Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Lovely Spam, Wonderful Spam!

I really like Spam. Growing up, I ate Spam and rice, Spam and eggs and Spam sandwiches. I like it cooked (fried) or plain right out of the can. I'm a Spam lover from the old school - I remember when the tin came with a key that you used to open the can with.

While this meat product is often ridiculed, Spam is very popular in Hawaii. Hawaiians consume nearly 6 million cans a year, or almost six cans per person. Spam became popular in Hawaii during World War II. Fresh meat was scarce at the time, so civilians loaded up on the brand-name C ration well known to the armed forces. Needing no refrigeration, this very distant relative to pork soon became one of the items islanders stocked up on during threats of hurricanes. It truly is Hawaiian soul food. McDonald's is well known for adopting cultural influences in their menus, serving wine in France and beer in Germany - Hawaiian McDonald's restaurants offer as a breakfast meal Spam, rice and eggs (which I have had). In Hawaii you can also find Spam sushi (I haven't tried this...yet). This must be where my love of Spam was born, as my family and I lived in Honolulu when I was in grade school.






On the last day of my visit I went to the Wailana Coffee House, right across from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, for breakfast - the top picture is what I ordered - eggs, hash browns and, of course, Spam. Lovely!

16 comments:

cpa3485 said...

I always suspected there was something wrong about you. Now I know what it is.
I remember the little key on the van also, but honestly I never developed a real appreciation for the stuff.
Very clever post!

Lance said...

Thanks Jim - your suspicions are well-founded! Maybe you could try it sometime on your BBQ!

cpa3485 said...

Hmmmm, If I tell the family that I am barbecuing spam for Sunday lunch, do you think they will all show up?
NOT!

Danny said...

I never cared for it. My dad did though. He would fry up a whole can and make sandwiches.

Baron's Life said...

I am like you Lance, always loved the stuff and still do, my wife and kids think I'm weird...but I grew up on the stuff so it is part of me...lock, stock and barrel

Dave said...

Hi Lance,

what a trip down memory lane, love the stuff, fried of course.

25 years ago in UK, before all the leaf eating health and safty Nazis ruled the World, you could find a greasey spoon transport cafe on every road serving mountains of fried goodies washed down with huge mugs of tea

Spam, bangers, bubble and sqeek, chips and beans....Huh, and people think the French know how to cook lol..


Cheers,

Dave..

Canajun said...

Spam - ah, yes. I too remember the key. Here's Monty Pyhton's take: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

Lance said...

Danny - it was a favorite of my Dad's too.

Baron - my wife and daughter think it's bad, while my son takes after his old Dad on Spam.

Dave - you're taking me back just a couple of weeks ago when I was in London - each morning I would have 2 fried eggs, bacon (which was more like a strip of ham), sausage, mushroom, tomato and toast - excellent way to start the day!

Lance said...

Canajun - thanks, one of my favorite Python sketches!

montieandme said...

Canajun beat me to the python sketch lol..so heres your dream kitchen cupboard.
http://www.noeman.org/gsm/photos/47400-spam-funny-pic.html

spam for me each time :)

Unknown said...

Lance:

If you like spam, then go to Newfoundland. We went there a few years ago to experience Newfie food. they have Newfie steak for breakfast which is sort of like a 1" thick piece of "spam-like" meat, with eggs etc. or course, it could have been PREM

When I first saw your title, I was thinking that you got one of those lottery letters and you had become very rich overnight

bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin

Joe said...

Spam! I remember that key to open the can too! My mom was a regular Spam gourmet cook. Her best - breaded Spam for dinner.

Lance said...

Linda, thanks for the link - I didn't realize there were so many different varieties. I am on a seatch for the hot 'n spicy Spam!

Bobskoot - thanks for the tip - on my way to Newfoundland!

Joe, thanks for the recipe - breaded Spam sounds like heaven!

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