Peameal Bacon Sandwich - A Traditional Canadian Breakfast
http://www.blogto.com/toronto/the_best_peameal_bacon_sandwiches_in_toronto/
My family moved from Beijing, China to Toronto, Canada, when I was in grade eight. Canada is my second hometown, and I must say, it is a great country. Unlike Beijing where can be easily classified and characterized, Toronto is so much more complicated and diverse. As a land of immigrant, Canada, especially Toronto is composed of an wide array of ethnocultural groups. Everyone is so different and yet we all call ourselves Canadians. However, once my friends came to visit and asked me what's a traditional Torontonian food and what's something that's uniquely, originally from Toronto. I stuck. I responded that each group of immigrants bring a special flavor to the country, so that a bit of Canada is a bite of the world; but then, I feel somewhat ashamed of the fact that I've been distracted by the overwhelming diversity of culture brought to the city, but have never actually explored the city's original self.
So I went on a quest, searching for the signature snack of the city. From the nick name of the city, "Hogtown," I found what Toronto's original flavor- peameal bacon, or Canadian bacon.
Peameal bacon was made famous during the first World War when there was a shortage of meat in the United Kingdom. William Davies, a Canadian who was the founder of the largest pork packing company in both Canada and the British Empire during the war years, was the founder of peameal bacon. Canadians exported cured side bacon to the U.K. The boneless loin is cured and rolled in dried and ground yellow split peas for preservation purpose originally. When cornmeal becomes plentiful, people made switch but the name remained. The English smoked the bacon, and many people misunderstood this new combination with original peameal bacon. Peameal bacon is always uncooked. It is a myth that Canadian bacon is smoked or pre-cooked in anyway. Peameal bacon can be bought either in chunks or slices. |
|
After being in an important part of the war effort, peameal bacon becomes a tradition of Toronto. Peameal bacon sandwich now is a signature snack at St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, where William Davies started his pork business.
|
It is not only a delicious snack, Peameal bacon sandwich is also a great breakfast to start the day due to its nutritional values. Pork is low in fat and calories comparing to other meat, and it is rich in Thiamin, Vitamin B12 and phosphorous, which are important vitamins and minerals which are essential in the functioning of the body. Peameal or cornmeal bacon is fairly easy to find in stores, and the sandwich is very easy to make!
Recipe
Directions
Beverage Suggestion
There is no rule to what you should drink when eating peameal bacon sandwich, but juice is suggested as it provides a lot of vitamins and adds a refreshing feel to your breakfast.
Sources Used
Block, Stephen, Chef, and Stephen Holloway, Chef. "The History of Canadian Bacon." The History of Canadian Bacon. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2013. Chef Stephen Block is the owner of this website who is a chef, a cooking school instructor, and who also has at least two culinary websites. This ensures the credibility of the information on this website.
The REAL Canadian Bacon Co. "A Low-Fat Pork Specialty FoodHealth Information About REAL Canadian Bacon." Real Canadian Bacon;Bacon:Canadian Bacon, Peameal Bacon, Back Bacon, Weight Watchers, Cooking Light, Weight Watchers Recipes, Low Fat Cooking, Healthy Cooking, Healthy Cooking Recipes and Low Fat Recipes. The REAL Canadian Bacon Co., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
"Recipes - PEAMEAL BREAKFAST SANDWICH." Canada Bread Food Service. Canada Bread Food Service, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.
"William Davies Company." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
The REAL Canadian Bacon Co. "A Low-Fat Pork Specialty FoodHealth Information About REAL Canadian Bacon." Real Canadian Bacon;Bacon:Canadian Bacon, Peameal Bacon, Back Bacon, Weight Watchers, Cooking Light, Weight Watchers Recipes, Low Fat Cooking, Healthy Cooking, Healthy Cooking Recipes and Low Fat Recipes. The REAL Canadian Bacon Co., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
"Recipes - PEAMEAL BREAKFAST SANDWICH." Canada Bread Food Service. Canada Bread Food Service, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.
"William Davies Company." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.