CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Beef is muscling in on bacon territory.
Schmacon, beef slices that have been smoked, cured and covered in a light glaze, recently received a 2014 Food and Beverage Innovations Award at the National Restaurant Association trade show. Schmacon cooks like bacon and takes on the same crispy texture as bacon, according to the Beef Checkoff, which helped bring the product to market.
“Schmacon is beef’s answer to bacon,” said Howard Bender, the Hyde Park Culinary Institute of America chef and Chicago deli owner who created the product. “It opens up so many opportunities for those who love traditional bacon, but for one reason or another, limit intake or avoid it altogether.”
A serving of Schmacon contains 30 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 60 mg sodium, whereas a serving of pork bacon averages 60-90 calories, 4.5-7 grams fat, and 190-360 mg sodium. Schmacon is currently available commercially. It will be sold at retail by the end of the year.
Beef bacon has been tried many times in Toronto to service the kosher market. It comes and goes but never stays. There is no imitation bacon, bacon really has no competition. Look here for the green bacon that was offered on St Pats day.
This one needs a better name. Sounds too much like "shoe bacon".
Without ever even trying beef bacon (turkey sucks), I agree with 55Plymouth. There's no substitute for bacon. However, it's an intereresting item. Thank you Leon for posting about it.