2009 nagmarka ang 100th birthday of Heinz ketsap sa Canada. Let’s celebrate by baking the Mahusay Canadian ng Heinz katsap keyk, shall we?

Kapag ako unang dumating sa kabuuan na ito recipe ng keyk ng ketsap, na nakabukas sa newspapers across Canada sa linggong ito, I was afraid it was some weird Canadian food obsession, katulad alak gilagid o seal flipper pie.

Subalit hindi, Great Canadian ketsap cake mukhang naging dreamed up by Heinz’ PR people, who claim that this carrot cake-like confection is “unexpectedly red, perfectly spiced, and totally delicious.” Unexpectedly red — oo, that should move a lot more ketchup.

Not that Heinz necessarily needs to sell more ketchup in Canada. The company reports that Canada is the world’s second largest per-capita consumer of ketchup, pagkatapos (at least according to Heinz) Pinlandiya!

Although Heinz first began producing ketchup in the U.S. pabalik sa 1876, its first plant in Canada didn’t open until 1909 in the southwestern Ontario town of Leamington, na ngayon bill ang sarili nito bilang Canada’s Tomato Capital.

If you happen to be in Leamington in August, maaari mong check out the town’s claim to tomato supremacy sa Leamington Tomato Festival. This year’s event, which includes the ever-popular Tomato Stomp, runs from August 12-16, 2009.

Photo courtesy of Heinz Canada.