National Mustard Museum, Parmenter Street, Middleton Wisconsin 53562

The  National Mustard Museum, Parmenter Street, MiddletonWisconsin 53562.

One of the newest attractions  on Parmenter Street  in the the Good Neighbor City is the  National Mustard Museum and store.

Both of these two images were taken  while I stood outside the front door of the Stark Company office.  My Broker/Manager,  Jennifer Utter, was pleased that her son, Ryan and girlfriend, Adrienna were visiting from Colorado.

They wanted to take it all in and I followed them with my camera. Arianna's favorite flavor was the whole grain mustard with Guinness Stout.

They carry 5,000 varieties of mustards, the larget collection of mustards on the planet, as they are proud to point out. So, how to choose? The number of samples given out at the front counter is rather amazing, I must have seen 15 people in 5 minute sampling various flavors from a young man working there. His hands were so fast, he could have been a dealer at a gambling casino.  The only admonishment is no double dipping with your pretzel stick.

There is more than a little craziness going on at the store and museum.  T-shirts , pennants and memorabilia from Poupon U, America's mustard college for one.  Hmmm, I wonder if Poupon U has a football team?  I have not noticed them on the UW Badger's schedule. . .

This sign gives you an idea of the sense of humor that got this institution started, by curator Barry Levenson.  National Mustard Day, held right here in the streets of downtown Middleton, on August 7, banned ketchup as they gave out dozens upon dozens of Oscar Mayer Weiner's. Musical offerings by the  Poupon U Accordian Band and The Red Hot Horn Dawgs accompanied the festiviites. 

The history of this unique institution has something to do with a Red Sox World series loss, after which, in distress, Barry Levenson went to the closest supermarket looking for a new hobby and found mustard. He quotes:  "Collect us and they will come". Also from his website: "The hobby first became an addition to his house. Then in 1991 the collection was opened to the public, and in 1992, the store. Poupon U and other worldwide attractions followed. Our curator can fill you in on the glorious history of mustard! You can learn even more through our newsletter, worldwide mustard competition and writing contests."

In 2002, the museum was showcased on the Food Network television series, Unwrapped. The museum and its curator have also been featured on National Public Radio's Morning Edition broadcast of July 29, 2010, a week before National Mustard Day rolled out in Middleton.  You can listen to the very entertaining broadcast on NPR.Org for that date.