National Mustard Day Official Logo

Hi friends. Colette here. While Suzie- Saucy Mama-  is out of town, spending a few days at the coast shopping with her granddaughter Macy (adorable granddaughter, I might add), I decided to do a little research on our company’s favorite holiday- National Mustard Day.

When I first heard about National Mustard Day a few months ago, I chuckled, because there’s really a whole day dedicated to a single condiment? I mean, it is a delicious condiment, but who decided to create such a holiday? And how do people celebrate? Well, throughout the course of my new beginnings at Barhyte Specialty Foods and my National Mustard Day homework, let’s just say that the times have changed for me. Perhaps I have gone through a “Mustard-Appreciation Transformation” (we can call it my MAT!).

What started my MAT was my learning of the National Mustard Museum and its curator, Barry Levenson. Barry funneled his passion for collecting mustards by creating this museum and declaring himself “CMO”- Chief Mustard Officer. Located in Middleton, Wisconsin, the museum features different mustards from all 50 United States and 60 countries!

And so, my curiosity was sparked, and I had to learn more. I found a National Mustard Museum Catalog in the office and started flipping through it. What I did not expect was to actually laugh out loud as I looked through the pages! The catalog features hilarious gifts- a yodeling pickle? A squeezable stress wiener? Even the advertisements were funny (learn how to “Speak Mustard”). In the catalog, I also discovered America’s Mustard College- “Poupon U”- where you can buy a diploma and array of fun merchandise. They even have college fight songs. 

Barry also established National Mustard Day (sponsored by the National Mustard Museum, of course!) which is celebrated annually on the first Saturday in August at the museum. There are free hot dogs, free mustard samplings, bands, and even mustard games for kids (I saw a “fishing for mustard” game on the event poster!). They obviously mean major mustard business. The best part is that all game proceeds and donations are given to charity. Sounds like a fun Saturday to me! Oh, and did I mention we are sponsors of the event? Pretty cool.

Lastly, I learned that I was so wrong in saying that the holiday was dedicated to a “single” condiment. Yes, mustard is the broad category, but there are so many amazing varieties! We have seven unique mustards under our Saucy Mama label alone. Add on all of Barry’s 5,000+ varieties in his museum, and you have endless mustard opportunities! (As a side note, my favorite is Saucy Mama’s Chipotle Mustard).

To sum it all up, I can truly say that I am now a passionate “mustard lady”. Some might call me a “mustard nerd”…or maybe just a “mustNerd” for short (get it?). Okay, that was a little silly, but in all seriousness, I now totally appreciate mustard- and all its amazing varieties- and I’m excited to share the passion! Lots of this comes from working for a condiment company, but another part came from Barry and the National Mustard Museum. I encourage you to check out Barry’s website and enjoy some mustard this Saturday to celebrate National Mustard Day!

We are so thankful for Angela of Fab Find Foodie to have written this review of Saucy Mama products. She did a great job discussing each of the products and what she used them for, and she even includes her own recipe for Saucy Mama Spicy Garlic Bread (WOW, what a great idea!). Angela is also hosting a giveaway of 6 bottles of Saucy Mama condiments for one of her lucky readers, so make sure to check out this review for ways to enter!

Thank you, Angela, for such kind words and such a favorable review! We are pleased you like our products and call our Smoky Garlic Mustard and Parmesan Garlic Marinade “some of the best condiments I’ve ever had”. Check out Angela’s full blog, Fab Find Foodie, for more giveaways, reviews, and awesome recipes.

We are so lucky to be featured in July’s issue of Chili Pepper Magazine. Our Saucy Mama Spicy Garlic Wing Sauce made it into the “Hot Items” section of the magazine, and we are just so proud!

Yippee!!  ‘Beyond the Bull’ The Round-Up Centennial Cookbook is finally finished and hot off the presses.  We got the books just in time for Round-up, our annual rodeo here in Pendleton www.pendletonroundup.com and the sales are going great.  We were even able to get Reba McEntire to do our forward.  I and my good friends and fellow cookbook planners Mary Alice and Raphael were able to present Reba with a cookbook at the Oregon State Fair.
We had so much fun meeting her.  She is very charming and just plain gorgeous in person.  If anyone out there would like to order a cookbook they can contact me and I will make sure they get one.  I do believe we really captured the flavor and personality of The Pendleton Round-up.  The price is
$28.95 plus $6.05 shipping and handling.  All the proceeds go to renovating the plaza and entrance to our historic rodeo in time for it’s 100th year.

Exciting stuff for us today – we finally get to reveal details about our new relationship with Chef Paul Sturkey.   He’s the BEST – and we’ve loved getting to work with him and his wonderful wife, Pam!  I thought I’d share with you the release we sent out today:

BARHYTE TO CREATE NATURAL DRESSINGS FOR CHEF PAUL STURKEY

Cincinnati ‘s Famed Mesh Restaurateur Teams with Barhyte to Release Expanded Collection

of Award-Winning Condiments

PENDLETON, Ore. (October 30, 2008) – Working side-by-side, Cincinnati Chef Paul Sturkey and Barhyte Specialty Foods‘ “Saucy Mama” Suzie Barhyte have crafted an improved, natural formulation of the restaurateurs’ hugely popular Sturkey’s House Dressing.  This new and natural version of Chef Sturkey’s Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette (both original and lite flavors) will begin shipping through Barhyte distribution channels in November 2008.

Chef Sturkey, along with his wife Pastry Chef Pam, both of Cincinnati’s famed Mesh Restaurant, hit the culinary circuit in 1988 when Paul worked as executive chef for The Phoenix – a restaurant which that year topped Esquire Magazine’s “Top Ten Restaurants in America.” The local celebrity chef and his dressing have been dubbed “the Cincinnati equivalent of Paul Newman and Newman’s Own” by Cincinnati Business Magazine. He is a frequent guest on Cincinnati area radio and television programs and has made guest appearances on “Good Morning America,” and the Food Network; Sturkey also serves as a culinary expert for the DIY (Do It Yourself) Network.

Sturkey initiated the Barhyte relationship earlier this year to create naturally clean, shelf-stable versions the chef’s signature original and lite dressings.  When they began working together in the Barhyte kitchen, Paul Sturkey and Suzie Barhyte found undeniable synergies that inspired even more creations.  As they played with ingredients, they devised additional formulations for dressings and created a full line extension to release under the Sturkey brand.  In addition to original and lite Sturkey’s House Dressings, the companies also are introducing Natural Sturkey’s Herb Ranch Dressing and Sturkey’s Creamy Caesar Dressing.

“The Barhyte family saw my vision for taking our dressings to a more natural stage, and then built on it,” explains Chef Paul Sturkey. “We have a wonderful working relationship with the Barhyte’s; Suzie and I understand each other and I admire her companies’ dedication to working with local farmers to secure fresh, organic ingredients.”

The Sturkey’s House Dressing is a creamy sweet balsamic vinaigrette that doubles as a rich marinade and glaze.  “One of the huge things about our House Dressing is that kids love it, especially as a vegetable dip,” says Sturkey. “My own kids eat it on pasta and parents love it because their kids are eating healthy.  It’s a great value condiment with widespread appeal.”

Barhyte Specialty Foods will release Sturkey’s signature dressings beginning this at gourmet food and specialty stores nationwide.  Each dressing will be available in 12-oz. bottles for $4.99 (MSRP).

For more information about these or other Barhyte / Sturkey creations, please visit www.barhyte.com.