puts ketchup on their steak. :shrug:

 

[RoseRed]

Most restaurants over cook steak, so do many women (sorry ladies) so some kind of steak sauce is a requirement to choke it down.

My mom had to have absolutely no pink or she said it had blood oozing out of it.

Is Kwillia your mom?

I can grille up an awesome steak, Jazz can attest to that!

 

[GWguy]

Would you be annoyed if your steak place said "No HR or au jus"?

No, because as was pointed out earlier, I simply would not go there. It would not be "my steak place".

But at least glad to see someone else who understands a good prime served well.

 

[Larry Gude]

No, because as was pointed out earlier, I simply would not go there. It would not be "my steak place".

But at least glad to see someone else who understands a good prime served well.

 

[Merlin99]

No, because as was pointed out earlier, I simply would not go there. It would not be "my steak place".

But at least glad to see someone else who understands a good prime served well.

Prime rib is a roast, not a steak.