Every once in a while, the internet does me a solid. Mostly in the form of amusing cat pictures. But not this time...this time, it was Thomas Bishop of Pools & Spas A Go-Go from out Michigan way.
Thomas had a magic treasure chest full of Mary's Gourmet Foods Original BBQ Sauce for sale. Also known as "Porkrubbers Original Competition Sauce," it's one of my all time favorites...and has been discontinued since '08.
Prior to Thomas' email, I was saving one bottle of this stuff for a special occasion. Now I have enough to take a bath in. Pics to follow.
Note: my passion for obscure foodstuffs is not limited to condiments. Any sources for Royal Crown Draft Cola, Cherry Certs or Bull's Eye Raging Buffalo BBQ Sauce, please get at me via the contact page.
Consorgio Roasted Garlic and Balsamic was one of the first marinades I ever used, and it got me a lot of grill compliments in college. While the Consorgio brand has been dead for several years, their line of products was taken over by Annie's Naturals for a time. With great sadness, I must report that Annie's has decided to discontinue the entire line of Consorgio marinades, with no foreseeable plans to resurrect this great product.
FLAVOR - Sugary sweet balsamic with a smooth roasted garlic middle and a hint of sesame
CONSISTENCY - Very thin, slightly grainy
APPEARANCE - Caramel brown with black specks
SMELL - Tangy balsamic with very subtle hint of garlic
AVAILABILITY - Discontinued
INGREDIENTS - Water, sugar, roasted garlic paste (fresh roasted organic garlic, olive/organic soy oil), distilled vinegar, organic expeller-pressed soy oil, corn syrup, salt, roasted garlic oil (organic soy, natural oils and essences extracted from fresh roasted organic garlic), balsamic vinegar, spices, xanthan gum
I used the Garlic and Balsamic marinade almost exclusively on chicken. Specifically, on chicken tenderloin sandwiches, with lettuce, tomato and a healthy splash of fresh marinade over the top.
If you happen to find a bottle of the Annie's Consorgio in the dark depths of your local grocery store, scoop it up! I plan on closing out Summer 2010 with my last remaining bottle, seen above.
Lucky you! Not only have you been privileged with a once-in-a-lifetime window into Sub-vault #1 at The Condiment Bible storage facility, you're witnessing quite possibly the last four remaining bottles of Billy Bee Prepared Honey Mustard in the Western Hemisphere!
FLAVOR - Extremely sweet honey taste, mixed with vinegar, smoothed out with the mustard flavor
CONSISTENCY - Medium thick, very smooth pour
APPEARANCE - Brilliant goldenrod with flecks of ground mustard seed
SMELL - Sweet tang of vinegar and mustard
AVAILABILITY - Discontinued
INGREDIENTS - Water, sugar, dextrose, white vinegar, honey, mustard, modified tapioca starch, salt, HFCS, caramel, titanium dioxide (for color), yellow 5, garlic powder, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate (as a preservative)
Unfortunately, Billy Bee discontinued their restaurant-style Prepared Honey Mustard (in the glass jar) in early 2010. It was one of the few sweet-style honey mustards available, and it was amazing on chicken tenders, french fries and just about any cold cut sandwich.
If you're lucky, you might be able to find some jars still left on grocery store shelves.
This gem is also known as "Pork Rubbers Original Competition BBQ Sauce." I consider it to be the Holy Grail of BBQ Sauce.
FLAVOR - Super hard slap in the face of brown sugar/molasses with a mildly tangy finish
CONSISTENCY - Fairly thick, but still pours evenly
APPEARANCE - Deep, rich brown
SMELL - Mild brown sugar scent
AVAILABILITY - Discontinued
INGREDIENTS - Brown sugar, water, HFCS, tomato paste, vinegar, hot sauce, food starch, salt, soybean oil, spices, sodium benzoate
I discovered Mary's Gourmet in the warehouse of a pool supply store; back in the day, they used to ship a bottle in some family packs of BioGuard chlorine. Needless to say, I popped cap, took a healthy shot and my life has never been the same. I'm a Kansas City-style sauce guy, so the brown sugar in this beauty really speaks to my inner grillmaster. This sauce is INSANELY GOOD on just about every kind of food, grilled or otherwise. I'm not ashamed to say I still steal a nip (or three) right out my stash bottle every now and again.
Sadly, Mary's Gourmet BBQ Sauce was discontinued sometime around 2008. If you're savvy/OCD, you might be able to catch a bottle on eBay. If you do, I salute you...you've made it to BBQ sauce heaven.
Also delicious (but discontinued): Mary's Razz-B-Que Sauce, Pineapple-Teriyaki Marinade and various rib rubs (still available!)
