What if someone told you you could buy a 4 lb. / 1.8 kg monstercan of SPAM? Would you go for it? And if you did, what would you do with it? One intrepid (crazy?) food blogger cooked it up whole, for breakfast!
I just had to share this one with you. The Fab Food Blog has spotlighted SPAM many a time over the years. And you seem to love that. So, here’s a special SPAM story that can only be characterized as ‘blissful excess’.
One word: ‘Amazing!’
We know lots of folks love their SPAM. It’s a na-tional ‘treasure’ in the Philippines. In spite of it’s questionable health status and campy rep-utation, it’s captured the culinary curiosity of cultures in every corner of the globe.
But what in the world prompted Hormel Foods of humble Austin, Minnesota to create a giant, braggadocious, struttalacious loaf of SPAM – equal to almost 5.3 regular cans – in the first place? I scoured the official SPAM website, but was left none the wiser on that critical point. I did, however, discover that their online Gift Shop offers no fewer than 249 different items. Including a 12-can SPAM Flavour Variety Pack!
Nevertheless…
I was alerted to the giant SPAM loaf by a ran-dom post spotlighting a crazy Instagrammer who definitely loves his SPAM. I think he’s from the Phillipines, actually, but I couldn’t confirm that. Anyway, the guy – whose Instagram handle is ‘@ninongry’ – videoed himself ‘cooking’ the giant SPAM block for breakfast for his elementary school aged son.
He browned it on all sides and both ends, laid a sunny side egg on top, and placed it on a large platter with a huge side of steamed rice. His serving suggestion? A big hunk chopped diagonally off one corner, dipped in egg yolk, and smothered with what looked like Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce. Which he pronounced, “The perfect bite!”
Not available in stores?
Not in North America, anyway, apparently. But they say you can get the 1.8 kg tin of SPAM at selected grocery outlets in the UK. And last time I checked, a guy who apparently bought a case was selling it on eBay for (UK)£23.90 / (US)$30.31. Plus shipping, of course.
My take
If ever there was a more over-the-top gift idea for the SPAM lover in your life, I haven’t heard of it. If you wanted to perfectly match a slab of SPAM to a slice of square sandwich bread, it’s the ticket. I guess it would also come in handy if you were inspired to serve a ‘SPAM roast’ in place of the traditional Christmas Turkey, Goose or Ham.
I enjoy a retro SPAM sandwich for lunch now and then. Makes me feel like a kid again! And the giant 1.8 kg can even opens with a traditional, old-school ‘key’! But never in a month of Sundays could I see myself finishing off a monster 1.8 kg tin of the stuff before it went bad. Although, there are those who insist it never goes bad…
~ Maggie J.