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The great breakfast meat debate – Breakfast at Clique-any’s

 

Bacon!

Breakfast meat. It’s sort of an odd term when you think about it. Is there really any meat served at breakfast that you wouldn’t eat at any other time of the day? Perhaps they are called breakfast meats because they are served at breakfast and at any other time of the day. In any case, meat is a big part of any big combo breakfast, and seems to be a polarizing subject. I thought that I would take on the topic and look at the three most popular breakfast meats: bacon, sausage, and (begrudgingly) ham.

I know that, personally, I have a pretty strong opinion about the hierarchy of morning meat, so I’m going to present the three options in my order of preference:

  • Bacon:
    Forget about breakfast, bacon might be the greatest meat any time of the day. Sure, it’s a great way to eat yourself into the hospital, but can anyone argue with it’s deliciousness? Smoky, salty, and crispy, bacon is one of the greatest things on this little blue planet.

    We could get into a whole other debate about thick cut or thin cut, crispy or chewy, but any way you cut it or cook it, it’s still amazing. Personally I like mine crispy, almost burnt. Give me a couple fried eggs, some pieces of dark toast, and a few slices of crispy bacon and I’m all set.

  • Sausage:
    I don’t hate breakfast sausage, but it’s hard to get excited about something when the other option is bacon. However, every now and then I will get a craving for some sizzling little breakfast logs. I like mine with pancakes, with both items smothered in maple syrup. The sweet sticky syrup really sets off the flavors in the sausage, plus it makes it even more unhealthy!

    Of course there are the more non-traditional, and perhaps even more delicious, breakfast sausage choices, such as chorizo. Mix some chopped chorizo in with an omelet or some simple scrambled eggs and you’ve got yourself a mighty fine breakfast.

  • Ham:
    Alright, so I’m including ham out of obligation (and considering it the same thing as Canadian Bacon). Honestly, I pretty much despise ham, and particularly hate it in the morning. I just don’t see the point. When the other two options are so clearly superior, why would you ever opt for a slimy slice of ham? Alas, I know there are some ham lovers out there, and I know even I much rather have ham in the breakfast setting than for dinner. Mixing some cured ham into an omelet isn’t too bad of a way to go.

So, what’s your breakfast meat of choice?

Photo Credit: Shawnzam/flickr

One Response to “The great breakfast meat debate – Breakfast at Clique-any’s”

August 23, 2009 at 12:16 PM

It depends on my mood. I don’t much like ham for breakfast at any time, though. I like link sausage with pancakes or eggs and toast, cuz you can make a little sammich with an egg on toast, and put a sausage in there. I like sausage patties with hash browns and eggs cuz you can chop up the sausage and mix it with eggs and potatoes. Bacon works, too, but restaurants usually don’t cook it right, and it’s so messy we don’t buy it often. But I’m with you on the ham. I like ham for dinner and on sammiches, but not with breakfast.

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