Who Doesn’t Love “IT”

There are certain names and brands that are iconic. You don’t have to think about what they are, such as Kleenex, Band-Aids, BFT, Bud Light, and those annoying emails that file up our inbox from Nigeria called SPAM.

We left the casino in Waterloo about 8 o’clock driving north on 63 through rain storms and high winds coming from the east which of course was hitting us broadside on the passenger side of the big foot and Elk horn. Our next stop was Austin, MN, where we wanted to go to a museum.

The Special Processed American Meat (Spam) museum is in the heart of downtown Austin, and the surrounding restaurants have embraced Spam on their menus.

We opened the museum doors and were instantly greeted by Terry, a bubbly, knowledgeable docent, holding a platter of Spam that was cubed, baked, and with a pretzel stick stuck in each one. After our quick introductions, and two or three cubes of delicious 6 ingredient pork (mostly pork shoulders and ham). I told Terry she was my new best friend and I would follow her anywhere!

As it turned out, the four of us and her really hit it off, and she directed us around the museum, adding tidbits of Spam information, to include an almost endless supply of that delicious pork protein (remember only 6 ingredients, and there are no snouts, lips, or ears in Spam).

Terry asked us if we were vets and three of us had served and of course Delores is the courageous one. She had to endure Navy life with a bomb loading sailor on aircraft carriers. So, Terry presented Delores a “flower lei” with a foil package containing a single slice Spam ( I was a bit envious). The rest of us got a goodie bag of Hormel products when we left.

George Hormel began the company 130 years ago. Oh, so some “inside” information that Terry told us. After George got married, his French born wife made him change the pronunciation of his last name. She said when she listened to the Hormel advertising on the Zenith tabletop tube radio, the name “Hormel” was pronounced “Hoormul”. She said, “Hoormell” sound much more sophisticated, and Spam certainly is that…don’t you agree?

Well in my Army days, when we deployed on field exercises, I would bring Spam, Vienna sausages, potted meat, and crackers with me. We “affectionally” call this smorgasbord “poggi bait”, which wasn’t really allowed, (but neither was the beer I had).

Spam has a very rich and at the same type greasy history. You know, when you used to use that turn key to peel open the middle of the spam can, and all that gelatinous goodness would ooze out and make a mess. That clear jello-like stuff is gelatin, and it’s perfectly safe to eat, infact great on crackers. Well, no more, well at least not as much, as the 6th ingredient is now potato starch as a binder.

So after we indulged ourselves in everything Spam, we went to the company store. Where we bought a case and a half of all varieties (well more Bacon and Hickory, don’t laugh, try it!). Tee shirts, beer mug, cookbooks, and official spam slicers. Bigfoot and Elkhorn are traveling large now!!!

Alaska here we come!

Still having problems posting pictures….