A meal is not complete without ketchup (Picture: Faima Bakar)
Heinz might feel like a British institution, after all, what is a full English without lashings of ketchup, but the company actually originated in Pittsburgh, USA.
And it’s here, on the East Coast, that the first ever Heinz factory, producing the beloved condiment, was built.
Before I go on I should make one thing clear: I am a huge tomato ketchup lover. No, seriously.
For my 21st birthday, I received 21 packs of the condiment. I eat it on everything: I’m talking chips, pasta, rice, the list goes on. I’m a puritan when it comes to the sauce – it has to be the Heinz, no other off-brand versions will do.
So, when I got the chance to visit Pittsburgh, I eagerly accepted, purely to see the city’s ode to one of my main food groups, the museum dedicated to ketchup, featuring a giant bottle.
But beyond condiments, I soon learnt that Pittsburgh has other things going for it.
It’s dubbed the city of bridges, boasting more than Venice, and art lovers might also be aware of a little-known artist by the name of Andy Warhol who was born there.
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The city is also proudly decorated in its signature black and yellow style to honour its sports teams, most famously the Steelers. Why do you think Wizz Khalifa’s famous song mentions those specific colours? He, too, is from Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh has the feel of a small town coupled with the big-city amenities that travellers love – plus, lots and lots of ketchup.
Here’s everything you need to know for your next USA city break.
How to get to Pittsburgh and where to stay
Flights with British Airways from London Heathrow to Pittsburgh International Airport start from £543.
A night’s stay at The Joinery by Hilton, a leading downtown hotel, starts from £148 per night.
There are also home favourites such as Holiday Inn Express in the city which offers large suites for £119 a night.
Heinz History Centre
In my element (Picture: Faima Bakar)
Upon walking through the door of the museum, I was waiting to be weighed down by hundreds of samples of my favourite sauce.
Alas, I wasn’t inundated with ketchup – they don’t even sell novelty bottles – but rather with information about the famous red sauce.
I learned how eight-year old Henry John Heinz started the iconic business by growing produce from his mother’s garden in Sharpsburg, Maryland, and selling it to local grocers.
And for anyone wondering why there’s a 57 emblazoned on some of its bottles, it’s because 5 was Heinz’s lucky number and 7 his wife’s. The creator also wanted to make 57 variations of Heinz products – although he never got that far.
The first Heinz factory (Picture: Faima Bakar)
Through hundreds of artefacts and interactive displays, the exhibit showcases the Heinz Company’s evolution from a small food purveyor into one of the most recognisable international …read more
Source:: Metro
