# Fast Food “Freebies” **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 27, 2024, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776 "2024-09-27T02:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/41 "2024-09-27T23:51:04Z")
The Hat in SoCal has a wide assortment of condiment packets available, including pickle relish, horseradish sauce!, and both 1000 Island and Ranch. Plus a big tub of what Chicagoans would call “sport peppers” and paper envelopes to contain them. Plus open bins of napkins. I do miss Fuddruckers. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/42 "2024-09-28T02:36:00Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Plus a big tub of what Chicagoans would call “sport peppers” and paper envelopes to contain them. From what I see on pictures online, they look like the same peppers as in In N Out. Those are not what we’d call sport peppers. Those are more yellow and a bit bigger, as well as spicier. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/43 "2024-09-28T02:54:32Z")
I am sitting right now in a Tasty Burger restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. On the table are napkins, plus a lazy susan with: Salt Pepper Two kinds of ketchup Two kinds of mustard Packets of relish Packets of mayonnaise Malt vinegar Sriracha Hot sauch Fry seasoning Not bad ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/44 "2024-09-28T03:00:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Those are more yellow and a bit bigger, as well as spicier By “those” I mean yours. Our sport peppers are more bullet-like, green, no yellow tinge at all, and not what I’d call particularly spicy. ---
**Author:** ![pirviii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pirviii/32/3233_2.png) [@pirviii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pirviii)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/45 "2024-09-28T03:02:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > And some places have those pump dispensers for ketchup with tiny little paper cups you can fill. I like those the best because I know it’s the most economical for the store and I can get all I want. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/46 "2024-09-28T06:27:33Z")
Two kinds of ketchup? As an unrelated note, I am always surprised that “no sugar added” ketchup is not more widely available. Lots of places have “light mayo”. But homemade chunky ketchup is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/47 "2024-09-28T06:35:15Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Two kinds of ketchup? An unlabeled, red squeeze bottle, which I strongly suspect was Heinz, and their own house brand of spicy ketchup. The mustards were a yellow squeeze bottle, and Gulden’s spicy brown. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/48 "2024-09-28T06:42:05Z")
I like “old fashioned” mustard where the whole seeds are visible. I’ve seen that at a (very) few hot dog joints but never at a burger place. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/49 "2024-09-28T14:20:05Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Those are not what we’d call sport peppers. I sit corrected. My sole time in Chicago has been changing planes at O’Hare. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/50 "2024-09-28T14:30:31Z")
This is pretty typical for a sport pepper – thinner and more elongated: [![](https://www.thetakeout.com/img/gallery/chicagos-favorite-hot-pepper-explained/intro-1723472048.webp) ](https://www.thetakeout.com/img/gallery/chicagos-favorite-hot-pepper-explained/intro-1723472048.webp) If this image is representative, yours are more bulbous and yellow [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQYLA6u3EyMLKuru54ldbIyzRz8cEdA-w1-HKJutb2wHWL-s6xLTu1ViBVfy9P36asXuaQ&usqp=CAU) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQYLA6u3EyMLKuru54ldbIyzRz8cEdA-w1-HKJutb2wHWL-s6xLTu1ViBVfy9P36asXuaQ&usqp=CAU) That looks like the same peppers I’ve seen at In N Out (I haven’t been to The Hat.) They taste significantly spicier than sport peppers, at least to me. Those are apparently cascabella peppers. (Interestingly to me, online it says the cascabels top off at about 4K Scoville and the sport peppers at 20K, but that does not reflect my experience of In N Out’s peppers, at least, vs the average Chicago hot dog stand’s peppers.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/51 "2024-09-28T14:36:06Z")
They probably are. In-N-Out peppers have a nice little bite to them. Not _hot_, but spicy. I eat those things by the packet-full every time I’m at either place. Most companies just call them [“hot chili peppers.”](https://www.amazon.com/KLEINS-Peppers-Bulk-Gallon-Great-charcuterie-hamburgers/dp/B07YZS5GFJ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1F5TNUOR1MBR8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.bvZhYrxihGBaxqrZgrv9N3TYgT2wfsL1cRTBgGjyUG270Y6VgDAh-6Y9y3uRQd7Ohl0l-jMCoMDRhjXoPNCFKtgaD-ssoN3dWWMaHpgB-T6wWlmzvy-Vb0RAyr6ngQNwmtbJyqB_tVz6MbhVzrMALmy6aQotCenizDMdvW0y7vxbMbVAWrP8cFQUrB-bf2swR0Rv2Irs0dX14hp3m3GWM6BXZ5pTOFNTt_g2n6nDiXwo7IWhC3qfaQZcCB8r0tcXbeY012CpLqslzyCuZHBwGn5NJP-I4qSNNd6cetZTldo.duZR7FZWiYEiBGnn4FQ3tZih7kMxcBmjVRatrbhA-x8&dib_tag=se&keywords=yellow+hot+chili+peppers+in+jar&qid=1727534093&sprefix=yellow+hot+peppers%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-2) I’ve only grown cascabelles once, and I took them to red ripe before drying instead of pickling them. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@Old\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Wench)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/52 "2024-09-28T15:03:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > In the 60s Winkies (a hamburger chain) had a fixings bar. There was a Winkies in Oakland near the University of Pittsburgh. We’d ride our bikes from Squirrel Hill, down Forbes Avenue to Winkies. “There’s no Winky’s in Wilmerding!” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/53 "2024-09-28T15:09:47Z")
I’ve been in lots of places with a selection of bottled hot sauces. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@Old\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Wench)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/54 "2024-09-28T15:09:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > There was a Roy Rogers in the “basement” level of the Cathdral of Learning at Pitt. When Kopek attended Pitt from 1976-80, I remember a Burger Chef in the Cathedral basement. Did that turn into Roy Rogers or were they both there? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/55 "2024-09-28T15:55:49Z")
Burger Chef closed down and Roy Rogers took over circa 1982. Wow, the memories! A friend and his date (who he later married) were eating at the Original Hot Dog (the dirty O) back then. He’d placed his car keys on his food tray while he ate. He went to the counter for some reason, and when he returned she had bussed the table. He ended up digging through several bags of garbage, frantically searching for his keys. He was embarrassed. She was talking with friends. When he came back, covered with mustard and ketchup, she asked what was going on. He told her about his keys, and she pulled them out of her pocket. ETA: Roy Rogers closed in 93 ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/56 "2024-09-28T16:08:42Z")
even though they’re made from scratch? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/57 "2024-09-28T17:59:06Z")
The old school Chicago hot dog joints all have fries made from scratch. They’ll even have the fry press (or whatever you call it) attached to the wall where you can see them push the potatoes through, then toss it in the oil for the first fry, then let it cool and toss it in the oil for the second fry where ordered, as it should be. In N Out fries are mediocre at best. Completely a let-down after their fantastic burger. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/58 "2024-09-28T20:16:15Z")
> [@fedman1](#): > > even though they’re made from scratch? Yes, I prefer thinner crispy fries. > [@pulykamell](#): > > In N Out fries are mediocre at best. Completely a let-down after their fantastic burger. Yep. But some people love them. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/59 "2024-09-28T21:46:28Z")
But In N Out’s fries are pretty darned thin. No on the crispy part, and, when ordered well done, they’re just dried out. Even animal style doesn’t save them. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776/60 "2024-09-29T01:05:39Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > They’ll even have the fry press (or whatever you call it) attached to the wall where you can see them push the potatoes through,… That press has square holes, so it cuts the potato into fries with a square cross section. I had the idea a while ago to make one that cuts into triangles. I thought that might lead to crispier fries. I wondered if it’s ever been tried. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-freebies/1007776.md?page=4)