A few weeks ago, as she was showing off her newly crocheted piece of bacon, my cousin proclaimed:'Bacon: It's the New Cupcake.' As you may have noticed, cupcakes have been a huge trend in recent years. But my cousin was right. Lately, those adorable morsels (whose popularity is most commonly credited by Magnolia Bakery's appearance on Sex and the City) seem to be garnering some competition in our quest for quirky culinary obsessions.

It started innocently enough. My first introduction to out-of-the-box bacon was Vosge's Mo's Bacon Bar , and most connoisseurs of the trend agree that this subtly infused chocolate bar was the gateway drug to the bacon craze. After that, I began to notice that bacon was having a much greater presence in the foodie sphere. But it didn't seem that strange because it was bacon as bacon should be. You know, like on burgers, breakfasts and BLTs. There were informative discussions on how to best cook bacon or even clubs where bacon lovers could unite (yes,there is more than one ) that are, while a bit eccentric, perfectly fine, right?

(more bacon after the jump!)
But then the trend started to mutate. Clearly inspired by the beloved combo of sweet-and-salty (by way of chocolate with nuts and salted caramels), baconiers dared to reverse it and thus the strain of salty-and-sweet was born. Recipes for things like bacon with a citrus glaze, candied salted bacon, bacon peanut brittle and chocolate covered bacon started infiltrating my food blogs. Even celebrities were speaking for the cause, like Christina Hendricks in her interview with Esquire.

I thought it would end there, but no! Bacon novelties were popping up everywhere from the crafting community to the gag market and yes, even to the fashion world . And don't even get me started on the existence of this :

But, while I could stand strong in the face of all these shenanigans, for some reason it was this article devoted entirely to a man who borrowed a book from the library that had a piece of bacon in it being used as a bookmark that finally pushed me over the edge. I finally had to come to terms with this fad and question why bacon, goddamnit?

I've come up with the following reasons:

• It's only natural to crave something salty after you eat something sweet. (I can't be the only one who grabs a bag of chips along with the candy bar she's buying to fulfill her sugar craving.) Cupcakes have been all the rage for so long now that our teeth are tingling and we want a craze to counteract all that sugar. So, what's something salty and crispy that has potential that everyone loves? Why, bacon of course.

• Somewhere some guy got sick of all this frilly cupcake crap. Let's face it, cupcakes are extremely girly. They're teeny and cute and colorful and sugary and ohmygod ohmygod ohmygod. All of these cupcake bakeries are decorated to make you feel like you stepped into a dollhouse and have signs written in calligraphy and package their goods in these darling little boxes. It would make sense that some chef jacked up on testosterone decided to fight back one day. So, what's something manly and hearty and oh-so-Amurrican? Why, bacon of course.

• As with every trend piece, it traces back to The Economy. Dessert, in general, is an indulgence and, especially with the craze bumping their prices up to $4 a pop, cupcakes are a luxury. We're seeing a resistance to decadence in all facets of life, either out of necessity or trendiness. And, while it's ironic that a high-end culture like the foodie community would attempt to be "of the people," they're attempting to tap into what us regular folk want and that's all this 'frugalista' crap. (Although, of course, by making it a trend they're consequentially altering it's plebian standing.) So, what's something cheap, rustic and comforting in its commonality? Why, bacon of course.

And there you have it. Now, while I won't be embracing the bacon trend anytime soon, and am anxiously anticipating a new buzzfood (carob, anyone?), I do take some comfort in at least coming to terms with the logistics behind bacon taking over my life. In the meantime I think I'll just hang out to the tail ends of the cupcake craze. -Celeste

Photo courtesy of Serious Eats

Comments (22)

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written by Jennifer, September 30, 2009

as a kid i used to put a peice of bacon on the side of my mouth, like a wad of tobacco, and suck out all the flavor. very yum.

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written by pepilefleur, September 30, 2009

Bacon chocolate bar is my favorite..I think that Vosges makes them.

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written by Donna, September 30, 2009

Oh Yuck!!! Could it be that men want a piece of meat on their "piece of meat" ? Carol Adams (The Sexual Politics of Meat) would have a field day with this. Let's stick with the cupcakes (vegan of course).

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written by Jasmine, September 30, 2009

Oh poo, another trend I can't embrace. Damn you vegetarianism!!

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written by debbies, September 30, 2009

as someone who was raised kosher and having sworn off eating any animal I'd like to hug (which includes all quadripeds) since adulthood, i can tell you that I've never eaten bacon, not even once. and i survive!

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written by emilioux, October 01, 2009

you mean can i have a bra to go with my shoes?!??!

http://www.trendhunter.com/images/phpthumbnails/44028_1_230c.jpeg

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written by Patti O'Malley, October 01, 2009

hmmm... very Hannibal Lecteresque....

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written by sxs, October 01, 2009

You're a little late to the trend - It's already been declared dead: http://www.thestranger.com/sea...id=1509727 - and in any case, it has certainly been trendy for several years now, long before the economy tanked.

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written by Anne Douglas, October 01, 2009

You need to hear (because I think the read location has since gone) Author and Podcaster Helen Madden's Top in Show for the cunning use of a bacon bra

http://www.heatflash.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=498510

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written by jaw, October 01, 2009

Agree with sxs. The bacon meme has was drawing to a close almost a year ago. It's over folks. And sure I love bacon but I love a slow-roasted pork loin too. Doesn't mean I want pork roast flavored vodka or pork roast on my honey's titties.

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written by Elizabeth Bighorse, October 01, 2009

I understand that as a trend-fad item the concept is over...however everyday people stil buy tons of our bacon items. From bandages, to mints, dental floss, soap, wallets and more...http://www.moodswingsonthenet.com/search.aspx?SearchTerm=bacon
Some of our customer comments have been about buying them for the older generation that love bacon but aren't suppose to eat it anymore, the office vegan joke, etc...

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written by yberry, October 01, 2009

My response to jaw:

Whoops. I actually infused vodka with bacon at home. It was pretty damn good too. I used it to mix myself a piggeh colada cocktail.

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written by Stacie, October 01, 2009

umm. i'm guilty. i came up with this recipe for an apple and candied bacon upside down cake. and it was good. and not a trend. just something i'll make again and again. because bacon with maple syrup, apples and cake is just plain good.

http://www.chowmama.com/2009/09/28/dessert-week-apple-candied-bacon-upside-down-cake/

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written by Hunnydu, October 01, 2009

Im currently involved in a mini-cupcake cooking contest, my entry? A bacon Maple pecan cupcake.

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written by Lauren Parker, October 01, 2009

My shop/boutique Mew Gallery (mewgallery.org) is having a bacon exhibit in November! It's being curated by Mike Geno (www.mikegeno.com) a.k.a meatmanmike. mmmmm.... bacon.

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written by Laura, October 01, 2009

Oh the irony...
http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/chockylit/3920055741/

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written by Celia, October 02, 2009

While at burning man this past September I went to a camp called bacon without borders. They had many a meat infused alchohalic beverage, not to mention pumping out massive amounts of bacon. Anywhooo, at one point I witnessed a man crush up a piece of bacon and snort it with a $20. Seriously that took bacon love to another level. Insane!

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written by Tricia, October 02, 2009

I recall a Simsons episode with Homer loving Bacon.

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written by Tricia, October 02, 2009

whoops..Simpsons

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written by Irina, October 03, 2009

This picture to me seems visually and conceptually gross and inconsiderate. Consider the animals from which this meat originates, who more often than not suffer awful lives in factory farms. That is the real energy of these decorative bacon pieces, it just does not seem cute to me. Oy.

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written by j kirk, October 05, 2009

And if you get her hot enough by putting in some quality time er, down below, would the bacon start to sizzle? Inquiring minds want to know!

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written by cr, October 09, 2009

Another message with no meaning (just like cupcakes with faces). Do y'all know anything about the environmental impact of pig farming? The fact that bacon is a trend is very disturbing - ugly Americanism in a hipster guise.

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