This week at Food and Football, we are taking a look at the only game left of the season that will feature two Pac-12 teams. It’s the championship game, and it should be a good one, with the Oregon Ducks squaring off against the Utah Utes. It’s a little anticlimactic since these two teams just faced each other two weeks ago, a 38-7 thumping by the Utes. But how often do you get to see a rematch of a lopsided game just two weeks later? Never!
Let’s dive in. If it feels like the Ducks and the Utes play a lot, and not just in recent weeks, it’s because this is the second time these two teams have played for the conference championship in recent history. In 2019 the Ducks showed the Utes who was boss, and no doubt they will have all the motivation in the world to make that happen again this week. Not only would it give Oregon the trophy for the third year in a row, but it would build an insurmountable wall between Utah and the place that they have never been, that hallowed game known as the Rose Bowl.
The Utes, especially under coach Kyle Whittingham, are a pesky bunch and a tough out for anybody. They can’t compete on the national stage because they can’t draw the top recruits, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make life difficult for teams in the Pac-12. And while it’s unlikely that they will be able to replicate their exact performance from two weeks ago against an angry and motivated Oregon team (we think), that doesn’t mean the Utes won’t give it everything they’ve got to go where they have never gone before. That’s a pretty powerful motivator for any team.
This week we are going to look at a regional condiment from Utah (and Idaho) that you can enjoy while watching the game. Wait, a condiment—are we allowed to do that? You bet we are! Just read on, and you will thank us later. And if you are more of a visual person, watch this video. Anyone from that part of the country already knows what we’re talking about, but if not, it’s called fry sauce!
What on earth is fry sauce? It’s a delectable alternative to ketchup to dip French fries in. Oh, and it doesn’t just have to be for fries. Here’s the basic idea:
- Mix together mayonnaise and ketchup in a 60:40 ratio favoring mayonnaise
- Hit it with a little salt, paprika, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce
- Pick up a bag of frozen French fries, make your own in an air fryer, or go through the drive-thru of your local fast food restaurant
- Wait, are you allowed to go through the drive-thru and just order French fries for dinner, and not have anything else? If you are an adult, the answer is yes! Feel free to make that decision for yourself
That’s all there is to it. Make yourself the king of your world and enjoy your Friday night in style. Eat a whole mountain of French fries if you like, and make sure to have a big batch of fry sauce on hand. Kick back and watch the Pac-12 championship game on Friday night. It’s bound to be a good one.
