Texans love their homegrown restaurants and grocery stores, and the affinity that people feel for San Antonio-based H-E-B is easily matched (if not surpassed) by the cult of Whataburger. The best thing to come out of Corpus Christi aside from Selena (a.k.a. the Mexican Madonna), Whataburger inspires the sort of passion in Texans that In-n-Out evokes in those silly, silly Californians.
It’s only natural, then, that two such beloved food purveyors would come together on a project guaranteed to endear both to fast food-loving Texans for all eternity.
It was announced a few weeks back that Whataburger would soon be selling its Fancy Ketchup, Spicy Ketchup and Original Mustard in H-E-B stores across the state. To anyone unfamiliar with the burger chain’s condiments, let’s just say they’re pretty popular.
When whataburger’s fancy ketchup is sold at h-e-b, it better be the only ketchup in my fridge. #JustSaying
โ Baker Bob (@SunburnedRice) May 15, 2013
Yes. Yes it is! *wipes tears* I miss you & your fancy ketchup ways… RT @whataburger: Whataburger is the realest of the real
โ Yaya Abi’Rached (@klatsch) May 13, 2013
I don’t know what it is but something is different about that Fancy Ketchup at Whataburger then ketchup anywhere else
โ Megan (@xforever_youngg) May 10, 2013
If you say fancy ketchup taste like normal ketchup, you are mistaken #whataburger
โ Yolivette Vivas (@yolivettevivas) May 10, 2013
The regular Fancy Ketchup and its sister, the limited edition Spicy Ketchup (which is normally only available during certain times of the year at Whataburger locations) will be sold in 20-ounce bottles, while the mustard will be sold in 16-ounce bottles. Honestly, who cares about the mustard though?
All three condiments will be available at H-E-B, Central Market, Mi Tienda and Joe Vยs Smart Shop (all H-E-B-owned grocery stores) starting on Saturday, May 25. Any Memorial Day weekend plans you have will be embarassingly inadequate without Fancy Ketchup, so stock up.
Oh, and sorry about that whole not-having-any-H-E-Bs-except-for-a-couple-of-Central-Market-locations thing, Dallas. Sucks to suck.
Follow Eating Our Words on Facebook and on Twitter @EatingOurWords
This article appears in May 16-22, 2013.