On a day trip to Pittsburgh yesterday I snapped this picture from the window of our moving car, just as we passed the Senator John Heinz History Center. This is especially cool at night, when the bright red ketchup “pours” out of the bottle and fills up the background of the lighted sign. 

I couldn’t resist; probably because there’s something about this iconic condiment that brings back childhood memories. It was a staple at picnics, cookouts, ballgames, and our refrigerator. I put ketchup on a few of my favorite foods:

• Hot dogs
• Hamburgers
• Meatloaf
• Scrambled eggs

When I was growing up there was only one flavor; tomato. But, like so many other things today, we have a lot more options:

• Blended with sriracha (a type of hot sauce)
• Hot & spicy flavor
• Blended with caramelized onion & bacon
• Blended with balsamic vinegar
• Blended with real Jalapeño
• No salt
• Reduced sugar 
• Organic
• Simply Heinz (made from the basics, gluten-free, and Kosher Pareve)

The ketchup comes in a variety of sizes and Heinz makes other products like mustard, relish, and mayonnaise to name a few.

 There’s some fun & interesting information on the website. For example: do you know what the best way to get the ketchup out of the bottle is? It’s a well-kept secret and only 11% of people know it.

So, if you want the answer or you’re a ketchup aficionado like me, head on over to their site and learn about Heinz Ketchup Facts & Trivia.

Oh, and if you’re ever in Pittsburgh, there’s lots of great things to see and do:

•  The Andy Warhol Museum
•  Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
• Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
• The Strip District (no, not strip-pers)
• National Aviary
• Point State Park
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History
• Home of the Steelers, Pirates & Penguins and much more!!

And, of course, don’t forget the Heinz History Center.