There’s Mayonnaise, and then there’s Blue Plate February 24, 2010
Posted by EDW in Food, New Orleans.Tags: Blue Plate Mayonnaise, condiments, Culture, Food, mayonnaise, New Orleans
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I have a confession: I am obsessed with Blue Plate Mayonnaise. On a recent trip to New Orleans, I regularly embarrassed my traveling companions by asking for Blue Plate mayonnaise whenever we went out to eat, no matter how nice the dining establishment was. Even if I hadn’t ordered a sandwich. Because I can always find something to dunk into a ramekin of Blue Plate, even if it’s just my finger. A waiter at one restaurant in the Marigny was confused by my request.
“Blue Plate mayonnaise?” he asked.
“Blue Plate Mayonnaise, Blue Plate Mayonnaise!” I practically screamed. “I only want it if it’s Blue Plate. If it’s just regular mayo, even if the chef makes it himself, I don’t care, don’t bother.” My traveling companions exchanged glances. The waiter disappeared into the kitchen, and returned a few minutes later with a little cup containing a glistening, pearly dollop of mayonnaise.
“We had it!” he exclaimed proudly. “I never heard of it, and I never would have noticed what brand of mayonnaise we use, but here you go!” (We later learned he was not from New Orleans.)
“Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou!” I gushed. “You don’t understand about this mayonnaise, it’s not just mayonnaise, it’s like, so good that if it had been around two thousand years ago, the wise men would have brought it to the Baby Jesus.” Then I proceeded to dunk each and every one of my french fries into the Blue Plate, sometimes twice. (The joy of having your own personal ramekin is that you are allowed to double-dip.)
Oddly, my love affair with Blue Plate Mayonnaise didn’t begin with the mayonnaise itself, it began with the glowing blue art deco sign atop the former Blue Plate mayonnaise plant on Jeff Davis Parkway. That sign was pure magic. And too, I thought it was a little funny to make such a lovely monument to mayonnaise. Because back then I didn’t think I liked mayonnaise. I don’t really remember why. But my general impression of mayonnaise was that it was weird, bland, slimy, oily, sometimes tart in an unpleasant way, and sometimes it yellowed when exposed to the air.
Then I met my husband: a bonafide mayonnaise enthusiast. It grossed me out a little bit, how much he liked mayonnaise. I was a mustard girl, after all. But in the name of love I began buying mayonnaise so we’d have it on hand. And I discovered that my local, small-town Central Texas supermarket carries Blue Plate. I bought the first jar for nostalgic reasons. Now I buy it to support my habit.
They don’t make Blue Plate in New Orleans anymore. After Katrina, the plant moved to Tennessee, but on the whole, New Orleanians are still faithful to the brand, and I personally feel that the city will never really be complete without a Blue Plate mayonnaise factory (and beautiful glowing sign). I know it doesn’t make financial sense for the company to uproot its current operation in Tennessee, so that’s why I’d like to encourage everyone to BUY BLUE PLATE MAYONNAISE so they will have to open up an auxiliary plant. And what better place to do it than in the city that loves them so?
you little nut!
I had a boyfriend who used to put mayo on his brown beans. It looked gross but he loved it. Look for a little something in the mail (UPS) this week!!!
I LOOOOOVEE MAYONNAISE! But never heard of Blue Plate!! Do they have it here? I must check it out!!
Ruby- I know. That’s why you love me, right?
Roz-Mayo on beans? I’ll have to try that. After all, I love beans. And I love mayo. Sounds win-win. And…OH GOODY! A PRESENT!
Tess- they have Blue Plate at Brookshire Bros. It’s a bit spendy, but totally worth it IMO.
ok, never tried that one.
lol thanks for your comments !!
en España a veces hacemos la mayonesa en casa, con aceite , huevo, sal y vinagre. Si le añades un poquito de ajo para triturarlo o batirlo todo junto, resulta buenísima. Así se la llama ali-oli.
Blanca
Hola Blanca!
¡Qué delicia! Siempre he querido hacer mayonesa. Debo encontrar los instrucciones online y hacerlo!
Querida Milly:
nueva receta con la mayonesa ya hecha:
añadirle un poco de tomate frito y el zumo de media naranja y batirlo, se obtiene la “salsa rosa”. Se la han enseñado a hacer a mis hijos en el colegio.
Un saludo
I don’t even care about mayo, and I kind of want to try this.
I know- I didn’t care about mayo until I had Blue Plate. It’s not mayo. It’s heaven in a jar.
i buy 6 jars every trip to new orleans,generally once a year.twice if i can squeeze it in.
stogie,
It amazing just how much better it is than any other mayo, right?
No, you’re “not” crazy at all. I agree, Blue Plate is the best mayo! Folks in New Orleans ‘know’ their food. Yes, indeed! First discovered when living in Atlanta. Not available though here in VA.
Had to go with my second choice, Duke’s mayo. Based out of Richmond. Oh, well.
Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise is available at BuyTheCase.net! You can now enjoy Blue Plate Mayo whenever and wherever! The best part is we deliver right to your doorstep. Please use the Promo Code: Serv1 for $5 off your order! =)
I had a roommate for many years who was from Brooklyn and she would only use Hellman’s (yuk). If there were no Blue Plate left on earth, I would probably get Duke’s, but as long as they still make it I will have Blue Plate in my fridge! As many people have commented on Facebook, there is absolutely nothing like a tomato sandwich with BLUE PLATE! I may get a Blue Plate tattoo.
Hi Anne,
If you get a Blue Plate tattoo, you really should post a picture somewhere and send me a link because that would be COOL.
I have been living in Mexico for the summer, and one of the things I am looking forward to about returning to the States is that I will be able to buy Blue Plate again. It might even be the FIRST thing I buy. It’s like being part of a cult, only we experience religious ecstasy through sandwiches, and no one is trying to make us kill ourselves.
Well it used to be a staple around most grocery stores in Winston-Salem, NC…now only one Lowes Foods carries it. And they carry it because the second it disappeared from the shelf everyone asked for it. Yeah it’s the most expensive mayo they carry, but who cares it’s BLUE PLATE!
I don’t put it on everything, that’s my dad. His favorite: pinto beans, nice torn lettuce, and a big scoop of blue plate. Mix and eat….
I’m more of a honey guy myself, but I can tear through some BLT’s with fresh tomatoes and blue plate.
No other mayo compares, NONE.
I love this blog post. I love Blue Plate mayo and I used to be a mustard girl until I met my husband who only wanted Blue Plate mayonnaise, too! I live in Arkansas, and I didn’t know where it was made!
Back in the 50′s my Aunt Ailene used to make me bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwichs with Blue Plate…sometimes just lettuce and tomato…sometimes just tomato and there were many times in my poorer days when I was old enought to buy my own grocries made myself just a mayo sandwich… just Blue Plate mayo and bread. I’m still a fan and have the T-shirt.
http://www.vendio.com/stores/leests/item/top-25-sellers/blue-plate-mayonnaise-t-shirt-/lid=17027798
They have been advertising it here in Florida like crazy but can’t find it locally
You’ll be happy to know that the BLue Plate sign will continue to glow! The building is currently being renovated into loft-style apartments geared to local artists. There will also be studio space available to the artists.
Publix last week had buy one get one free of this stuff. Still in my pantry however, but will open one of these days.
Blue Plate is good, but you owe it to yourself to try Duke’s mayonnaise. You won’t be sorry.
pintos, blue plate and cornbread!
i was raised on Blue Plate and as they say in Highlander “THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!” When I visit on the holidays I stock up so i can make it through, I live in non Blue Plate country, When I run out my Mom sends it to me in the mail, if that makes me crazy then so be it I am fine with my crazy.