A magical ingredient from my favorite childhood hamburger. If you grew up in the Southeast during the 60's, 70's and early 80's you most likely had a Kenney burger. Soaked, slathered and marinated. The sauce is somewhere between ketchup and a tangy barbecue and you either really loved it or you didn't. No lettuce. No tomato. Bun, Meat....and Sauce. The crowning touch to a Kenney's visit was the fried biscuits. Lightly rolled in sugar and served with a couple packets of honey.

When given a choice as a child of Kenney's, Ray's or McDonald's...

Richard Petty and the guy with the big red shoes got punked...every time.

I was in the military when Kenney's closed ('83 I think), and must confess I dont remember the very last one I ever ate. I was having fun back then, so that detail is one of many that perished in the wake of a young globe-trotting lifestyle.

I had written that flavor off as gone, until my wife came home one day...with a bottle of Kenney Sauce. Autographed no less, by Bill Kenney himself. I spun it around, shook it well and then cautiously twisted off the cap. I waited for the bouquet instead of just jamming my nose into the bottle. It was correct. Using my index finger (north of the Mason-Dixon I believe you would use your pinky, or a spoon if your not the finger in the bottle type) to lightly graze the inner neck of the bottle, I bring just the essence to my lips.

It. Was. Correct.

I have drowned many a burger since re-discovering "The Sauce" , and reworked my meatloaf recipe...adding it between the Vidalia onion, Mozzarella and fresh shredded Parmesan. I actually look forward to meatloaf again.

It turns out that Bill Kenney decided to sell the sauce and donate profits to Habitat for Humanity. He even takes that a step further and profits from sales in a particular locality, stay in that locality. What sells in Cville, stays in Cville....or Lexington, Roanoke, Richmond, etc...

You can pick it up at Kroger (Rio and Hydraulic I know for sure) and the occasional specialty shops.

So, stop in Kroger and snag a couple bottles. Tell a friend. Lets build a house....

Copyright © May 18, 2006
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