Bacon is a mysterious thing.
Is it silly? Is it sophisticated? Should it be served strictly at breakfast or at all hours of the day?
Everyone knows bacon is delicious, but what is the explanation for how popular and trendy it is in America? After all, many would argue that it’s as American as apple pie, Garth Brooks and the Dallas Cowboys combined.
But, many foods are delicious, so there has to be something more than that.
The short and simple answer is that nobody really knows why bacon is so trendy, but perhaps lies in its secrecy.
Because no one knows precisely why bacon is so popular, its trendiness and acceptance is escalated and universal. 
There is bacon toothpaste, clothing, cocktails and even desserts.
For example, two bacon inspired desserts in Baton Rouge include a maple bacon éclair from local donut shop Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts and a chocolate chip bacon cookie from City Pork Deli & Charcuterie.
The éclair, filled with Bavarian cream and coated with a maple bacon icing, is sprinkled with fresh bacon bits  There is a certain amount of hesitance in taking the first bite, seeing the reddish-brown meat covering the donut, though the combination of the bacon and maple-coated donut was an exhilarating combination of savory and sweet.
Neither of the two flavors were overpowering, and for a minute, it seemed perfectly natural to be eating a bacon donut, as if it was a timeless American classic. Once again, bacon snuck its way into the culinary world.
 The chocolate chip bacon cookie from City Pork was, as expected, a similar experience. The first bite is disguised as a typical cookie-eating experience, but after a few seconds, the depth of the chocolatey bacon flavor is revealed. At this point, the cookie transforms into a distinctive event for the tastebuds, unparalleled to any other flavor. 
These desserts exemplify the ease in which bacon is incorporated into two classic American items.
Jade Galliano, co-owner of Mr. Ronnie’s, said bacon-infused items carry a certain sense of adventure in the unknown. Though almost everybody loves bacon, some are hesitant in trying new things, but more often than not, curiosity takes over, he said. 
“If you put bacon on anything nowadays, people will try it,” Galliano said. 
While “bacon mania” is a growing mystery in pop culture, there is some evidence regarding the beginning of the bacon bonanza. 
Most argue the spark of the bacon trend came with the publishing of “Everything Tastes Better With Bacon,” a cookbook by Sara Perry containing 70 recipes revolved around cooking and using bacon in everyday meals. 
However, many bacon experts agree that bacon is so popular because it represents the antagonist of the healthy or dieting world. 
Jason Mosely, author of the blog “MrBaconpants.com,” said in one of his posts that bacon is the “symbol of anti-health
culture” in the United States, and even people who do not eat bacon are still obsessed with idea of the crispy, delicious
phenomenon. 
Though some may see the bacon craze as something silly and insignificant, food journalist David Sax said in an article published in Bloomberg Businessweek that “In the past decade, bacon has grown into an industry generating more than $4 billion in annual
sales.”
Basically, bacon is more than just a delicious treat. 
It’s a major flavor aspect in the culinary world as well as the realm of
pop culture.
Michael Tarver is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Houma, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter
@michael_T16.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Emily Brauner

City Pork Deli & Charcuterie, located at 2363 Hollydale Ave., offers chocolate chip bacon cookies.