Leaving our parkas behind in the snowdrifts of western Massachusetts, eight of us descended onto Honolulu for Spring Break: Hawaii. Okay, so before you conjure up visions of wet t-shirts, body shots, and mortified mothers all over the country watching MTV, think again. Well, almost (sorry Mom!).
But really, we surely did more eating than anything else. Lucky for us, our friend Tommy was born and raised in Honolulu, so not only was he so generous to house our raucous bunch at his mountainous bamboo forest abode, we were promised the best eats the island has to offer. Most importantly, he took us to the same spots he rushes to the moment he returns home from school. Our college budgets called for cheap and our stomachs called for delicious—and that's what we got.
What's the best meat to use in a Spam musubi? Pomai of Honolulu-based food blog The Tasty Island tested Treet, Tulip, and Spam brand luncheon meats to find out. After comparing and rating their flavors, textures, and levels of deliciousness in musubi form on a scale of one to three, he found that each one had its own individual qualities (good or bad depending on your preference), but deemed Spam the king of luncheon meats.
If you've never had Spam musubi before, try making your own! Just make sure you have a Spam musubi press to get that perfect brick-shape.
Posted by Adam Kuban, December 21, 2007 at 3:30 PM
I know I'm basically flacking for Hormel Foods with the above video, but that's nature of this viral video junk, innit? And, yeah, I know burning designs in toast is so passé, but you have to admit that this is some pretty hot stop-motion toastimation. Here's the story behind the vid. [via Elise]
One Nebraskan Spam fan is so enamored by the processed pork-based canned luncheon meat and the upcoming Spam-centric tome, The Book of Spam, that he's taken on a mission to incorporate it into every meal he eats for 30 days. You can watch the Spam-eating magic unfold until August 28th on his blog, 30 Days of SPAM. Although he mainly writes about what Spam-based dish he's made for the day, my favorite entry is his latest one about his subconscious Spam thoughts:
I had a SPAM-related dream last night. No joke. And I dream a lot, so it's probably no big deal, but it is funny. From what I recall, SPAM was an actual person and we were traveling in space together.
If he's already having funny dreams featuring anthropomorphic Spam, I'm afraid of what will happen to his dreams at the end of the 30 day period.
Frantic lifestyle? Need to prepare something fast for breakfast, lunch or evening meal? Or maybe you just want a traditional, comforting meal for the family in the colder weather.
Well, we’ve brought back the traditional SPAM® Fritter to fit just that bill. What’s more, all the hard preparation work is done for you – new SPAM® Fritters are ready to be ovenbaked for 15-20 minutes and served with your favourite vegetables or breakfast menu.
If you can't read the copy on the container in the photo above, the Fritters are described as "succulent pieces of SPAM® covered in a deliciously light and crispy golden batter." Truly, as Andrew said, the UK is the Hawaii of Europe when it comes to SPAM. God save the Queen!
Love or hate McDonald's, you have to admit they usually do a good job of integrating local specialties into their menus. McDonald's restaurants in Hawaii have lots of custom items on their menus—the breakfast menu alone has two dishes with SPAM: a SPAM McGriddle and SPAM served with eggs and rice—and they frequently get limited edition delights too. Pomai of Honolulu food blog The Tasty Island recently tried the current offering, the Haupia Pie: "Similar to their familiar Apple Pie, this item uses the same crust and turnover shape, except with this, it has a filling intended to (loosely) replicate the traditional Haupia dessert offered at a Hawaiian Luau. Upon first bite, you ‘ll notice the light, golden crispy texture and mild salty flavor of the crust compliments the sweet, creamy coconut-flavored filling quite nicely."
The 29th anniversary of Austin's pandemonious potted pork festival is coming up—this year's SPAMARAMA® will be held April 7, from noon till six. There's a SPAM™ cook-off, of course, with cash prizes going to the winners of the Open and Professional categories, as well as the People's Choice Award; the SPAMALYMPICS™ features storied events like "the SPAM® Disc Shoot, the SPAM™ Call (remotely similar to a hog call), the SPAM™ Can Relay and the SPAMBURGER® Eating Contest". Keep Austin weird, indeed.
Posted by Lia Bulaong, February 20, 2007 at 7:56 AM
Cooking Cute made this amazing Year of the Pig bento the other day: "salmon-rice sushi shaped like little piggies, hotdog flowers with carrot-star centers, kamaboko fans, tricolor swirled sushi made from three flavors of sticky rice, sweet sticky rice flowers, pig-shaped spam nigiri, and a pig-shaped egg."
Someone please make me one of these for lunch today? Thanks!
