The Queen Bee was driving down to Baltimore on business. She called me mid-day regarding some business matter. There was copious noise in the background. "Where the hell are you?" I asked. "I'm at a truck stop somewhere in Pennsylvania," she said, "and I've stopped here for lunch." "You're in Pee-Ayy?" I replied, "You gotta try the scrapple." "I don't know what it is" she said firmly, "but I'm sure it's disgusting."
That depends on your point of view. A conjunction of pork bits shaped lovingly into a loaf and pan fried says loving to me. Served with eggs or with some basic side dishes, you got yourself a meal you won't soon forget. You don't see scrapple much up here in these parts; toddle down south and you'll see scrapple on every page of the menu. It complements breakfast as effortlessly as it does dinner. I'm not sure what Morewines would suggest but I have to think a nice Riesling might pair well with scrapple.
What's that you say? You don't know what scrapple is? Thank God we have Wikipedia to clearly outline what constitutes this wonder food:
Scrapple is typically made of hog offal, such as the head, heart, liver and other scraps which are boiled with any bones attached (often the entire head)to make a broth. Once cooked, bones and fat are discarded, the meat is reserved and dry cornmeal is boiled in the broth to make a mush. The meat, finely minced, is returned and seasonings, typically sage, thyme, savory and others are added. The mush is cast into loaves and allowed to cool thoroughly until gelled. The proportions and seasoning are very much a matter of the region and the cook's taste. Scrapple is best known as a regional food of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
I don't think the Queen Bee actually tried the scrapple (maybe she can add that to her version a "bucket list") so I didn't even tell her about puddin' meat.
To best describe this gastronomic delicacy, Fang told me a story about a visit to a restaurant while in Stroudsburg, VA on business. He and his colleagues saw puddin' meat listed on the menu. Being adventurous eaters, they asked the waitress what puddin' meat was.
"Well you know what scrapple is, dontcha?" she asked.
They nodded.
"Well, puddin' meat is more liver and less cornmeal."
They passed.
I say you should everything once, no?
9 comments:
You don't see scrapple much up here in these parts; toddle down south and you'll see scrapple on every page of the menu.
Girl, no offense, but how far south did you toddle? Here in the REAL south, I ain't nevah heard of no scrapple. Except the bottled iced tea drink stuff, that is.
We always get blamed for everything disgusting. And yes, that scrapple sounds disgusting..
Ok, I'm from the south. I've never heard of scrapple but I will tell you, it sounds like something I will add to my DO NOT EAT list along with liver and oyster stew.....YUCK!
I thought scrapple was made of lips and assholes?
No wait...that's hotdogs! Bwaa ha ha haaa!!!!
Ew, I wouldn't eat scrapple if it was the last thing on earth.
Listen, I'm a huge fan of Southern food as you all well know so I won't dis anything except maybe the famous dough burgers that Elvis liked. However, when I said "toddle down South" I meant south of New York City. You won't find scrapple in the south proper (as Jules and Karen suggested) because scrapple is a bi-product of the following regions: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. So blame them and their puddin' meat.
..and the beverage is actually called Snapple, not Scrapple, but I think Jules was making a funny.
I used to work at a printing company and they made a label for scrapple for a company called Greensboro Packers. I remember checking out the print samples and reading the ingredient list, horrified!
I'll have to pass on that C&W.
I couldn't even consider a wine to
go with that. ick!
There was a diner in my hometown in NJ that served scrapple, but my parents never took me there, and finding out what it is, I think I understand why.
You're right... Snapple, not Scrapple! I knew something didn't sound right. I wasn't even trying to be funny!
Good thing.
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