D.C. is obsessed with Duke's mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is a controversial condiment — but you wouldn't know it looking around D.C.

Why it matters: Sandwich shops are going mayo mad.

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Zoom in: Move over, Hellmann's perfume . Virginia-based Duke's "is the one true mayo," according to Your Only Friend co-owner Paul Taylor.

• It's not just the twang . "They're positive and align with our values."

Customers can worship the creamy condiment beneath a Cathedral-like stained glass window at the Shaw shop. Or in the bathrooms, where tomato-and-mayo-themed wallpaper channels peak summer.

• Come back in winter for "Mayo Merry Christmas" festivities.

The stained glass Duke's window (left) and a mayo bathroom party. Photo courtesy of Vina Sananikone

Flashback: Back in the condiment dark ages of 2011, mayonnaise was briefly banned from a certain uber-popular sandwich chain.

The intrigue: The Duke's deluge isn't random. It's local, yes, but they're also savvy marketers (see: the Duke's Mayo Football Bowl ).

• Compliments Only co-owner Pete Sitcov goes through about 60 gallons of Duke's a month. The company is known to send sandwich shops mayo merch. When Duke's began offering free tattoos for chefs, Sitcov jumped.

Sandwich tats! Photo: courtesy of Pete Sitcov

As for the ham tat that came next: "It's my ode to cold cuts."