Testing the Theory of "Everything's Better with Bacon"
Lauren Salkeld
Last weekend I mentioned the common expression, “everybody loves bacon,” but what about, “everything is better with bacon?” Which foods do and don’t mix well with bacon is highly debatable, but in an informal office poll, we actually found it difficult to find a food that absolutely doesn’t pair well with bacon. But why focus on the negative? Instead, let’s celebrate the positive and by positive I mean, all the foods that go with bacon or can be improved by the addition of bacon.
Below are our favorite bacon-friendly foods. In lieu of the standard list of greatest hits, like bacon and eggs or bacon and cheese, this list zeroes in on more unexpected pairings. Let us know which ones you love, which ones you hate, and also which foods did we forget?
Bacon and Maple Syrup
Do you remember the first time your bacon got a little pancake syrup on it? It’s that salty-sweet flavor explosion that made us put bacon and maple syrup on the list. One editor has even taken to putting bacon inside her pancakes. But why stop at breakfast? Get your bacon and maple fix from Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Candied Bacon or Bacon-Wrapped Maple Pork Loin.
Bacon and Jam
Bacon and jam on toast was one of my childhood favorites but it wasn’t until adulthood that I realized why. Like bacon and maple syrup, bacon and jam on toast satisfies all my salty-sweet cravings. As a kid, I enjoyed this with grape jelly but now I make it with raspberry, blackberry, or strawberry jam.
Bacon and Peanut Butter
Jam and jelly aren’t the only PB&J components to partner up with bacon. Peanut butter is also a worthy pairing as evidenced by the Elvis sandwich, which always combines peanut butter and banana but often includes bacon; it’s also said to be a favorite of New York’s recently departed health-crusading mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Here’s a question: If jelly goes with bacon and peanut butter goes with bacon, why aren’t we eating bacon, peanut butter, and jelly sandwiches yet?
Bacon and Chocolate
I’m not sure if Vosges’ Katrina Markoff was the first to discover the merits of this combination, but her bacon + chocolate collection, including the pancake mix, is pretty much proof of its goodness. The photo above is from an event Epicurious did with Markoff in Chicago a couple years ago and it was her streamlined example of this perfect pairing. Let’s just say the audience was easily convinced.
Bacon and Dates, Prunes, or Figs
Anyone who’s enjoyed dates wrapped in bacon will immediately agree with this suggestion. Suzanne Goin’s Parmesan-stuffed version served at A.O.C. in Los Angeles, is a favorite, but we also like using blue cheese. Prunes wrapped in bacon are another great option, and while we haven’t tried it yet, the recipe’s suggestion to swap in dried apricots has us salivating. For yet another twist, this recipe combines fresh figs, bacon, and goat cheese.
Bacon and Seafood
Some people like to think of fish and shellfish as healthy. We prefer to make up for all the saved fat and calories by wrapping our seafood in bacon. Shrimp, salmon, and trout can be beautifully bundled in strips of bacon, while scallops, calamari, and oysters are prime for being tossed or topped with bacon. It’s like a pork-y take on surf and turf.
