The Straight Dope: Why is there no ketchup on a properly made hot dog?

[Send questions for Cecil Adams: cecil@straightdope.com](mailto:cecil@straightdope.com) FOLLOW CECIL ADAMS ON [TWITTER]( AND [FACEBOOK](! [910830.gif] THREADSPOTTING: THE BEST OF THE STRAIGHT DOPE MESSAGE BOARD — 08/02/2019 Be very quiet. We're hunting Bigfoot. [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #1 — 08/30/1991 Dear Cecil: I was sitting at the Montreal Pool Room eating my all-dressed hot dog and suddenly the question hit me: why is there no ketchup in an all-dressed? Is ketchup not as respectable a condiment as relish or mustard? Is there a conspiracy? Does Dirty Harry's remark about ketchup in a hot dog have anything to do with it? I would be so thankful if you could shine a light on this obscure bit of knowledge for a passionate and perplexed user of ketchup. — Paul Macneil, Dorval, Quebec Cecil replies: Paul, I know you don’t mean to act like an alfalfa-chewing barbarian, but this is like asking why Leonardo didn’t paint the Mona Lisa on black velvet. Ketchup is destructive of all that is right and just about a properly assembled hot dog (and we’re talking about a pure beef hot dog, not one of those things you could serve with dressing on Thanksgiving). [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE STAFF REPORT — 09/02/2002 Dear Straight Dope: How did French fries get their name, and where did they originate? — Benjamin Schultz SDStaff Dex replies: First, it’s important not to confuse French fry with French fly, better known as Spanish fly (cantharides). This is the kind of thing you want to get cleared up right away. Rather than a quick two sentence answer, we’re going to start with the history of the potato and work our way forward. Be patient. The potato, of which Julia Child wrote, “Be it edible so humble …” [Click here]( for more. STRAIGHT DOPE CLASSIC #2 — 08/29/1997 Dear Cecil: My 15 year old rocker used to love to drink Mountain Dew, even though it made him bounce off the walls and never stop talking. Recently he has refused the beverage claiming that the yellow #5 dye in this soda will make his "balls shrink." Is there any truth to this statement? Kids have drunk Mountain Dew for years — this is the first time I have ever heard this one! — Concerned Mother Cecil replies: Your kid told his mother what? Such language. The proper expression when one speaks to adults is “testicular atrophy.” See how far he gets asking soft drink companies about shrinking balls. [Click here]( for more. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [View this message as a webpage](. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. To advertise on The Straight Dope, contact Rich Hummel at rhummel@suntimes.com [Privacy Policy/Terms of Use]( • [Unsubscribe]( © 2019 Straight Dope, LLC. 30 N Racine Ave. Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60607