The Quest for Bacon Salt
A couple of weeks back jado told me about Bacon Salt, a “zero calorie, vegetarian, kosher certified, seasoning salt that makes everything taste like real bacon.” Now, I’m not a vegetarian or Jewish or even a fan of bacon. In fact, I can’t recall the last time I had the real stuff and the idea of salt that tastes like bacon doesn’t really appeal to me. But, I *love* product stalking.
Fortunately, Bacon Salt’s website conveniently lists all the retailers that stock their porky seasoning. Two such stores are located between here and my parents’ house. So, on my way home and back for Christmas, I took up the chase.
December 22, 7:30 PM
Martin’s IGA, Effingham, Illinois
Considering it’s Effingham, Illinois, I’m surprised by the selection of seasonings and sauces that are offered here. But after ten minutes gazing over the spice section, meat counter and bacon bits section, I could not locate any Bacon Salt. Strike one.
December 26, 3:30 PM
Debuhr’s Seed & Feed, Mattoon, Illinois
I had higher hopes for this retailer, but it turned out to be strike two. Apparently, I had arrived too early and their shipment had not come in yet. The proprietor was rather excited about his impressive selection of seasonings and hot sauces and even spun a yarn about a jetsetter from Lexington, Illinois who flew to Mattoon for a small bottle of out-of-production spice rub. Onwards…
December 27, 1:30 PM
Mahomet IGA, Mahomet, Illinois
Jado was apparently bored and had an hour to kill before an appointment, so we drove up to Mahomet to try our luck there. 45 minutes later, we were back in the apartment with these:
Bacon Salt must be a big deal since they had their own cardboard display rack at the end of the baking aisle, and said display was about half-empty. An added bonus was the $3.49 price tag compared to the $4.49 they charge on the website. When we got back to the car, we had a sample, and it certainly did taste like bacon (and made my hand smell like bacon for the rest of the day). Another successfully stalked product!
I constructed a new theory based on this experience: The likelihood of a store carrying a crazy product advertised on the internet is inversely proportional to the the store’s main product line. Case in point, the seed store probably has Bacon Salt on the shelf right now. They’re supposed to be selling seeds and feeds, not salt! And, someday I will go to Rod’s Pools & Spa in Bloomington because I envision their shop stocks nothing but Bacon Salt and pool skimmers. (Yeah, I know finding it a grocery store contradicts this theory. I just wanted to mention that Rod’s Pools & Spa in Bloomington may be moonlighting as a spice emporium).
