# The Third Condiment - what should it be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [June 25, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091 "2023-06-25T19:48:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/1 "2023-06-25T19:48:18Z")
I don’t think this has come up before. There’s an old piece where Cecil explains how come we ended up with salt and pepper; and apparently, back in the day, mustard was sometimes the default third condiment - though it really doesn’t have that status there days. I guess you see vinegar and ketchup more often these days (at least round these parts). So: what _ **should** _ the third condiment be? The question is inspired by our recent discovery of Schoug (aka Schug, Skug, Zoug, Zhoug and half a dozen other names - [Zhug - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhug)). It’s one of those foods which (a bit like pitta) crops up all over the middle/near East in related versions. The version I know is definitely led by coriander (so possibly _skhug yarok_ per wiki), and is made by an Israeli bakery (if you live in SE England, it’s Mamoosh in Newhaven). It has the remarkable property of going with, and enhancing, a remarkable range of things. At lunch today we were finishing things off - I had some cottage cheese, some hummus and some tuna pate: each was enhanced by (but not overpowered by) schoug. And that’s just a small sample of what it works with - hard cheeses, cold meats… Actually, I do really like a good mustard, but I’ve changed my mind - for me, schoug is the third condiment. But I’ll certainly listen to other suggestions, and the reasons behind them… j Notes: **Mamoosh bakery** : [https://mamooshbakery.co.uk/](https://mamooshbakery.co.uk/) **Just in case - cottage cheese:** [Cottage cheese - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cottage_cheese) **Threads which Discourse thinks this is a near duplicate of include** : What do you guys think about these comedians?. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/2 "2023-06-25T20:09:07Z")
Weird question. Salt, pepper, vinegar and oil. There is no “third”. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/3 "2023-06-25T20:16:17Z")
Hot sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/4 "2023-06-25T20:17:34Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Salt, pepper, vinegar and oil. > > There is no “third”. That’s a third and a fourth, isn’t it? 😉 j ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/5 "2023-06-25T20:24:15Z")
Salt, black pepper, red (cayenne) pepper. Mmmm. (Penzeys sells a “Black And Red” blend that takes care of 2/3 of this.) ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/6 "2023-06-25T20:41:56Z")
The actual definition of condiment is news to me and in real world usage I would never considered salt or pepper condiments. They are seasonings to me. Ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, relish, malt vinegar, good olive oil, chutney, Kimchi, mayonnaise … those are my standard pictured condiments. Rarely add salt or pepper at the table myself. Hot sauce on occasion. Certain foods call for specific condiments of course, enough so that they are almost part of the dish and not really a condiment? ---
**Author:** ![Beesnest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@Beesnest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beesnest)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/7 "2023-06-25T20:53:17Z")
hot sauce might be it. Although I seldom use it, it is a staple. Salsa or better pico de gallo which is wonderful but hard to keep on hand, Garlic ugh,ugh,ugh I think the US current winner is ranch dressing. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/8 "2023-06-25T20:55:27Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > They are seasonings to me. Fair point. Let’s just say: what should sit alongside salt and pepper? j ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/9 "2023-06-25T20:56:01Z")
Sriracha! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/10 "2023-06-25T20:57:32Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, relish, malt vinegar, good olive oil, chutney, Kimchi, mayonnaise … those are my standard pictured condiments. Right. I thought the implied two from the subject line would be ketchup and mustard. (The third condiment is ketchup.) ---
**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:** [June 25, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/11 "2023-06-25T21:00:55Z")
Definitely hot sauce of some sort. Breakfast, lunch or dinner - things go better with hot sauce (Frank’s motto - “We put that shit on everything!”) ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/12 "2023-06-25T21:17:33Z")
Back in my appraisal days we would occasionally (rarely) come across Victorian era shaker sets with three shakers. Two are obviously salt and pepper, the third is forgotten to time, possibly cinnamon or any number of other things. AFAIK, it’s never been successfully determined. The big one’s for salt. [![](https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.44ff97123c3cceca0c8dc3c2c469b451?rik=fBK2Ae9ZRaK5bQ&pid=ImgRaw&r=0) ](https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.44ff97123c3cceca0c8dc3c2c469b451?rik=fBK2Ae9ZRaK5bQ&pid=ImgRaw&r=0) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/13 "2023-06-25T21:24:08Z")
Next to Salt and pepper I’d put red pepper flakes. Next to ketchup and mustard I’d put Frank’s. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/14 "2023-06-25T21:27:21Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Hot sauce. ^^ this. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/15 "2023-06-25T21:36:38Z")
May I suggest cumin as another spice that goes with lots of things and complements lots of flavors? ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/16 "2023-06-25T21:37:45Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Next to ketchup and mustard I’d put Frank’s. Misspelled “Cholula” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/17 "2023-06-25T21:38:48Z")
Can we get a ruling from the OP… if you’re asking for a third condiment, what are the first two? Salt and pepper, or ketchup and mustard? (though Hot Sauce would be my vote for either scenario… I’ve seen diners here in the midwest with a little wire stand that holds napkins, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Cholula, Frank’s, Sriracha seem to be the order of popularity with mom ‘n’ pop restaurant owners) . eta: @Treppenwitz , we need you! ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/18 "2023-06-25T21:39:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > May I suggest cumin as another spice that goes with lots of things and complements lots of flavors? Absolutely. That’s another favourite in this household. j ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/19 "2023-06-25T21:49:04Z")
Sitting beside salt and pepper (which are spices) I’d say sugar. Beside the ketchup and mustard (condiments) would be some variety of hotsauce. Since sugar isn’t really a spice then I would guess maybe cinnamon since its probably less offensive (or more used) than many other spices. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2023, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091/20 "2023-06-25T22:08:34Z")
Maybe nutmeg [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-third-condiment-what-should-it-be/986091.md?page=2)