Most people today think of spam as unwanted e-mails in your in-box. But I got a can of Spam for Christmas. To eat, not to erase. I actually like Spam, and so do Hawaiians.
As I understand it, Spam was first introduced to the natives of Hawaii when Americans established a base in Pearl Harbor. Our GIs ate Spam reluctantly, but the Hawaiians went nuts over the stuff. I suppose if you can eat poi, Spam must taste like a buttered lobster tail. Even to this day, Spam is offered in many Hawaiian restaurants. MacDonald’s serves it for breakfast. Really.
Spam (Scientifically Processed Animal Matter) is one of those meats that is best if you don’t know what actually goes in it. The Spam I got is low sodium, meaning it takes 33% longer to clog your arteries. Just kidding. You’ll die in about the same amount of time.
Seriously, Spam is a six-ingredient food product containing pork, water, salt, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrate. And despite a world of insults, Spam recently celebrated its 77th birthday. It’s as popular as ever. Over 8 billion cans have been sold since 1937. It’s now available in 44 countries throughout the world. With spiraling grocery prices, Spam stands out as an affordable meat choice.
Sometime in the next few weeks, I’m going to open my can of Spam, slice off a couple of ½-inch slabs, drop them in a pan of sizzling butter, fry it up good and brown, slip the slabs between two slices of Texas Toast smothered with mustard and wolf down my Spam sandwich. I must have a little a Hawaiian in my blood. I really do like it.