#97 – SWEETSMOOTHHOT MUSTARD from SCHOOLHOUSE KITCHEN

Once again Time Out New York released their Top 100 Dishes of the year and once again, I’m going to eat my way through every one. And no price point or subway delay will stop me. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100.

When I was in college, I had a favorite neighborhood deli (Pittsburgh Deli Company) and I would usually get the same sandwich. It was called It’s a Bird’s Thing and it was a pile of smoked turkey and muenster cheese grilled on fresh challah bread. But the element that put it over the edge and the reason why I’m still thinking about it over 10 years later was the addition of Honeycup, a spicy, sweet mustard. I used to ask for an extra side of that with each order so I could schmear it on everything I ate in my college apartment. The condiment itself would have made my Top 100 if I was keeping tabs back then.

I learned later on that the Honeycup I so loved is actually a packaged mustard that you can buy in some grocery stores.

The reason I mention all this is because one of TONY’s list items is an artisanal, locally made mustard that reminds me of the mustard of my past. SchoolHouse Kitchen is a company that was founded in Brooklyn (where else?) in 2005. In addition to two varieties of mustards (I will soon be seeking out their Horseradish and Dill), they also produce chutneys, fruit spreads, and salad dressings.

It was the SweetSmoothHot Mustard that needed to be tasted first. I found it on the shelf at Whole Foods and popped it open at home one night as a prelude to a weekday meal. I got some pumpernickel bread (both for health and dramatic color contrast in photos) and hard cheese to pair with the condiment. But shortly after tasting it, I was licking it right off the butter knife.

It was similar to my beloved Honeycup, but more refined and muted. There was a sharp tang (that almost reminded me of cheese) and a sweet finish. And the entire experience was rich and buttery. I was surprised at how rich the mustard was and yet the Nutritional Ingredients on the back listed very few calories (that’s a relief!) It did have a bit of a bite, but was not as intensely spicy as I expected.

We ate a little too much of that bread doused with the special mustard almost spoiling our appetites. And while the pumpernickel bread was nice and all, it was this mustard that made it so irresistible. I haven’t been back to Pittsburgh Deli Company in years, but if it’s available nearby, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re now making sandwiches with this stuff.

Would SchoolHouse Kitchen’s SweetSmoothHot Mustard make my Top 100 of the year? It doesn’t matter what it’s on, it’s delicious and buttery giving it a 9 out of 10, maybe just slightly below the mustard of my youth.