In a recent entry, I poked fun at a 1958 “Chinese” recipe printed by Good Housekeeping whose main ingredient was “luncheon meat.” Sounds sketchy, right? How many Chinese restaurants have you known that featured fresh deli products straight from the wok?
Then a long-time floss reader, Brian, wrote in from Barcelona. “Luncheon ham (also known as Spam) is actually wildly popular with Asian people,” he testified. “My Japanese grandmothers would go crazy for that…so Good Housekeeping may have been more authentic than they knew.”
We quickly stuck up a trans-Atlantic correspondence about our shared love of Spam (and all the generic copycats it inspired)—and this story was born.
• The epicenter of the Spam universe is Austin, Minnesota, home of a spam factory and a remarkable museum dedicated to the town’s most famous product. Spam has such a worldwide following that Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia—to whom Rastafarians would dedicate many a song—once toured the plant.
• Hormel invented Spam in 1937 and still makes it today. At first, the product had a less-than-charismatic name: “Hormel Spiced Ham.”
• If you think there’s just one flavor of Spam, you’re missing out on a world of flavor. There is also hickory-smoked Spam, hot and spicy Spam, garlic Spam, and—for the dieting Spam-lovers among us —“light” Spam. There’s even a collector’s edition Spam Golden Honey Grail.
• Hormel sponsors an annual recipe contest called the “Great American Spam Championship,” with cooks developing new recipes for this product. Some of the 2006 winners state by state: philly cheesesteak spamwich with garlic mayo (California), a-spam-agus risotto (Alabama), and a “romantic country salad for two” with pecan-crusted spam and sweet-and-sour dressing (Tennessee). Extra points, it seems, are given for creative puns.
• Speaking of puns, author Tamar Myers has developed a series of punny murder-mysteries that feature recipes (The Crepes of Wrath, Between a Wok and a Hard Place, The Hand that Rocks the Ladle). The 2005 installment in her series: Play It Again, Spam.
• In South Korea, Spam is considered an appropriate gift for a guest to give a host or vice versa—which beats the hell out of trying to choose a bottle of wine, doesn’t it? In fact, Costco carries a Spam gift pack that will make a perfect holiday gift.
• Hawaii consumes about 7 million cans of Spam per year, which comes out to 5 or 6 cans for every man, woman and child. That’s a lot of sodium and gelatinous fat, which in turn is thought to contribute to Hawaii’s obesity problem. One very popular snack item is the Spam musubi, as shown on the front of this collector’s Spam can…
…[photo courtesy of pomai_05]. It’s a traditional Japanese rice ball with a slice of Spam on top, wrapped in a belt of seaweed to keep that sodium-laden delicacy safely attached – a SEAtbelt, if you will.
• Since 1997, Hormel has sponsored the Waikiki Spam Jam, where it crowns a Mr. or Miss Spam! The 2006 Mr. Spam, a Mr. Wade Balidoy, won a PlayStation and a year’s supply of a certain canned meat product.
• Spam is so popular in some communities that it’s infiltrated big chain restaurants. The McDonald’s breakfast platter in Hawaii includes Spam. In San Francisco’s Japan Town, Denny’s serves a breakfast combo with Spam, two eggs, steamed rice, and kimchee. You can also substitute Vienna sausages for the Spam – or probably negotiate with the waitress to have both.
Comments (82)
Comment
- subscribe /
- give a gift /
- terms of service /
- about /
- contact us /
- write for us /
- ad info /
- subscriber services /
- press /
- privacy policy /
- rss /
© 2012 Mental Floss Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mental Floss is a registered trademark owned by Felix Dennis. mentalfloss.com is a trademark owned by Felix Dennis.
Disclaimer: All submissions made to mental_floss become the property of Mental Floss Inc and may be used without further permission by the submitter and without compensation to the submitter. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not submit anything to mental_floss.
I’m sorry, but I think Spam is gross.
Good post though, it’s interesting to see what can be made with the stuff.
posted by Melodye on 2-7-2008 at 4:08 pm
I remember in college daring a guy to eat a can of generic Spam. I think it was called YUM!
I guess we were pretty tame for college students.
posted by Witty Nickname on 2-7-2008 at 4:10 pm
Spam always reminds me of that Monty Python skit. Spam spam spam spam….wonderful spam.
posted by Kevin on 2-7-2008 at 4:15 pm
Every year in Austin, Tx we have Spamarama in Waterloo Park. It’s a lot of retarded and cheap fun. Just another one of our weird traditions!
posted by Nikki on 2-7-2008 at 4:25 pm
One of my best friends in high school used to make jokes about the fact that there was Spam in my parents’ fridge. Then one night, we were at her house and I opened up HER fridge and there it was in all its almost-Spam glory: TREET.
Heh. I won that round.
posted by Rachel on 2-7-2008 at 4:29 pm
On a recent trip to Okinawa, I was surprised that the famous Okinawan stir-fry dish “champloo,” more often than not, featured SPAM! (This on a chain of islands where fresh pork is a point of pride.)
The reason comes from the American occupation which lasted from the end of WWII until 1971. Food was scarce when our boys dominated the islands. The soldiers brought a few American cuisine flavors to Okinawa, but the tinned meat especially was adopted with abandon.
Nowadays however the tinned meat of choice is Tulip, not SPAM. Okinawans favor the Denmark-produced variety, so much so that Okinawa became the #1 importer of Tulip’s products.
posted by Andrej on 2-7-2008 at 4:40 pm
I lived on the Pacific island of Saipan, where Spam and Bud Light take up more grocery store space than anything else. There you will also find McDonald’s and other restaurants featuring Spam on their menus. The Americans introduced it to the island during WWII.
posted by Joanna on 2-7-2008 at 4:43 pm
I love SPAM, I think it’s delicious. But I try not to make a habit of eating it… it’s really not very good for you. In fact, I don’t I’ve had any in the past maybe ten years or so!
posted by CK on 2-7-2008 at 4:56 pm
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the famous Fat Tuesday Spam Carving contest in Seattle.
Unfortunately the inspired gift shop owner (Ruby Montana) who started and sponsored the contest for at least ten years moved away and the contest stopped, but it was fun to watch and enter (and hilarious–if you like atrocious puns).
posted by Sheri on 2-7-2008 at 5:11 pm
As a child Spam was a great treat. I remember eating cold Spam sandwiches while fishing with my dad (open tin, slice Spam, slap it between 2 slices of white bread… yum).
I tried it again after a 20 year hiatus and was appalled at the foulness encased in the tin. The stuff I feed my cat smells (and likely tastes) better than that. Fooey!
posted by PJ in SF on 2-7-2008 at 5:13 pm
I second the Austin Texas spam festival. It’s actually really fun. I guess as sister city to Austin, MN we have to make sure Spam is represented. Check spamarama.com
posted by Jason on 2-7-2008 at 5:29 pm
Ah SPAM….Guam loves Spam…I went to the “World’s Largest K-Mart” there (yes it even has parking on the roof) and I was amazed at the Spam display…it was like a whole “Wall of Spam”…Spam is a diet staple there and lots of restaurants use it in their dishes…apparently it’s a versatile product but i still have never tried it…I do still have a can of the Hot N Spicy Spam my mom sent me from there…i’ve had that for close to ten years now and i wonder if it’s still any good…well, we’ll NEVER find that out!
Tano Y Chamorro!
posted by stef on 2-7-2008 at 5:32 pm
I almost claim Austin, MN as my hometown–only 8 miles away. Drove past the Hormel plant a few times every day during high school. Really liked walking around the little Spam Museum, haven’t been to the newer, bigger one, though I contemplated working there. I can say that I absolutely hate Spam, and so does almost everyone I know. The only time I eat it is in macaroni noodle salad at church dinners. Otherwise it’s just plain gross. And yet we’re oddly defensive about it.
This is the second time I’ve run across Austin and its meat-producing fame, there was also a NY Times story published this week about workers at a nearby, practically adjacent pork processing plant getting weirdly sick.
posted by spamarific on 2-7-2008 at 7:45 pm
Again on the Austin Spam-a-rama… one of the winners from a couple of years ago in the recipe contest was a ‘Spamalamadingdong’. If I recall correctly, it did involve chocolate and cool whip… I think it won from sheer audacity for someone to enter such a beast.
posted by Chris P. on 2-7-2008 at 9:12 pm
Once in a while I have a craving for Spam and so I head to the local grocery store to buy a can or two. The only problem is that I feel everyone’s eyes on me–the same feeling I suppose that I would get if I were to buy the large economy-sized box of condoms in a store full of old ladies. At least with Spam, I think it’s one of those self-inflicted class awareness things. I grew up in a modest income (OK poor) household (in fact, first part of it in Korea) and perhaps there is social pressure for me to feel disdain for Spam (and other similar foods like Vienna Sausages) and to live up to my current socioeconomic status. Too bad, all I want is to cut a block of Spam into thin slices, coat the slices in a wash of scrambled eggs and lightly fry them and maybe eat them with a bowl of steaming rice.
posted by Joe M on 2-7-2008 at 9:42 pm
I picked up many Asian cuisine favorites while living in Hawaii (yay for sushi!), but spam was one I could never handle–probably comes from being a partial vegetarian. I do remember there always being the spam musabi in the cafe at school. Ick!
posted by nutmeag on 2-8-2008 at 7:37 am
Simple recipe for spam: It wouldn’t convert anyone into spam lovers, but…
2 cans spam sliced to taste
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup vinegar
diced onion to taste
spam goes into a bread pan, everything else is mixed together and poured on top. cover with foil and pop into a 350 to 400 oven for 20-25 minutes.
My hubby and daughter love that one. I ate far to much of it growing up so I don’t make it anywhere near enough to suit them.
posted by Kathy on 2-8-2008 at 8:05 am
I probably haven’t had Spam for 30 years. But as a child, I remember it being a real treat. My mom would fry it in a skillet, and I’d eat it on white bread with Miracle Whip. (Fried bologna the same way.) I loved it then, but I honestly can’t imagine feeding my child anything with so little nutritional value and so much badness.
I don’t think I’ll ever try it again. I’m afraid to look in the can.
posted by bre on 2-8-2008 at 8:19 am
You didn’t mention the Spam-ku that have been written.
youtube link: youtube.com/watch?v=xUeTFnTxaWo
posted by Austin on 2-8-2008 at 8:58 am
I’ve never actually eaten Spam (it scares me) but once in high school my friends and I found a can of Spam in my parents pantry and we opened it up, stuffed some firecrackers in, lit it and chucked in the bitchy neighbor’s yard. That was a fun, smelly mess for her to wake up to.
Good times!
posted by Marta on 2-8-2008 at 9:01 am
Oooh… Spam vandalism. That would be a good post–episodes of vandalism with food. I’ll bet there are some good ones.
posted by kate on 2-8-2008 at 9:22 am
EVERYONE and I mean EVERYONE in Hawaii LOVES Spam. I used to live there for like 5 years and I remember my favorite break-from-surfing snack was Spam Musubi (sp?), which is white rice with a chunk of Spam in it wrapped in dried seaweed, YUMMY!!
posted by Celeste on 2-8-2008 at 10:36 am
Spam Story #1
When my husband and I were dating, I opened his fridge to see a plate of dry sliced Spam. “Um, you, know, they make this stuff, it’s called saran wrap… or this other stuff, it’s called Tupperware?”
His response? “I like it like that. It’s chewy. It’s Spam Jerky.” I married him anyway. Every year at Christmas my family gives him Spam in his stocking.
posted by Marion on 2-8-2008 at 11:25 am
Spam #2
I have made and served this at parties – despite everyone freaking out about Spam, there’s NEVER any left over!
Pig Newtons
Unroll one roll of crescent roll dough. Pat down the perforations.
Cut chilled block of Spam in half down length. Slice into 1/4 inch thick squares. Lay end to end down middle of dough. Cut dough between slices. Fold up sides. TahDah! Looks just like a Fig Newton, only pink. Pig Newton! Bake seam side down for whatever time it says on crescent roll package. Best warm, with a little bit of bold and Spicy mustard. Will result in some small bits of leftover “spushi” – raw Spam. Eat as the piggies bake.
posted by Marion on 2-8-2008 at 11:32 am
My family is from Hawaii and even to this day my dad LOVES Spam. He’ll usually fry it up and eat it sliced. The rest of my family on th other hand…
posted by heather on 2-8-2008 at 2:21 pm
I already mentioned this in the first SPAM post but I was born and raised in Hawaii and I love SPAM! Cut real thin and pan fried till it’s nice and crispy. Delish! I am also a huge fan of the SPAM musubi and I absolutely adore vienna sausage…either with rice or cut up in mac and cheese. Trust me, you’d like it too if you stopped thinking about all the gross ingredients. It’s like balogna or link sausages. Delicious but kind of sketchy.
posted by Leah Y. on 2-8-2008 at 4:02 pm
I love SPAM, my parents were born and raised in Hawaii and it was a treat to eat as a kid. Raised on the mainland, I’m married with kids. My wife won’t touch it, although my kids have developed a taste for Spam musubi. I’ve heard spam called “Hawaiian Steak” from time to time. One of my fav receipes:
1 can Spam diced
1 large tomato diced
1 large onion diced
1 large bell pepper diced
cook the onion in a pan until it reaches the texture you like (for me very soft). add the bell pepper,tomato, and spam and fry together. serve on top of steamed rice. Ono! :)
posted by Daryl H. on 2-8-2008 at 5:01 pm
I live in South Korea and see the spam gift sets everywhere. It’s not just given as a visitor gift. It’s THE GIFT to give to someone you esteem highly. The principal of our school was given at least one case a year before he moved back to the US.
posted by Joanna on 2-8-2008 at 9:45 pm
In a communications research class in college, my classmates and I opted to study people’s perceptions of SPAM – we had to pick one grocery store item and improve its marketing methods. Needless to say, SPAM can use an image makeover!
The interesting thing was that everyone (minus the token Hawaiian in the group) had negative perceptions of SPAM without ever eating it. Almost across the board, they liked it once they sampled it. If only everyone would give SPAM a shot!
posted by Christa on 2-13-2008 at 5:08 pm
A week without Spam fritters is something I could never contemplate.
posted by Alan (Nottingham, England) on 2-17-2008 at 9:43 am
I spent two years stationed with the Army in Korea, and every night as we walked home from the bar we passed the Spamburger stand which I just couldn’t resist. A burger patty, slice of fried spam, a fried egg, cheese, lettuce, tomato and any condiment you wished. Excellent, tasty, greasy burger to put in your stomach to sop up all the alcohol. We thought it was the best thing on earth. Until we tried one sober, and they never passed our lips again.
posted by Cindy Lee on 2-19-2008 at 12:03 pm
If you’re ever in the Austin, MN area, you have to go through the museum. It is free and they did a great job to show the history of Spam. We went there last summer while on our family voyage through Minnesota.
I personally cannot stand the taste of the stuff, but still found the Spam Museum interesting.
posted by sherry on 2-19-2008 at 2:54 pm
I’d love to get one of those collector edition “Spamalot” cans! I haven’t seen any in our our neck of the woods! Although we really like it we only eat it when we’re on camping trips — for the same reason it was a GI staple — protein which needs no refrigeration. After a long day hiking or canoeing it’s wonderful sliced and cooked over an open flame. Yummy!
posted by Cyndi on 2-20-2008 at 12:39 pm
I have never eaten real ham at my grandmother’s house. Just so you know spam also comes in large weird oval shaped tins (i guess they are supposed to be in the shape of a real ham). I guess it is their family style version. She serves it at Easter trussed up like a real ham. So gross!
posted by stephW on 2-21-2008 at 12:13 pm
It used to be a way of life,
at least here in the South.
Like collard greens, streak o lean
and “Lawdy shut my mouth.”
Somewhere it became a sin
“I swear it’s only ham!?”
I might die tomorrow
but I’m still eat’n spam.
Grandma used to serve it up
baked n fried n battered.
She’d let me heat the bacon grease
and shield me when it splattered.
I’m proud to stand right up and say,
“I have slurped the jam!”
Hate me if you want too
but I love eat’n spam.
Fancy folks with silver spoons
who keep their pinkies raised,
will never know how apropos
when charred and mayonnaised.
So slice up some tomatr’s
and fry it hard yes Ma’am.
Breakfast, lunch or dinner
I’ll have mine with spam.
posted by simplemindedhafwit on 2-22-2008 at 9:38 am
need i say more?
did i hear a yes from the back row?
K then
Gheese Grits and Spam (to the tune of Green eggs and ham)
I am spam.
Spam I am.
Would you eat me
fried real hard
in bacon grease
or gobs a’lard?
Would you, could you
slice me thick?
With toe-may-ters
I’m such a kick.
Some folks eat me
from the can
with pepper sauce
who needs a pan!?
But if ya’ll wanna
please yer mouth
do me like they do
down South….
sliced thick and fried up hard with cheese grits on the side ooooh yea!
posted by simplemindedhafwit on 2-22-2008 at 9:49 am
You could say I have a fetish for Spam. My dad fed it to us as kids. Spam and eggs sandwiches on white bread(preferably Wonder) are a huge nostalgic comfort food. I also love chipped beef on bread. Those in the know recall a different name for that tasty dish. Spam has high quality products for sale at the Spam museum, check it out. Every year, a new Spam calendar! A friend of mine from Guam loves Spam also, again, indicative of the islanders love for the canned meat.
posted by lucky on 2-23-2008 at 7:32 pm
My roomate is Philippina and she loves SPAM. Last night when we went grocery shopping, she told me there are fast food restaurants in the Philippines that serve only SPAM… only different varieties and flavors. Who would have thought? I see her eating it almost everyday and I can’t even get close to it.
posted by Francesca on 2-27-2008 at 11:39 pm
I only use Spam in one dish, and I cannot make this dish to suit me unless it has Spam in it. It replaces ham, I guess, but my Grandma made it so I grew up eating it. Big pot of fresh cabbage (1 large head,cut up) with peeled chunked potatoes, pepper to taste, 1 tsp sugar, and one can of chopped up SPAM added, with some water at the bottom for steaming when lid is put on. Regular SPAM and not “Lite”! Somehow the SPAM blocks ( the size of dice) give off their fat and salt to flavor the dish, and they in turn taste much different (better in my opinion) than the canned SPAM. It’s a dish I rarely tell people about because most people say “SPAM in your cabbage? BARF!” But I grew up on it and one of my sons took to it also and we both will eat bowl after bowl.
posted by Cat on 2-29-2008 at 1:20 pm
I loved Spam when I was growing up (and its lesser-incarnation Treet). (Actually, treat had a better texture.)
Most people that I know who mock Spam have never actually eaten it.
posted by Amanda on 3-1-2008 at 12:44 pm
I remember scratching my head at the widespread popularity of Spam while living in Hawaii. I think it is disgusting, personally, and could not for the life of me figure out why you could actually get it for breakfast at McDonald’s. Then again, when I was living there, Coldstone Creamery had come out with a “wasabi ginger” flavor that apparently was pretty popular with a lot of folks there, and I thought that should’ve never been an ice cream flavor, myself. I guess it’s just a difference of culture. (I’m originally from Michigan, which I don’t think could be any more different than Hawaii.)
posted by Krie on 3-4-2008 at 8:43 am
I never go on a camping trip with the Boy Scouts without my can of Spam. Breakfast – lunch – dinner… just so versatile!
And in the evenings I fry up some “Spam-Fries” – slice the Spam up into little worm-like strings and fry ‘em until just about crispy, drain ‘em a bit on a paper towel and dish ‘em up. I dip these into fancy mustard for a special treat, or sometimes grate some cheese over ‘em. Makes a great movie-watching snack!
posted by Daibhre Mac on 3-7-2008 at 11:39 am
mmm, fried Spam and eggs. This was one of my Dad’s favorites, so we had it fairly frequently when I was growing up. I got my two college-age children hooked when they were little, and now it’s a love we share. I’ll fix it at least once when they’re both home on spring break. Much to my wife’s consternation.
posted by Bob on 3-7-2008 at 12:55 pm
yup, im chinese, and i love spam. we don’t have it as much anymore because its definitely not the healthiest. but if we go to hotpot, i always make sure to order spam. sometimes i crave it, its soo yummy. goes good with sandwiches, eggs, instant noodles, hotpot. mmmmm yummies.
posted by jennifer on 3-9-2008 at 3:26 am
I live in Okinawa and boy do Okinawans love them some pork so spam is right up their alley! I give it as gifts all the time and my Okinawan friends are constantly asking me to buy it on-base because it’s cheaper.
posted by mido on 3-10-2008 at 1:38 am
I am surprised nobody has posted the enduring SPAM urban legend:
The Pacific Islanders were often cannibals (just ask the remains ((leftovers?)) of Captain Cook). These dining habits were discouraged by missionaries — SPAM soon filled the void, as it reputedly has a taste closest to that of “long pig” : P
posted by Pajibill on 3-12-2008 at 12:50 pm
Spam is the best Camping protein pick-up .. sliced thin and fried over a camp fire… sticks to your hips. mmmm..
posted by Hannah on 3-26-2008 at 10:49 am
I used to eat Spam when I was younger, but only in Mac N’ Cheese. Hotdogs don’t do it quit right, not salty enough. Spam cubes are perfect though. Something about salty and cheesy that hits the spot. I might consider trying it again, but it would have to be a last resort type of meal.
posted by Henna on 4-27-2008 at 4:31 am
Andrew’s Dad’s Teriyaki Spam Kebabs
Ingr: 1 12 oz can of Spam
1 pineapple
2 bell peppers (preferably two different colors)
2 white onions / 1 big ol’ vidalia onion
teriyaki sauce or other sauce of your choice
Marinade spam in sauce for a few minutes. Throw spam on the grill. Brush sauce on spam.
Cut up pineapple, peppers, onions. Wait a minute. Throw those on the grill.
When everything is burnt, take it off and skewer it.
Serve over rice. Serves 3 or 4.
posted by Andrew on 5-27-2008 at 5:11 pm
Is it true that the ingredients in SPAM are:
Squirrel
Possum
And
Mice ?
posted by Carlarose on 6-5-2008 at 11:50 am
It’s true that Spam is huge in Korea. My husband is half-Korean and his mother uses Spam in several of her “traditional” recipes. Last fall, we visited many of my husband’s aunts and uncles in Korea and they were thrilled to receive the Spam we brought as gifts!
posted by CptGsGirl on 7-24-2008 at 9:24 am
We just went camping this summer with the “lite” version of spam in those convenient foil packages that weigh almost nothing. It was fine for the first few bites, then I became so overwhelmed with its grossness that I couldn’t eat another bite even though I was starving. Had to survive on the almonds and dried apples instead.
posted by Benita on 8-9-2008 at 8:26 pm
In Hong Kong people serve lunchmeat in breakfast, lunch and dinner. Spam with eggs, spam with eggs & ramen..
Why is it so strange?
posted by Chrystal on 9-3-2008 at 6:14 pm
Friends in Hawaii taught me how to make the Spam musubi-you need a Japanese musubi box to make it properly.
Years ago I had a Spam and pasta salad recipe that I loved. It was elbow mac, diced Spam, and I think Miracle Whip, plus just a few other things I have forgotten. It came in one of those recipe magazines that various magazine used to print. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
posted by Robin on 9-6-2008 at 9:22 pm
I wonder what they call Vieanna Sausages in Vienna? KFC in Kentucky? Just curious.
posted by Sara on 9-11-2008 at 1:53 pm
Spam w/Tortillas–Yummy!! and in CA there are Hawaiian restaurants that serve Spam too and it’s good!! I miss those restaurants–here in NM the food sucks most of the time!
posted by Iris on 9-12-2008 at 2:16 pm
In high school, my brother and some of his friends made a girl feel guilty about eating Spam. They told her it was an endangered species.
posted by Carol on 10-19-2008 at 10:52 pm
When I think of Spam, I think of having a hotplate grilled Velveeta & Spam on Wonder bread in college.
posted by FortuneCompass on 11-4-2008 at 4:21 pm
Several years ago, my church had a Spam-slinging contest. Take one gigantic rubber band, one open field, slingshot a chunk of spam, and give a prize to whoever catches it. Great, godly fun! :)
posted by Lindz on 11-17-2008 at 2:24 pm
How can anyone dis on Spam? I love it!! I grew up eating the stuff. I live in OK and never heard of anyone not likeing the stuff, my kids love it, my whole family loves it. I eat it cold but my son and husband want it fried on wonder with mustard. Stop dissing and just try it!!
posted by Melissa on 11-17-2008 at 3:21 pm
Spam is so disgusting!! I’ve only had it once but I will never eat it again! My husband’s Grandmother makes spam waffles.. She puts a slice of spam in the middle of the waffle and cooks it. I’m someone who will try new things and so I ate one but that was plenty. Not again. Yuck! Plus it’s bad for you!
posted by Leah on 11-17-2008 at 4:42 pm
Cannot BELIEVE that the stories my father-in-law told about Spam with ketchup during WWII are true! There’s a Spam with ketchup recipe posted.
posted by Cathy on 11-17-2008 at 5:49 pm
One of my “far out” friends when I was in junior high couldn’t stand her mom. Susan would tell people her mom’s Real name was Spam. I can’t count how many people called Pam, Spam!!
On the serious side, I’ve only had spam one way – with cloves poked in the top with pineapples rings held on with cherry topped toothpicks and brown sugar plasterd on the side (that gets carmelized in the oven at 350 for 30-45 minutes). I wasn’t aware there were other ways to eat until recently.
Also, I’m 23 and had my first Vienna sausage a couple months ago. I’m not wondering what other things I really missed out on…
posted by Tracy on 11-27-2008 at 8:33 pm
Im a member of the 25th ID in Hawaii so when my platoon deployed to Jolo Island, Phillipines, my squad leader brought like 5 cases of spam incase the food was less than delicious. When we arrived we soon found the food was actually amazing and SPAM was definitely not in short supply. We found flavors of spam we had never seen at pretty much every sari-sari shop all over the island
posted by T on 12-1-2008 at 2:07 am
yes, SPAM is a popular luncheon meat here in the Philippines. Though, it is more known to the middle income class and upper class since it is more expensive than the local luncheon meat readily available in the small stores.
posted by Harrish Kho on 12-12-2008 at 9:10 pm
Spam makes me puke, It’s the worst thing ever made, I don’t see why it still exists.
posted by Alex on 12-19-2008 at 10:45 am
What do you get when you mix spam and a fish?
SPA-MON
What do you call a relative who eats spam and ice cream?
SPAM-AUNTIE
What do you call a sacred place where only Spammers can go?
SPAM-ALOT
How do you say peace to an angry can of Spam?
SCHPALOM
Alright I’m done.
posted by White Ninja on 12-20-2008 at 6:40 pm
I always keep a couple of tins of that stuff in the cupboard. I don’t eat it regularly, but if the power goes out, I am in a hurry, or need to get creative, I open that blue tin and it hasn’t failed me yet. When I first moved into my new place my 7 yr old son saw the tins and asked what they were. I told him and he wanted to try it.
He has been hooked solidly on Spam for the past 2 yrs.
posted by Peter on 12-28-2008 at 11:56 pm
I like Spam! Its just canned ham people, get a grip.
My mom made a SPAM salad, kinda like tuan salad, that was delicious stuffed in a hollowed out tomato or on toast!
I like it sliced thin and fried, or in chunks in mac N cheese.
Long Live Spam!
posted by Sandi on 12-29-2008 at 3:48 am
Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Lovely spam! Wonderful spam! Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Lovely spam! Wonderful spam!
posted by Sir Lance Alot on 1-4-2009 at 12:13 am
Wow! What blows me away is all the talk of so little nutritional value. I’m fairly sure that out of all of those that ate it as a kid…myself included, none of us ever died from it. It was a meal, and we were glad for it. Go ahead and feed your kids the McDonalds and Burger King….yeah, that’s MUCH better for them.
posted by Triple R on 1-7-2009 at 1:43 pm
Here are two spam recipes that I don’t think have been mentioned. The first is diced spam and scrambled eggs, all cooked at the same time, then topped with American cheese.
The second is my favorite, raw Spam and Philadelphia brand cream cheese. Mash the Spam and the cream cheese together to form delicious dip that is best eaten with Ritz crackers.
posted by Danny on 1-9-2009 at 9:36 am
Take a can of Spam cut into cubes and about 5 peeled and cubed potatoes. Add a little finely chopped onion and fry until the potatoes are browned. Drain on paper towels, add salt to taste and serve with ketchup. We’re from the south, so we like cornbread and either pinto beans or black-eyed peas with our Spam and potatoes. YUM!
posted by Cindy on 2-10-2009 at 7:36 pm
Guam is also an island full of spam addicts. Heck, its in the breakfast menu in our mickeydees, its in our denny’s as well, every household has at least ONE can of spam in their cupboards or pantry, and lastly, we probably consume as much as Hawaii…
posted by Rhea on 3-8-2009 at 1:25 am
Man, I looove this stuff – too bad I gave up red meat for Lent. I’m dying for some Spam musubi…
posted by Steve on 3-16-2009 at 3:02 pm
Someone asked if the real ingredients of SPAM were (S)quirrel, (P)ossum (A)nd (M)ice. The answer, of course, is absolutely not; it’d taste a lot better if that were the case.
posted by RTP on 5-3-2009 at 9:37 pm
Due to the recession I have to move to Hawaii, for work. I have gone there for the last 10 yrs to work for a friend’s fence co. each year for about 1 or 2 months. Without fail he stops at 7/11 before we get to the shop so I can pick up a Spam musubi. For some reason I only eat Spam in Hawaii, never in CA.
posted by Rooster on 8-9-2009 at 5:36 pm
Forgot to add this to my last post:
S pare
P arts
A nd
M eat
posted by Rooster on 8-9-2009 at 5:39 pm
I love the stuff (with apologies to Melody, whose post I noticed on my way here!)
But I can explain. Sort of.
I grew up on a small ranch in Texas; my Mom is native Texan, and my Father considered himself good as native, since his parents moved there when he was just five.
Both liked a fair part of typical southern fare (Mom more than Weird Dad, but never mind).
Mom LOVES Spam. And I guess that’s why I do. (Then why does my Onliest Sister puke at the thought?) Me? No PROBLEM.
I’ve lived in Asia nearly a quarter of a century, so can confirm that people do indeed love the stuff. Well, the local varieties anyway. (Spam itself is very expensive — but that’s one of the chief reason it does indeed make a fine, fine gift.
I love a lot of dishes no self-proclaimed, self-respecting Texan would come within a country mile of. Hundred year old eggs. Sea cucumber, which most Westerners tend to call “sea slug.” I even got used to being served some chicken dishes that involve the chicken prepared whole. As in “whole enchilada.” Feet and head included. In China, etiquette demands the chicken dish be placed such that the chicken can look the guest of honor in the eye. (I married a native of Beijing when I lived there, and my Mother-in-law made a big, big deal of this if one of those dishes was served at Sunday Family Day lunch or supper. Being the only “Foreign Devil” in the family, I and Miss Chicken of the day invariably spent some time gazing at each other.) Fish are served with the head intact, so Mr. Fish can stare balefully up with you out of one eye.
Yes, I’ve eaten a lot of snake, and some turtle soup (but I’ve had that in Texas), and what have you. As for Weird Dad, he instilled in me a lifelong love for stuff like heart-and-kidney pie, head cheese, and what have you.
So, maybe Spam is one of the more “normal” things I live! ;-)
I loved this piece. (Does it show?)
posted by MekhongKurt on 11-23-2009 at 8:29 am
I had a friend in college who wanted to sell SPAM and Velveeta sandwiches from a pushcart on the beach…
Wonder if he ever realized this dream?
posted by Leslie on 1-11-2010 at 3:34 pm
Mr. Whitekeys and The Fly-By Night Club in Anchorage, AK used to do a whole comedy show on Spam. People used to send pictures of their cans of Spam when they traveled the world. There were pictures of people in front of the Great Sphinx of Gaza, The Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, etc. All with their cans of Spam. They had great food and several dishes made from Spam. My favorite was the Coconut Beer Battered Spam. It was a fun place and a great show. Sadly it closed about 3 years ago.
posted by Sue on 1-11-2010 at 3:45 pm
My personal favorite is Turkey Spam, or as I prefer to refer to it, “SPURKEY”.
posted by JP on 11-5-2010 at 1:23 am