Bacon = Failure

[trilobyte]

First time I had a 'foreign bacon' I couldn't believe what kind of awful thing the backwards bastards had done to such a beloved dish. Since that tragic experience, I've come to expand my horizons and appreciate it as a different take. It's not just a matter of how it's processed (cured/smoked/etc), but also the cut of meat. Our stuff (American) is traditionally cut from the belly, often hickory smoked, and can be cut thick or thin (I think fast food joints and lower end restaurants go for the thin slice to get more slices per pound, or simply because it cooks faster). In England and Ireland, the meat's cut thick (like a ham steak in some places) from the back and I don't think it's smoked. Italian bacon (pancetta) is salt-cured and has all kinds of spices. Everything else I've tried seems to be a variation or bastardization of one of those three. All good in their own rights, but distinctly different from each other. If you're ordering one with the expectation that it's going to taste like the other, you'll be disappointed.

To OED's original post, though... I think the real problem is that it's cheap fast food.

[junglesmacks]

First time I had a 'foreign bacon' I couldn't believe what kind of awful thing the backwards bastards had done to such a beloved dish.

I will concur. During my 6 year stint in Central America, I was saddened to no end by this "tocineta". That goes for pretty much all forms of butchering though. They physically butcher animals different in other parts of the world. You roll with it and adapt.. but would secretly give anything for a perfect t-bone.

[theCryptofishist]

So, has anyone figured out what the europeans do with pork bellies?

[International Incident]

They roast them.

They are very tasty.

But bad for you

[moonrise]

Bacon almost killed me, but I'll live with it.


Actually I had it with eggs for dinner, and choked on a thick piece and almost bought the farm!


The kid is away, I was alone and it was spooky... talk about heart failure, whew! (it still tasted gooood, Iowa farm raised, mmm mmm)

[International Incident]

Bacon almost killed me, but I'll live with it.


Actually I had it with eggs for dinner, and choked on a thick piece and almost bought the farm!


The kid is away, I was alone and it was spooky... talk about heart failure, whew! (it still tasted gooood, Iowa farm raised, mmm mmm)

Dammit. I hate it when food bites back.

[graidawg]

Graidawg and I had this discussion (I'd say argument, but that would be a little over the top) when I was in London and we were on our fourth or fifth ale. So I decided to try English bacon for myself and it sucks. Just awful. But then I thought, "Well, the English can cook worth a damn, so I'll wait until I get to Paris and Rome to objectively gauge European bacon." Certainly their bacon was better than what was inflicted upon me in London (the bacon in London is like lopping off a hunk of a honey-baked ham and overcooking it by about an hour), but to say that it was better than good old, God-fearing American bacon is simply wrong. Now, the thin-cut American bacon isn't the best by any means, which is why I only buy thick-sliced bacon. But to say that European bacon is better than that rustled up here in the U.S. of A. is blasphamy. And if you think I'm wrong (uh oh, here comes the stampede) bring European/Australian/Brazilian bacon to the Barbie Death Village Pancake (and bacon) Porkout and let the best bacon win.

OH YOU ARE ON! THIS IS A CHALLENGE TO RANK WITH VEGEMITE vs MARMITE but actually matters, i will smuggle fines english bacon across the border to show you how proper Bacon should be.

I must say i am very dissapointed you obviously got vastly inferior bacon in england Doc, we have been creating such superb bacon the last few years i am very surprised. just this morning I had 3 rashers of superb thick cut crispy bacon i nearly had another breakfast just for the bacon.

[Dr. Pyro]

OK Graham, you got me. What the hell is a "rasher"?

[ygmir]

OK Graham, you got me. What the hell is a "rasher"?

of all people, not to know, Doc......and after all the "back of the RV" parties.........I know you're not that careful..........

[theCryptofishist]

In the context of bacon, a rasher is a slice.