Popcorn

Tell me I am wrong - popcorn is just a neutral excuse to convey melted butter and salt into one's mouth. It really has almost no taste on its own, and it is the salty butter that people crave.

This occurred to me while making buttered popcorn for SWMBO tonight..

I similarly have long considered french fries to be mainly a way to convey ketchup into one's mouth.

-Paul W.

Yes, I was going to say, similar to other starches where the flavor is mild. Although of course fresh corn itself has lots of flavor.

In that sense I suppose the main gustatory difference across popcorn 'brands' would be the flavor additives. I remember buying 'heirloom' popcorn kernels from the farmers market, which were no doubt not as polluted as the stuff you buy in grocery stores. But I didn't taste that much difference in the popped product.

[Robin Garr]

Rancho Gordo has a red popcorn (red kernels, not puffs) that's an organic heirloom and has a really delicious fresh corn taste. Actually, I wouldn't say regular popcorn is entirely flavorless. There's at least a subtle corn thing going on there. But in general your scorn is evidence-based.

I saw what you did there!

Rancho Gordo has a red popcorn (red kernels, not puffs) that's an organic heirloom and has a really delicious fresh corn taste...

Maybe I'll try that. I'm due for a Rancho Gordo order anyway.

I similarly have long considered french fries to be mainly a way to convey ketchup into one's mouth..

wow, I love good fries (and don't use ketchup)!
I'm not a big popcorn eater, but view it more as a vehicle for garam masala or parmesan.

wow, I love good fries (and don't use ketchup)!

Yes, fries in the best case have lots of potato-ness and don't need saucing. (Although I'm not opposed to sauce either...)

[David M. Bueker]

Popcorn and French Fries are both just excuses to drink Champagne.

No ketchup for me when eating fries, I love the potato taste. I think popcorn has a lot of flavor. My husband and I used to have a Sunday afternoon date. We watched a movie on TV with our pooch cuddled up to us and I made popcorn for the three of us. I had lots of fun trying out different spices. Our pooch loved popcorn too, but I had to leave the spices off his portion!