Did You Know That Archive

Bacon is my favourite food, full stop. There is no edible or comestible in all the world that can overthrow my love for the crispy, salty, meaty perfection of bacon. However, were I to admit any kind of rival to bacon’s sway over my heart, it would be pie. The Republic of Bacon loves pie, too!

My love for pie goes back to my earliest childhood. My mother was a fantastic baker, and I have fond memories of sitting on the kitchen counter watching her carefully cut cold butter into flour to make a homemade pie crust. Whether cinnamon kissed apples or luscious pumpkin or decadently sweet pecans were destines to fill that crust, I always knew the pie was going to be good. Homemade pie was one of the first dishes I perfected when I was learning to cook for myself, something I learned out of sheer desperation for pie that was just as delicious as what I remembered from my childhood (most store-bought stuff can’t hold a candle to the real think). Pie remains my most beloved comfort food, something my mom can always count on to bribe me with. Continue reading this article…

In a recent interview with ESPN.com, professional skateboarder Mark Gutterman states that “A life without bacon is no life at all.” Gutterman speaks from a transitional moment in his career, at a time when all of his previous sponsors have gone out of business and new one are in the process of signing on. To weather the storm of a life in flux, he took a job in a small cafe, surrounded by the smell of bacon every day, for the comfort of it.

This interview got me thinking about my own life with bacon. It’s no big secret that I love the stuff, as I devote my time and energy to working on The Republic of Bacon to spread the bacon love as far as I can. But it is more than that. The more I think of it, the more I realize I can chart my own personal history through my ongoing love affair with bacon. Continue reading this article…

Much like James Bond, bacon has international charm. This most delicious of meats is beloved around the globe for it’s unique flavour and unparalleled ability to improve just about any dish. Many disparate cultures all around the world simply love cooking with bacon fat, wrapping other foods in bacon, and using bacon as a base flavour in sauces and stews.

Not all bacon is created exactly equal; there are many subtle variations that give each variety of bacon a distinct taste and regional flair. Since all bacon deserves your love, attention and consumption, we were at the Republic of Bacon encourage you to try some of these new and possibly unfamiliar forms of bacon as well as traditional North American side bacon. We hope you enjoy our little international tour of bacon around the world! Continue reading this article…

If you’ve ever needed the ultimate piece of proof that bacon can truly improve any meal, no matter how bland, look no further! Research has shown that bacon can redeem what is notoriously the weakest cuisine of all time: airline food.

Airline food has been much maligned over the years, having been the butt of nearly every professional comedian’s jokes at one point or another. While jokes about airline food’s terribleness are so common they have become cliche, this does not make the criticism any less true. Travelling can be a hassle at the bets of times, especially air travel these days, with crazy new security requirements and other stress. Just when you need a comforting snack most, airline food always answers with something incredibly unappetizing. Continue reading this article…

Bacon and the holiday season have something in common: indulgence. A meal with bacon is always a meal to savour, something a little bit special, something that feels like a treat. Just think about it: brunch with friends is a fun way to spend a late Sunday morning, but brunch with bacon becomes a luxury. A steak on the bbq is a summer staple; a bacon-wrapped filet on the bbq is a restaurant quality feast.

The same is true with the holidays. Even the strictest and most healthful folks loosen their belts for holiday meals, and the tightest purse strings are loosed to purchase a bounty of presents for friends and loved ones. Every meal is a feast, every gathering a celebration. There is something about the whole holiday season that makes even the smallest bit of cheer into a memorable event. Continue reading this article…

As the popularity of bacon as a food and as a cultural phenomenon continues to grow, it should come as no surprise that all over the bacon-eating world, this exceptional food product is being celebrated with a heretofore-unseen gusto. Bacon-themed events, conferences and parties are springing up all over the place, all dedicated to praising the virtues of the most delicious ingredient in the world. Food themed celebrations are nothing new; from chocolate to chili peppers to garlic, exceptional foods have often been lauded in the form of food-specific events. But with bacon enjoying a time of peak interest, bacon festivals are springing up at a truly incredible rate. Continue reading this article…

The first things that draw people to bacon are, of course, the alluring smell and incomparably delicious taste. Few things get my mouth watering like walking into a kitchen where bacon has been cooking. The lingering smoky smell in the air is enough to get even the most restrained dieter jonesing for a BLT. And there are few pleasures that can compare to that first bite, the sweet fat and smoky meat titillating the palate and overwhelming the taste-buds.

But the appeal of bacon can extend beyond the gustatory and olfactory senses. Bacon isn’t just wonderful to eat; it is also rather pretty to look at. The combination of pearly fat and bright, red meat with lovely brown, caramelized spots is aesthetically attractive all by itself. This combination of colours and the way they are laid together in variable stripes makes bacon its very own natural work of art. Continue reading this article…

If you read this blog, chances are you love bacon. I mean, you probably really love bacon. You refer to yourself as a bacon aficionado with a genuine sense of pride. Your friends buy you bacon-themed gifts your special occasions and your fridge is never without a pack or two of the delicious, sweet, salty object of your affections.

As a true bacon-lover, we have no doubt that you want to care for your bacon properly. Taking the time to store your bacon correctly means always enjoying your bacon at its freshest and most delicious (not to mention healthiest). To help you keep your bacon in tip-top shape and and scrumptious as possible, here are some valuable pieces of information on the proper care and storage of your bacon. Continue reading this article…

When I started to write this post, I originally conceived of it as a list of potential uses for leftover bacon. Then I came to my senses: there is no such thing as leftover bacon. There is bacon that is freshly cooked for a specific purpose; there is potentially leftover bacon, sitting out seductively on a paper towel to drain like a sunbather stretched out coyly on a blanket; and there is bacon that has been eaten. I have never cooked a pack of bacon and had any left at the end of the day, even if I was alone. I am not sure of admitting that makes me ashamed or proud.

Okay, so bacon leftovers don’t actually exist. However, plenty of other foods do get left behind Uneaten pasta or stir-fry usually ends up languishing in the fridge, forgotten and unloved, until it is eventually rediscovered and thrown away just before it gains sentience. Continue reading this article…

We like to reward innovators. Anyone who is brave enough to experiment with foodstuffs, and bring bacon to new heights in the process, is worth of attention and support in our books. We’re always on the lookout for courageous folks who harness the power of their brains and the motivation of their bellies to do something spectacular with our favourite food.

As it so happens, a culinary revolution is taking place across North America. They have been featured on the television shows Eat Street and The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network. That’s right: food trucks are gaining in popularity are are fundamentally changing the way people go out to eat. Where a food truck will stop, and what exactly they will serve, changes day to day, making mealtimes part hide-and-seek, part scavenger hunt, and all delicious. They also present some unique challenges to chefs working on the food trucks, as inviting meals need to be cooked and assembled in a very small space and presented in a way that customers can eat on the go.

It is no surprise that many food trucks choose to make bacon a key part of the meals they serve, as the flavour an aroma of bacon is something few street-wise gourmets can resist. Here are a few food trucks that are raising the bar of deliciousness and helping people get their bacon fix on the go. Continue reading this article…