Bacon Occasions Archive

If you’re anything like me, the moment the weather even hints at spring, when it’s raining three-quarters of the time and only the bravest and most stalwart crocuses dare show their faces, I’ve already fired up the barbecue. While I love to bake (bacon cupcakes, of course), and there is much to be said for the zen-like serenity that only comes from gently caramelizing onions in a saute pan (for a bacon and goat cheese tart), there is something elemental about barbecuing that gets me in touch with my inner Caveman. There is no denying than any meat (including bacon) that passes through fire on its way to my mouth infinitely more delicious. Not to mention that standing in front of an open flame, wielding tongs and soaking up the warm weather, is possibly one of the most quintessentially summery activities that exists. Just thinking about getting my BBQ on puts me in a good mood.

Now, this might just be a personal think, but I just can’t have a proper barbecue without potato salad. This classic side-dish is just as necessary to the barbecue feast as the sauce, the flames and the bacon-wrapped chicken breasts I am about to grill. This dish brings me right back to my childhood every time. To this day, I still have dreams about my mom’s potato salad, creamy and smooth with just a hint of dill. Continue reading this article…

We here at the Republic of Bacon just can’t get enough of bacon festivals. There is something about the pomp and circumstance of these events that just make our hearts swell with bacon-loving pride. Not to mention that they provide an excellent opportunity (not that any of you need an excuse) to try a whole new assortment of bacon dishes from talented chefs all under one roof, and to check out all the new and exciting bacon products being offered by the latest crop of talented entrepreneurs.

So it is with great joy that we report that this year’s Chicago Baconfest, which took place on April 14^th 2012, was a smashing success of epic proportions. Featuring over 3000 guests, 107 restaurants, a whole whack of “bacontrepreneurs” and other talented presenters, this year’s festival was a high point in the event’s history. An astounding 4,375 pounds of bacon were consumed over the course of the day, which works out to almost a pound and a half per guest! Continue reading this article…

April is truly the best month to be a bacon lover. And why is that, you may ask? Well, it turns our that the same month that Spring really comes to stay and that we celebrate Earth Day is even more fantastic: it’s also National BLT month! All month long, we get to celebrate the wonder and deliciousness of our favourite sandwich in the whole wide world, and that makes all of us at the Republic of Bacon very happy folks indeed.

The sandwich that we know as the BLT actually has quite the storied history. Did you know that it has been around since the late Victorian era, and in believed to have descended from the tea sandwiches commonly served at the time? How very proper! Continue reading this article…

Easter has always been one of my favourite holidays. Most of the Easter celebrations I remember from my childhood coincide with some of the first really beautiful days of the year, and there are few things that feel quite as joyful as the knowledge that Winter is finally gone for good and Spring is here to stay. Kids and grown-ups love Easter equally, and searching for (and hiding) chocolate eggs and eating delicious meals with families and loved ones is a great way to spend a weekend. And of course, who doesn’t love the tradition of an Easter ham?

Just think, bacon lovers: your Easter celebrations are probably also, in many ways, a celebration of bacon as well. You need energy for those early morning egg hunts, and so a wonderful breakfast including crispy bacon is the perfect way to fuel up for a bust day. Eggs are also a prominent part of most Easter traditions, and what pairs perfectly with that? Bacon, of course!

While bacon and Easter suit each other quite naturally, you may be wondering if there is more you can do to ensure that your celebrations include even more bacon that what might incidentally just occur. Luckily, we at the republic of bacon have found some excellent ideas to make your springtime festivities even baconier. Continue reading this article…

One of the things that we love about bacon is that it’s a very egalitarian kind of food product. Bacon is not usually the first thing that leaps to mind when you think about fancy meals. People from all walks of life, many cultures, and of all levels of income. Bacon has a reputation for being a delicious, hearty food for people on a budget, and gives a wonderful, deep flavour for many simple dishes. Bacon’s reasonable price, and full flavour, means that a little can go a long way, and that even striaghtforward food can be elevated by bacon’s deliciousness.

Bacon can also be successfully prepared by just about everyone, regardless of culinary skill. One of the first things that college students tend to master when they’re on their own for the first time (aside from macaroni and cheese) is bacon. Even someone who burns toast can crisp some bacon and fry eggs in a pan. Continue reading this article…

What’s that tantalizing aroma permeating the air? That’s not simple the smell of bacon, sizzling away and making out tummies rumble. That is also the scent of love, of romance and togetherness. That’s right bacon lover’s, it’s the week of Valentine’s Day (happened yesterday if you forgot). And as any hopeless romantic knows, there is simply now greater way to show you love for another person than to give them the gift of bacon. While it’s true that red roses and heart-shaped chocolates are more traditional offerings, to show someone you really care means getting creative and going outside the box. And for that, this Valentine’s day you need some bacon.

For this very special entry, we scoured the internet looking for some of the most loving and creative romantic gestures out there, all featuring bacon. Hopefully some of these great ideas with leave you inspired to go out an surprise your sweetie with a little bit of bacon love today! Continue reading this article…

Feeling Blue? Try Candied Bacon!

Candied bacon is an sweet, smoky and delicious way to creatively add bacon to even more great bacon recipes. Now that the holiday season is officially over, and everyone is returning to the regular routine of work and school, you may find yourself settling into somewhat of a post-Christmas funk. Especially now that we’re deep into January, snowy weather and early sunsets can conspire to get even the most ebullient personalities feeling a little blue.

Luckily, as with many minor cases of the doldrums, the winter blahs can easily be cured by a quick pick-me-up, courtesy of bacon. In this particular case, however, we’re going to call on the wonder of candied bacon. This sweet-and-salty concoction is becoming ever more popular in recipes these days, especially if you happen to be baking with bacon, or otherwise need to showcase bacon’s sweeter qualities. Many excellent beverages, brownies, and even salads have been created with the help of candied bacon. This sweet and crumbly ingredient is just the thing that many folks need to turn their frowns upside down and get back to feeling like they’re living in a winter wonderland! Continue reading this article…

Who doesn’t enjoy a lovely, long, relaxing massage? Soothing music, therapeutic aromatherapy, and of course the massage itself, easing tense muscles and frazzled nerves. Even the person on your Christmas list who is most difficult to buy for will love some time at the spa.

But what if there was a way to improve a massage, to make it even more appealing for the bacon lovers of the world? What is there was such a thing as a bacon-scented massage? In a world where bacon personal lubricant is a real thing, a bacon massage is possible for anyone lucky enough to snag a bottle of this smoky liquid gold. But one professional masseuse is taking the idea of a bacon massage even further, and offering them as an official special for clients. Continue reading this article…

While I know this might come as a shock to some of you, loyal readers, but I did my absolute best this holiday season to ensure that all my celebrating somehow involved bacon. While I am not exactly the spokesperson for self-restraint even at my most staid and reserved, I generally do try to exercise some reason.

This usually translates to congratulating myself if I eat less than an entire back of bacon in a single sitting. At Christmas, however, even these feeble attempts at keeping myself in line are thrown out the window, and I allow myself to indulge on whatever I want. And more often than now, whatever I want is bacon. Continue reading this article…

While bacon is perfectly sublime all on its own – the experience of biting into a perfectly crispy rasher of bacon is simply beyond compare – there is no question that bacon is one of the most versatile foods out there when it comes to novel combinations. Bacon is suited equally well as a breakfast or dinner food, and works brilliantly as an appetizer, main course, or dessert. No matter where it is found, bacon has an alluring, distinctive taste that nonetheless has the ability to blend well with other flavours rather than overwhelm. When bacon is used as an accent or garnish, it always improves the dish in question. No wonder cooks love using bacon so much!

For all of these reasons, bacon is an absolutely ideal pizza topping. Pizza in the quintessential takeout food, and bacon adds flavour and depth to any dish that it is added to, so naturally this is a match made in heaven. There is great debate, however, about what exactly the best way to get a heaping amount of bacon onto a pizza is. Luckily, we here at the Republic of Bacon are willing to risk life and limb to make sure that you have the most accurate bacon information out there. So, we have tested out some theories, and here are the results! Continue reading this article…