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Many of us don't know the history of pretzel sauce. It was first concocted in Idaho by Ezra Bovine in 1899. Ezra, an alcoholic irrigator for hire, first served pretzel sauce at the grand opening of the Twin Falls Bar and Grill. (TFBG). My mother's mother was there, and recorded the event in her diary:

June 3rd:

"That drunk brother of mine showed up at the gala grand opening of the TFBG with a large bowl of red mush. He called it "pretzel sauce." Of course, everyone there knew he just minced some onions, garlic, chives, and tossed in tomatoes he stole from his neighbor's garden after he diced them and brang it so's he could take advantage of the free beer pot-luck. It wasn't bad, but could have used a sprig of parsley. Windy morning. Rain in the afternoon."

Ezra Bovine's daughter was twenty-one years-old at the time, and made reference to his creation in a letter to the editor of the Twin Falls Gazette several years later:

"As unpopular as my stance may be at this time, I cannot vote for the current Republican candidate for mayor of this fine city with a clear conscience. He reminds me of my father's pretzel sauce which was served at the gala grand opening of the Twin Falls Bar and Grill back in '99. The candidate is soft, mixed-up, and smells of pilfered tomatoes and onions.  Seeing pretzel sauce on his tie as he staggered out of a Kimberly flophouse last Saturday just before dawn leads me to believe he has little knowledge of condiments, finger fare, or how to steal away in the night, which in my opinion disqualifies him from aquiring my vote, and I sincerely believe my fellow citizens, all upstanding christian spud farmers, (but for the one Jew, Mr. Lettuce Iceberg), will be of the same mind."

Yours, respectfully,
Ima Bovine
Twin Falls