Chris is part of my regular Monday night gaming group. I can't recall the exact conversation we were having last week, but he made the statement that everything goes better with bacon.
"Not so fast!" I said. "What about ice cream."
But Chris insisted that even ice cream could be improved upon with the judicious application of fried hog stomach.
The gauntlet had been thrown! The game was afoot!
This week I arrived at gaming with a half gallon of premium Vanilla Bean ice cream and a package of precooked bacon slices. After heating the bacon in the microwave until they were crispy, we crumbled them up and sprinkled them over a few scoops. Everyone sampled the result.
There is no getting around it: Chris was right! Bacon and vanilla ice cream was rather good. It was also really, really filling, which isn't something that hard core gamers complain about.
The best way to do it was to avoid the fatty yellow part of the bacon and concentrate on the crispy red section. Chris also suggested that cheaper ice cream be used, maybe something made with artificial vanilla, since the premium stuff had a tendency to overwhelm the delicate bacon flavor.
Anyway, it takes a big man to admit it when he is wrong. After the bacon/ice cream mix puffed up my waistline even more, I figure I'm plenty big enough to eat crow.
At least I could if you sprinkled some bacon over it.
Comments (8)
Ruffles and Ice cream is what I do. Sounds like pregnant food...
Posted by Hammer | January 23, 2007 3:00 AM
Posted on January 23, 2007 03:00
other than just the crunchy texture (which could have been, as easily, crushed walnuts or something), do you think it was the salt?
I know some folks make a big deal out of dipping Wendy's french fries into a chocolate Frosty.
Is adding a bit of salt to the ice cream, in essence, heightening your sensory awareness of the sweet?
Posted by Porta's Cat | January 23, 2007 9:02 AM
Posted on January 23, 2007 09:02
other than just the crunchy texture (which could have been, as easily, crushed walnuts or something), do you think it was the salt?
That could be it.
James
Posted by James R. Rummel | January 23, 2007 9:34 AM
Posted on January 23, 2007 09:34
Bacon is also good with donuts, and with oreo cookies.
Of course it goes without saying that pancakes and maple sysrup go well with bacon.
Really as your friend said, almsot any flavor goes well with bacon; because bacon is itself a flavor enhancer.
Much like cinamon or vanilla, bacon hightens ones appreciation of savory flavors, and its smooth fattiness serves as a contrast to very sweet, very tart, and very spicy flavors.
The only thing to avoid with bacon, is very salty flavors; because bacon and salt together tend to cause overwhelming sensations of saltiness.
Posted by Chris Byrne | January 23, 2007 2:10 PM
Posted on January 23, 2007 14:10
And an obvious reminder of how good things are (were) when cooked in bacon grease.
Myself, I've taught the ever-indulgent wife the evil joys of adding bacon to your peanut-butter toast. She's from Taiwan so she missed out on many such experiences.
In fact, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if she's ever had eggs fried in bacon grease... Might have to add to this week's grocery list.
Posted by KCSteve | January 23, 2007 3:46 PM
Posted on January 23, 2007 15:46
I agree it's the salt. My brother routinely puts table-salt on his ice cream. Freakish, I know, but now I see he's not the only one.
Posted by Anthony DiSante | January 24, 2007 9:31 AM
Posted on January 24, 2007 09:31
Try a bit of finely ground black pepper on vanilla ice cream. Seriously.
Posted by Arni | January 24, 2007 1:34 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 13:34
Good quality balsamic vinegar, and chilipepper based hot sauce are also good on vanilla ice cream.
Posted by Chris Byrne | January 25, 2007 12:36 AM
Posted on January 25, 2007 00:36