Exotic/Disgusting Foods and Beverages Forum--Canned Bread

     Over a decade ago, the conversation at work turned to food, as it often does, and a friend of mine, Bruce, mentioned eating “canned bread.”  Predictably, the listeners all expressed surprise, and assumed Bruce was making something up for a joke, as he was often wont to do.  However, he stuck to his story, and gave a little background.  He’d eaten it, he said, while working on a sailboat in the Caribbean.  They were often out to sea for long stretches, meaning fresh food was at a premium.  Canned bread was one of the culinary compromises that the crew made.

     Lo and behold, Bruce wasn’t lying.  A short while later he brought some back for us to try.  He opened up the container and gave pieces to any willing takers.  I tasted some, and was pleased.  It was good, in a sweet sort of way.  Bruce’s honesty was validated, at least about this single issue, on this one day.

     Flash forward to the present year, and I received a blast from the past while walking down the grocery aisle.  There it was again.  The label read, “New England’s Finest—B&M Brown Bread—Raisin.”  I bought a can and tried it once more, for I am just that conscientious a blogger about food items, and plus I was hungry.

     My memory was sound.  It was as good as I recalled.  It’s definitely weird though—it’s almost more of a cake than a bread.  The molasses, which I assume is necessary to keep it moist even in a can, leads to a distinctly sweeter taste than normal bread.  The label provides several serving suggestions, many of which are average sandwiches, like peanut butter and luncheon meat.  I question whether this would work out, due to the flavor of the bread and its tiny size—we’d be talking round finger sandwiches.  But, to be fair, I haven’t tried it this way—I ate it plain.  I regard it as a dessert, really.  But I definitely do recommend it, and will certainly eat it again.

     (The following paragraph is rather scatological.  So skip it if you dislike this type of humor.)  The only issue I have with canned bread is its name—B&M (for Burnham & Morrill).  In this day and age, I think if I were a marketing executive, I would suggest they change it to M&B, or Burnham and Morrill.  Also, I admit I snickered when I scanned the removal directions from the can, which read, in part, “If necessary, gently push loaf out one end with a spoon.”  I know, I know, I’m very immature.