LONDON –- Sir Patrick Stewart has started an inter-continental condiment debate after posting a fairly out-of-the-blue tweet about the origins of ketchup.
The galactic legend shared the following on Wednesday evening, immediately prompting some serious sauce-themed discussion.
OK, listen up America. Just learned who introduced Ketchup to the U.S. The Brits!!!!— Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) July 30, 2015
First, there was some cultural confusion about what ketchup is actually called in Britain.
@SirPatStew weird that we call it ketchup and they call it red sauce...— nun ya (@angrycamb) July 30, 2015
@angrycamb huh? We call it Ketchup. I've never heard anyone here call it red sauce, maybe Tomato sauce if they are a bit posh. :p— Laila Walton (@laila_walton) July 30, 2015
@laila_walton @angrycamb that's true. Sometimes it gets called Tommy K in our house!— Dan Jeffrey (@Danj1985) July 30, 2015
@SirPatStew Only they called it "Tomahto Cream"— Joe Dator (@JoeDator) July 30, 2015
@JoeDator Tomato cream? Where do you guys hear this stuff, we call it Ketchup. Even the ones not made by Heinz :p— Laila Walton (@laila_walton) July 30, 2015
@laila_walton It's what is known as a "joke".— Joe Dator (@JoeDator) July 30, 2015
Some Americans, meanwhile, were thankful for the sauce.
@SirPatStew No wonder I love the Brits so much!!— Christina Young (@fyrcrkr7475) July 30, 2015
Others, less so.
@SirPatStew you can have it back, ketchup sucks— Aegis J. Hyena (@Omegatani) July 30, 2015
@SirPatStew Thank you for the worst condiment.— DR.Kikka (@KikkaVO) July 30, 2015
@SirPatStew I am shocked by this, but glad to have someone to blame. I eagerly await the details of this story.— Shannon (@shannonkay) July 30, 2015
It was hard to tell whether some people were being sarcastic or not.
@SirPatStew Thanks for the tomato blood and Earl Grey tea.— T. Kareem Powell (@tkareempowell) July 30, 2015
Some Americans came to Britain's defence.
@SirPatStew Wait, you can't blame EVERYTHING bad on the Brits... They also gave us Monty Python, the E-Type Jag... AND Dr. Who!!— Duane Grady (@Renoversity) July 30, 2015
Eventually, Canada joined in.
@SirPatStew Yeah, well Canadians introduced the Poutine to the world... Top that!— David (@iCrazyDavey) July 30, 2015
@iCrazyDavey yes!!! Best compliment to fries ever— Diane Webb (@yesterdazenews) July 30, 2015
Then Australia.
@SirPatStew As an Aussie, I'm infinitely grateful to the inventor of ketchup...and so, so sorry about Vegemite.— Sal (@SalPiracha) July 30, 2015
The conversation widened to bring in other condiments.
@SirPatStew okay but who was behind mayo?— (ﾉ`□´)ﾉ⌒ʇləʌəıN əoſ (@joenievelt) July 30, 2015
@joenievelt @SirPatStew Mayonnaisse invented in honour of Napoleonic victory over Mahon. Ketchup: a Chinese sauce exported by British.— chrisyule (@toucanmacaw) July 30, 2015
@SirPatStew Yet they eat "brown sauce" on everything..— ✴ Anna Haïm ✴ (@MissAnaheim) July 30, 2015
@MissAnaheim @SirPatStew we love brown sauce especially on sausage sandwhiches and bacon butties!— Verina Horner (@thebattlinbard) July 30, 2015
@SirPatStew but who introduced catsup?— Mike Gessner (@calbears96) July 30, 2015
@SirPatStew Okay, but what about catsup? Huh? Yeah! You think on that.— Steven H. Darancette (@sdarancette) July 30, 2015
Some people had other suggestions for what could be introduced.
@SirPatStew Still waiting for us to do it with HP Sauce— LondonLee (@LondonLee62) July 30, 2015
@SirPatStew It's about time we introduced them to proper gravy.— #NoToHullMerger (@Spookylish) July 30, 2015
The discussion went on well into Wednesday night, and is still going strong today.
@SirPatStew typical. You guys introduce us to something, ditch it yourselves, and call us low-brow for 100 years bc we like it.— Elisabeth Grunert (@LissGrunert) July 30, 2015
@LissGrunert I don't think you've ever been to England. It's a top contender of things to put on your chips (fries) next to salt & vinegar.— Danlaaa woodiaaaaaaa (@Danlaaaa) July 30, 2015
Oh, Patrick, look what you've started!
@SirPatStew @JoetheSicilian1 pic.twitter.com/bLRWSQ6BN5— krispy (@krispythehuman) July 30, 2015