There’s always something cool going on in Athens. For starters, Athens, Ohio has one of the top farmers market scenes in the U.S.; it’s ranked first in Ohio and stands at #35 in the nation. Athens also hosts Shagbark Seed & Mill, a place that turns out, among other things, life-changing tortilla chips.
And Athens is home to Maple Bacon Onion Spread.
Bacon spread, on its own, is nothing terribly new or novel. It’s a good way to ensure even distribution of bacon on whatever you’re eating. After all, while bacon in its original state is definitely delicious, it tends to fragment itself in unpredictable, uneven ways.
But Maple Bacon Onion Spread is a step beyond regular pedestrian bacon jam. Heck, it’s a step beyond itself, because its name doesn’t even mention other elements in the mix that include apples and sea salt. There’s a lot going on there.
Open the lid and an unmistakable bacon aroma wafts from the jar. Inside is a mix that gels like jam, and boasts a decidedly maple, sweet-roasted onion accent. The bacon element is present in flecks throughout the spread. The jar label recommends it with grilled cheese, and that’s an excellent call. It’s adds a zip to the rich tradition.
The spread is the brainchild of Milo’s Whole World Gourmet, an operation that set up shop in Athens two decades ago. Since its inception, it’s introduced us to a host of jarred wonders that include lots of sauces, including barbecue sauce flavors that range from an agreeable cherry to a more aggressive ghost pepper. Among its products, you’ll also find salad dressings, mustards, fruit salsas and ketchup infused with bourbon.
Fact-checkers will note that the spread is labeled Brownwood Farms, that’s a name acquired by Milo’s in 2017. The fine print on the back of the label will take you to Milo’s and its Athens origin. You don’t have to go to Athens, though, to score a jar of Maple Bacon Onion Spread. Milo’s Whole World Gourmet products can be found across Columbus at specialty and big box grocers.
For more information, visit miloswholeworld.com.