Brooklyn As Agricultural Hall Exhibit At The State Fair

The Portland State Fair:

“It’s pretty obvious that what everyone is doing is better than what exists,” said [a condiment purveyor], whose company dubs itself the “leaders of condimovement.” “People are tired of what’s out there. The system is corrupt and the ingredients that are being used in condiments make them kind of like vegetable junk food — there’s a much more pure way to do it.”

. . .

It might sound Spartan, but the $6 [“horseradish sandwich” at a new Prospect Heights restaurant] — which features just horseradish, sourdough bread, butter and onion — is perfect as is, according to its maker.

“The sandwich needs not a single more thing — no one has really asked for anything else added to it,” said [the restaurant’s chef and co-owner]. “I very much enjoy creating something for nothing.”

(The eatery will serve topped with bacon for an additional $2).

. . .

“People intuit condiments as the basis of choice in food and control over their diets,” [a food historian] said. “People have a yearning to control their food destiny.”