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Saturday, July 07, 2001

 

Veronica Tan is willing to return to Austin for another SPAM Jam.

"If they pay my way," she joked Saturday at East Side Lake Park.

Tan and her husband, Edmund, were flown to Austin after the registered nurse’s "Hot and Spicy" SPAM recipe won a contest in Australia sponsored by Hormel Foods International Corporation and a joint ventures company in Australia.

The couple flew from Sydney, Australia to enjoy what is fast becoming one of America’s most popular small town festivals.

Of coursel, the world already enjoys SPAM, the Hormel Foods Corporation produced canned luncheon meat and Australia is one of those places.

According to Tim Barinka, vice president for Asia/Pacific for Hormel Foods International Corporation, said SPAM is popular in Australia for several reasons, not the least of which Barinka said, is the "rich heritage it enjoys dating back to World War II."

Today, line extensions continue to strengthen SPAM sales in Australia, which now records sales exceeding 35 million cans per year.

Tan and her husband arrived in Austin last Tuesday. They toured the current SPAM museum at Oak Park Mall, other points of interest, including Austin Medical Center and enjoyed the Independence Day festivities Wednesday.

The Austin visit marked the Tans’ third trip to the United States and first to the Midwest. "We have very much enjoyed visiting Austin, Minnesota," the recipe contest winner said. "It’s great to see so much involvement in your community."

At Saturday’s 2001 SPAM Jam celebration at East Side Lake Park in Austin, still another recipe contest took place.

Ruth Carpenter, Zimmerman, won first-place honors with her SPAM-Anna Bread.

Opal Posingies, Edina, won second-place honors with her "South-of-the-Border SPAM Squares" recipe.

Finishing third was a familiar name to SPAM Jam celebrations. Jan Brubaker of Oviedo, Fla., collected third-place honors for her "Fiesta Turkey Breakfast Casserole" recipe.

Her husband, Bob, the "SPAM Ironman" was the grand marshal of the 2000 SPAM Jam Hog Job marathon.

Byron Johnson, Austin, earned fourth-place recognition with his "Hot and Spicy SPAM Fingers" recipe.

Mike Adams, Dexter, finished fifth with a recipe for "SPAM and Pasta Fritta."

(Editor’s Note: SPAM is a registered trademark of Hormel Foods Corporation.)

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at Lee.Bonorden@austindailyherald.com.