Will HP be the New A1 for Me?

by Sarah J. Gim, Posted Jan 3rd 2006 @ 1:54PM

Obviously, this will be nothing new to a good number of people, but HP sauce is something brand new to me. Okay, actually, I have seen it many times before, and even bought a bottle of it from Surfas to take to some friends who live in an area where it's not as accessible. I had just never tasted a single drop of brown sauce.

I like it a lot. The thing is, I have absolutely no idea how to use it. Is it like ketchup for dipping? Is it something like mustard that you put on sandwiches? Like Nick and Jamaican Pickapeppa, it kind of reminds me of A1 Steak Sauce, because it is brown, but a little fruitier, and much less spicy.

When I went to Ye Old King's Head in Santa Monica, I tried several English-ish things for the first time, like a Scotch egg. (There are a few more things I tried that will get their moments of fame in the next few days). I used that HP sauce with everything - dumped on, poured in, dipped into, and was "mmm"-ing through the whole meal. I'm not sure if the staff at Ye Olde King's Head was completely appalled or maybe mildly amused.

Was I doing the equivalent of someone going bonkers over ketchup the first time?

Filed Under: Vegetarian, Raves & Reviews, New Products
Tags: appetizers, british food, british isles, brown sauce, dinner, english food, hors doeuvres, hp sauce, lunch, sauce, west coast

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-03-2006 @2:10PM sarah gilbert said... It's funny, I, too, was highly interested by this sauce when I saw it at Belmont Station, a store that sells imported beer and English treats. There are a bunch of flavors, too. Which is good?
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1-03-2006 @3:23PM Dan said... Being English I feel I have relativley good authority to comment on the brown sauce; although it is not my favourite. I generally use it like ketchup. It is often used as a breakfast sauce, especially as an accompniant to a fried breaksfast.

I have also used it in sandwiches like ketchup; but i'm not sure if you class a sausage/fried egg sandwich as a real sandwich. Nonetheless, i think it is best when applied liberaly in a bacon sandwich!
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1-03-2006 @3:30PM Barry said... HP is the British equiv of A1.

We use both in our house, I like the HP and my wife uses the A1.
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1-03-2006 @4:50PM Rob Brooks-Bilson said... HP Fruity and HP Curry are both good too, although I prefer the curry. It's great with fries!
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1-03-2006 @4:51PM sarah said... dan - funny you mention the bacon sandwich. when i went to the HP sauce website, there is quote across teh top about it being used on a bacon sandwich.

bacon and brown sauce and bread? that sounds like...dinner tonight.

LOL!
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1-03-2006 @6:41PM jenny williams said... I think you mean chips, not fries, and yes, with a proper english breakfast sounds good. Oh and dont pass the branston pickle by next time you're looking for english goodies.
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1-03-2006 @7:04PM Wordman said... Thanks! I tried this sauce when visiting Little Rock, but forgot what it was called.
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1-03-2006 @9:25PM Andrew said... Think chips (French Fries) great for dipping, good with steak and chips, fried eggs and chips, not so good with fish and chips. But good with chips. I like it with chips by the way. Bacon sarnies too.
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