Chris Martin of Coldplay sang “It was all yellow” at Camp Randall earlier this month. But he had no idea how yellow Madison was about to get.
This week is all about mustard in the Madison area, as Middleton’s National Mustard Museum celebrates National Mustard Day on Aug. 2. The museum is regularly featured in the national media (including most recently on “CBS This Morning”), and thousands are expected to flock to Middleton this weekend to celebrate this uncommon condiment.
How did the Mustard Museum come to be, and how are mustard lovers celebrating this week? Hopefully this explainer will cut the...well, you know.
Red Sox, Yellow Obsession
Mustard Museum Founder & CEO Barry Levenson says his lifelong obsession with mustard began at one of the lowest points of his life, when his beloved Boston Red Sox lost the 1986 World Series to the New York Mets. While wandering the aisles of his local grocery store, he bought a dozen jars of mustard as solace.
He continued collecting mustards while working as an assistant attorney general for the state of Wisconsin, eventually leaving the law in 1991 to devote himself full-time to his beloved condiment.
If You Build It, They Will Squirt
Levenson opened the first National Mustard Museum in Mount Horeb in 1992, then moved it across the street to a bigger space in 2000, and then to its current home in downtown Middleton in 2009.
The museum now boasts over 7,000 varieties of mustard from 70 different countries, as well as vintage ads, antique mustard pots, and exhibits that showcase the history of mustard and its nutritional benefits. Each year, the museum also hosts the World-Wide Mustard Competition, where competitors from around the world hope that their yellow brings home the gold.
Do they have enough mustard at National Mustard Day? Just barely. (National Mustard Museum / Flickr)
Having a Real Brat Summer
Held on the first Saturday in August since 1992, National Mustard Day has become a big festival in Middleton, shutting down streets downtown for folks to celebrate. There’s live music, kids’ entertainment, mustard-themed games and prizes and, of course, lots of hot dogs and brats to serve as MDD (mustard delivery devices).
Spread Out!
The popularity of mustard and National Mustard Day only seems to keep growing, and local restaurants are getting into the act with special mustard-themed menu items this week.
Belly up to the bar at Leopold’s Books Bar Caffe for a Mustard Royale cocktail, featuring a mustard dill-infused vodka, or at State Line Distillery for their Briney the Elder cocktail, featuring State Line American Gin and pickled mustard seed brine.
Think mustard is just for hot dogs? The Nitty Gritty challenges that notion with the limited-time-only pear and Dijon turkey burger. And finish it off with a specialty “Mustard? Seriously??” sundae at Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, featuring This S*** Just Got Serious ice cream topped with raspberry honey mustard.
