Bacon in The News Archive

Bacon is an incredibly versatile food, and so it ends up being used in a huge variety of ways and in a vast amount of different types of dishes. Bacon is equally at home topping a healthful salad as is it candied and perched delightfully atop a sparkling, sugary cupcake. Bacon is as perfect wrapped around the delicate scallop as is it sauteed with vegetables, adding depth of flavour and richness to a stew.

With so many different ways to use bacon, it can be easy to get caught up in it’s flexibility and just keep trying more and more new things. But, at the end of the day, I can’t think of anything more delicious, anything more perfect, than bacon for breakfast. Continue reading this article…

Death is a pretty heavy subject for the Republic of Bacon. Generally speaking, we prefer to talk about the way in which bacon enriches the lives of the, well, living. The wonderful taste, the incomparable smell, the texture of bacon – all of these are very much the pleasures of the flesh, of the living bacon lover. But even these wonderful ways of experiencing bacon come to an end some day, and it is only responsible to plan for the inevitable.

That said: bacon lovers, have you given a thought to the inevitable? With so many people writing their living wills and making funeral arrangements years in advance, to make sure their bereaved loved ones don’t have to bear such a burden, it is only responsible to give some thought to the way you would like your life to be celebrated. And if you anything like us, great lovers of bacon, then you will want your favourite food to be a part of those celebrations. Continue reading this article…

If you asked me to name my top smells of all time, bacon would definitely be at the top of my list. The smell of bacon is a notoriously beloved aroma, and once that inspires positive feelings is almost everyone who encounters it. Waking up to the smell of bacon cooking is rivaled only by the scent of a fresh pot of coffee brewing on a weekend morning, and nothing calls a family to the table faster that the smell of bacon drifting through the house or ever through an open window. Heck, this year an entire parade was dedicated to celebrating just the very smell of bacon. And really, what’s not to love?

Well, it turns out that some people in New York have actually started to complain about the smell of bacon pervading their neighbourhood. We personally think “bacon aroma” is something that would attract potential homebuyers and up the market value of homes for blocks, but what do we know about real estate. It seems that at the centre of the issue is a new breakfast restaurant location that recently took up residence in New York’s East Village. Continue reading this article…

Like many bacon lovers, I am profoundly grateful for my tastebuds. Every time I take a bite of a delicious BLT or sink my teeth into a perfectly crispy strip of bacon all on its own, I thank each and every lovely little bud that’s currently sending signals to my brain letting me know exactly how delicious my meal is. The humble taste bud doesn’t always get the attention that is deserves, and taste can sometimes play second fiddle to showier senses like hearing and sight. But in our opinion here at the Republic of Bacon, taste is one of the most important things in our lives, in particular because it allows us to enjoy all the wonderful things that taste like bacon.

One man, however, values his tastebuds so much that he recently had them insured for ₤1 million. Keith Fisher is a butcher in the UK who has built a sterling reputation on the work of cured pork products, primarily based on his love for – and astonishing ability to taste pork products. While it might seem impossible, it turns out that Mr. Fisher can differentiate between over 50,000 cuts and cures of bacon. Yes, that number is correct. Fisher can correctly identify every single variety of bacon from every single producer in the world, from artisanal producers to huge corporations. With tastebuds like that, there is no small wonder he wants them to be protected! Continue reading this article…

Bacon festivals have been gaining in popularity all over the globe. As bacon becomes more and more of a cultural force, capturing the hearts and minds as well as the tongues and bellies of intelligentsia and common folk alike, gatherings celebrating the wonder of bacon are becoming more and more popular. We’re written before about the various bacon festivals that are beginning to make a splash in the Canadian scene, but even these extravaganzas are nothing compared to the bacon parties they throw down south.

The greatest of these American bacon celebrations is the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival, which took place this past Saturday on February 18th 2012. The party, which takes places in Des Moines, Iowa, is being celebrated for the fifth time at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Continue reading this article…

Bacon is renowned for it’s near magical powers to bring people together. The aroma of bacon wafting in from the kitchen calls a family together more readily than any dinner bell. An offering of bacon is sure to solidify and truce and heal any grudge, and event he pickiest eaters and generally won over by the enticing smell and delicious flavour of bacon. To smell bacon is to smell peace and comfort.

But it is not only people who are brought together through the wonder of bacon: a love for this tasty product crosses even species barriers, as participants in the 19th Annual Beggin Pet Parade proved this past weekend. Continue reading this article…

Breaking Bacon News!

Today, the bacon work is abuzz with news, that a beloved fast food chain, is introducing a bacon milkshake to it’s menu. The shake doesn’t seem to be a permanent addition, and in fact the official press release from the purveyors of pork themselves say that its stay on the menu will be “as limited as limited can be.” This threat of scarcity seems to have made it even more popular and bacon lovers all around the Unites States are flocking to their nearest restaurant to get a taste of this savoury sweet confection. So far, the response from bacon lovers has been thunderously positive, and new blogs are even springing up where people can record their first-time reaction to the glory of the bacon shake. My recommendation: Don’t go start another blog! Just comment on ours below!

We here at the Republic of Bacon have been proponents of bacon-infused beverages for some time. We’ve advocated for the use of bacon in mixed drinks and celebratory cocktails on more than one occasion. But when it comes to sweet stuff, we’re only briefly engaged with the potential deliciousness of a bacon milkshake.

So here, for all you bacon lovers with sweet tooths, are some of the other amazing bacon shakes currently being served around the world. We’ve even dug up a couple of recipes for you! Continue reading this article…

This past Sunday was the Big Game, one of the most beloved sports celebrations in the world. As well as the fine qualities of togetherness and friendship and sportsmanship, the Big Game is also a celebration of excellent food. This hallowed Sunday has become a chance for party-throwers to show off their culinary skills by preparing amazing, delicious and sometimes ridiculous party snacks and hors d’oeuvres. It is occasions like the Big Game that are perfectly made for bacon.

Over the last few years, bacon has featured ever more prominently in the Big Game entertaining. Bacon and the Big Game are now natural partners, and no party host or hostess worth their salt would put out a spread that doesn’t include an abundance of this ultra-tasty food.

Here are some of the most delicious, impressive and stunning Big Game bacon treats that we ave ever seen. Continue reading this article…

It’s been confirmed: beloved chef Paula Deen has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Paula is speaking out against the disease, and has gone public with her plan to get healthy. Through a combination of moderate diet, exercise, and new medication, Paula plans to document her journey toward health and inspire her fans to do the same. We wish Paula all the best and a speedy recovery!

It’s safe to say that most folks would consider themselves bacon-lovers; even vegetarians occasionally cheat on their otherwise rigorous diets in order to enjoy the sweet saltiness of this irresistible food. But there are some people who take bacon love to a whole new level, people who designate themselves bacon warriors. These special folks dedicate a bog part of their lives to bacon innovation, coming up with new products and delicious recipes on a full time basis, all to help spread the glory of bacon. The geniuses at J&D’s Foods come to mind, as does Wesley Klein of the Baconery. Paula Deen, mainstream celebrity chef and comfort food icon, is without a doubt one of these people.

In honour of her, and to do our part to celebrate her invaluable contribution to the world of bacon, here are some of our favourite Paula Deen bacon recipes! Continue reading this article…

Who ever heard of a bacon scandal? Everybody loves bacon, and generally the only thing scandalous about it is how delicious it is. Well, hold on to your hats, bacon lovers, because bacon has been making headlines all over the world (as usual). Some of the goings-on in the world of bacon are pretty serious news items, and even pretty gossip worthy.

For this edition of Bacon Love Friday, we’re going o talk about some of the hottest headlines sweeping today’s major news outlets. Continue reading this article…