Posted by Helen on: 06.11.2007 /
I just found out that McDonald’s and now Burger King offer spam (the edible kind!) in Hawaii. Evidently it’s very popular there
In Hawaii, Spam is a beloved comfort food, with cans of the gelatinous pork bricks found in virtually every cupboard.
Hoping to cash in on Hawaii’s love affair with the pinkish meat product, Burger King Corp. last month began offering Spam for breakfast — going head-to-head with rival McDonald’s Corp., which has been featuring Spam in the islands for years.
Burger King is offering the Spam Platter — two slices of Spam nestled between white rice and scrambled eggs. The fast-food giant also offers the Croissanwich or Biscuit Sandwich with Spam.
Monty Python showcased spam decades ago - its popularity in Hawaii would not surprise them
Comment by: benjamin ady
1Monty Python Spam is *so* funny. But the idea of spam for breakfast at burger king is revolting on multiple levels.
Why is this post semi-related to “Mark Driscoll and women”?
Comment by: Helen
2Benjamin Ady wrote:
Good question. I have no idea!
Comment by: Rachel
3It’s also semi-related to “Top spammer arrested”! In my opinion, spam IS a crime! he-he
Comment by: Helen
4:)
Comment by: Rachel
5Did somebody on the “Mark Driscoll and women” thread call Mark a “pig”? And this post does use the word “pork”…
Thanks for starting out my Monday on a light note, Helen. :-)
Comment by: joe
6Bleugh, spam.
Comment by: Helen
7Rachel - I was all out of serious topics :)
Comment by: Karen
8Spam’s popularity in Hawaii goes back to WWII and the proflieration of U.S. military bases on the islands. Although it lost its popularity on the mainland after the 1960s - and even became a joke - Spam never fell out of flavor (heh) in Hawaii.
There’s even Spam cooking contests and Spam festivals there. You’ll see spam-and-eggs on most every breakfast menu, and spam musabi in every grocery store. :-)
Comment by: Staci
9My aunt was born and raised in Hawaii and loves spam. I remember her slicing it thin like canadian bacon and frying it for breakfast. She also sometimes puts it in rolled sushi in place of the raw fish.
Part of the reason it has remained popular is because the cost of living is so high in HI and spam is a relatively inexpensive form of protein. And since it is canned, it lasts forever and bugs (another issue in HI) can’t get into it.
Comment by: April Terry
10Dare I admit that I love spam? (Did you know that it is simply ham and pork shoulder?)…
Do you think there are a lot of secret spam lovers out there….Pardon me while go back into my spam closet…
Comment by: Helen
11April, thanks for coming out of the closet for a moment and honoring us by sharing your secret love of spam with us :)
Karen and Staci thanks for the history and reasons why spam is popular in Hawaii.
Comment by: HeIsSailing
12As Karen sez, Spam was introduced to the Pacific Islands during WWII, and is also very popular in the Philippines. I’m surprised K-Rations have not picked up there too.
Comment by: David H
13My mom was also born in Hawaii and I grew up eating Spam, but never developed a love for it except when camping. Spam fried over an open fire after a hard day of hiking was truly good. My Mom, an army brat who ate spam because it was cheap (practically free from the PX), also served Spam with Pineapple.