Condiments..in the purse?

[csw]

I don't do it but sometimes I wish I had a little bit of my favorite hotsauce with me to kick up my food. Which leads me to wonder if anyone does this?

[wayne keyser]

I generally pick up a few of the more unusual packets when they're freely available (hot sauce, wasabi, etc) and have them in the car. Getting creative with them can produce some pleasant surprises: hot sauce on a McDonald'sburger, wasabi on anybody's chicken sandwich or wrap.

[momjamin]

I discovered at the movies years ago that a friend carried Tabasco sauce, and applied it to the popcorn...that was a surprise!

[goldenroxy]

i used to carry a packet of mustard in my purse. not because i really like mustard and wanted to put it on everything i eat. but, there was a cute doxie on it. i love doxie's. it turned brown and i threw it away.

[Kitchen Queen]

I too always have Splenda with me. Love to have Splenda in pellet form - you were smart, orangewasabi. When I was in Europe and in Japan, sugar came in liquid form and I used to carry that around to put into cold coffee or tea. Now it's only splenda (which btw is made w/milk sugars and NOT cane sugars). I taught my Dad to keep a sugar packet w/him in case he goes into a diabetic whirlwind, which has happened. :)KQ

[orangewasabi]

somewhere there is a site that sells bulk packages of individual condiments -- it's where I bought my tabasco in plastic paks rather than the bottles. does anyone know what I am talking about, I have lost the link.

found it: http://www.minimus.biz/detail.aspx?ID...

[chicgail]

I have carried a little tobasco with me and I have seen people who carry their own miniature pepper mill.

Now, about the only thing I carry is a couple of packets of Splenda or Nutrasweet for those quick, cheap breakfast places that only have "the pink stuff".

I do like the idea of carrying around a little packet of soy sauce, but I would worry that it would break and I'd have soy sauce all over everything in and on my purse. I will have to check out World Market to see what teeny goodies I can carry.

[orangewasabi]

oh yeah, splenda. One of my big finds in Paris was splenda in pellet form in little dispensers. My husband was quite dismayed that I was soooo excited to 1/ be in a grocery store and 2/ to buy Splenda after coming all the way to Paris. I feel so chique whenever I bring it out now ;-)

[piccola]

I do the Splenda thing, too. Sometimes I'm over at a friend's house and they don't have it.

[goldenroxy]

just wondering....do you sprinkle splenda over your salad?

awhile back i was watching some reality show and the person would put splenda on everything. she even sprinkled it over her salad. i thought it was interesting.

[piccola]

No. I wouldn't put sugar in salad, so no Splenda. I put it in tea (not coffee) and sometimes yogurt. And I sometimes bake with it, though not from the packets.

[Gin and It]

Leakage is a downside to purse condiments. I once had the cap to a small bottle of maple syrup work its way loose, thought I was SO clever up till then...

[chilihead]

I have daydreamed for years about making a Batman inspired culinary utility belt, complete with a wide array of condiments, sea salt, olive tapinade, and ...phasime. Either that or a hunting vest where the elastic loops used to hold shotgun shells hold small bottles of everything from hot to fish to soy sauce...maybe bandeleros.

[HillJ]

chilhead, i have seen such a belt revamped by a food network host--find your market and go forth with this idea-before someone else does!

[HillJ]

I keep ground black pepper packs in my coin purse.
Doesn't everyone :)

[Gin and It]

Red pepper flakes for pizza. Sometimes I forget to ask for them if it's to go, or they just plain don't have them.

[hotoynoodle]

ok, sorry, as an industry person, i'm just gonna say i find it tacky when people do this. i do bring hot sauce on flights (like they feed you anymore), but that's about it.

[Karl S]

Of course, but those of us who do it (I only have brought my own tiny pepper grinder on occasion; and I have brought salt to places that refuse to supply it, too) don't care if anyone else thinks it's tacky or unsafe or whatever.

[orangewasabi]

I hear ya, I would lik to think that I personally use the right judgement in when to pull it out. Like bringing out my own tabasco at a food court meal is okay, not okay at a sitdown place. But I know that it's amazing what people will do at a restaurant -- I wonder how anyone who works in the biz can stand humans after a while

[Karl S]

Though if people bringing salt, pepper or hot sauce could conceivably make a waiter, chef or owner not stand humans, it's the business person who needs to have his or her head examined.

[orangewasabi]

true, but sadly, bring our own condiments is no where near the crap they have to observe and put up with

[torta basilica]

I carry the original condiment, a little bag of Maldon sea salt everywhere. People think I'm bringing out drugs - don't care, so much better than anything offered in any restaurant! Was at the Ritz Carlton Dining Room SFO one night having the tasting menu. One of the dishes was described as having been 'sprinkled' with Maldon sea salt to finish. Didn't see it or taste it. Since this was before my little bag-carrying days, I asked for some of this sea salt to use on this & other dishes - several times. They finally brought me out what looked like a bowl of kosher salt. By then, I was really iritated at paying those prices & being lied to - twice. Needless to say, not one of my more favorite restaurant experiences. Don't mess with my salt! I do love sharing it, though & turning other people on to those fabulous Maldon flakes.

[Alice Letseat]

I remembr reading that Cokie Roberts always carries Tabasco in her purse. World Market (Cost Plus) often has a selection of purse-sized hot sauces. Yes, I do.

[orangewasabi]

yup, I carry Tabasco in my purse. the regular sized bottles when I am at home, and the plastic packets when I travel

[LulusMom]

Yep, I'll take some hot sauce along. Inevitably when I ask for it, I am given some decimated and crusty old bottle. I'd rather have a fresh bottle from home. Big fan of hot sauce.

[torty]

Oh yes. Those mini Tabasco bottles work in a pinch. Their was a smal larticle years ago in Saveur that mentioned this and pointed out several "sophisticated" well know people who come prepared- I think one even had Tabasco on a necklace? I'll try to dig up the issue. Another friend whipped out fresh Tahi bird chilis from home when we dining in a restaurant in Puero Vallarta- she wanted the pure chili hit.

[csw]

I've seen mini soy sauce bottles in asian markets which is fricken hilarious.

[lamster]

I can't believe that I'm going to fess up to it, but I sometimes carry my own mini soy sauce with me.

I'm really picky about my soy sauce!