Since the fall season began several weeks ago, people across the country started getting pumpkin crazy. Not just in the normal pies and other baked goods, but in coffees, milkshakes, beers, ice cream, etc. I immensely enjoy the pumpkin coffee from Dunkin' Donuts, so put me down as an overall fan of the pumpkin craze. BUT, where I draw the line is people calling pumpkin the new bacon (as evidenced here, here, here and here).
Let me be clear: pumpkin is not, and never will be, on the same playing field as bacon.
REASON #1: Pumpkin is seasonal, bacon is forever (hopefully)
From September through the months of autumn, pumpkin is seen everywhere. But in the winter, spring, and summer, pumpkin goes into hibernation. Bacon is something that you can enjoy from the day you start consuming solid foods, until the day you die. The only issue is the looming shortage of bacon in the coming years, a.k.a. the porkpocalypse.
REASON #2: Pumpkin needs assistance to be good—bacon can stand alone
Pumpkin pie, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin ice cream. All delicious. All featuring other ingredients that help them taste better. Bacon just needs bacon to be good. Would you ever just eat a big spoonful of pumpkin? Obviously not.
REASON #3: Pumpkin is a fruit; therefore by rule, it can't be better than bacon
Before you question it, yes, pumpkin is technically a fruit. I looked it up.
That being said, no fruit or vegetable can be considered on par with bacon. FACT: foods that are unhealthy taste better than things that are healthy for you. Why do you think people add all that sugar, butter or cream to pumpkin products? It makes them taste better!
CLOSING ARGUMENT: Bacon makes pumpkin better; Pumpkin does NOT make bacon better
When looking at pumpkin vs. bacon, there is only one argument you truly need: which would enhance the flavor of the other? And the answer is obvious. Bacon can make pumpkin better, but pumpkin would not do the same for bacon. Take pumpkin pie for example. It tastes great, but crumble some bacon on top and its phenomenal. There is no bacon product improved by pumpkin. None. Case closed.
So, in conclusion, no matter how popular pumpkin may become, bacon will always be there to show everyone who is boss.