Peameal Bacon: A Tasty Canadian Treat!

Peameal bacon is a special kind of bacon that's not smoked. It starts as a lean cut of pork loin, which is like a big, meaty muscle. Then, it's rolled in cornmeal, which gives it a yellow coating. It's a bit like a breaded chicken nugget, but it's bacon! This makes it taste a little different and gives it a unique texture. It’s a popular food, especially for breakfast or in sandwiches.

A long, long time ago, a man named William Davies moved from England to Canada. He was a pork packer, which means he worked with pork. In 1854, he came up with the idea for peameal bacon. He wanted to make pork last longer, so he first rolled it in ground peas. Later, people started using cornmeal instead of peas. This clever idea helped make bacon last longer and taste great!

Peameal bacon is super special because it's a signature food of Toronto, a big city in Canada. People there love to eat it in a sandwich, usually on a soft bun called a Kaiser roll. Sometimes they add mustard or other yummy toppings. When you visit Toronto, especially the St. Lawrence Market, you'll see lots of people enjoying this tasty treat. It's like a special symbol of the city!

Making peameal bacon is a cool process. First, they take a lean pork loin and trim off any extra fat. Then, they cure it, which is a way to preserve it and add flavor. After that, they roll the cured loin in cornmeal. The cornmeal sticks to the outside, giving it that distinctive yellow coating. Finally, it's cooked, usually by frying, until it's golden brown and delicious.