If you’re into great salumeria, then you probably know already about this guy and his awesome products. I’ve just loaded yesterday with about 4 pounds of Toscano, 2 pounds of Nostrano, the incredible Soppressata and the other-worldly Pancetta. All the dry salami are hanging in my cellar and we’ll start cutting into it tonight. Made a soffritto last night with the Pancetta and some shallots and it was to die for. This is all natural stuff, no nitrates, etc…
I’ve had all the best Italian stuff but Bertolli’s products are just incredible and certainly worth a try if you have not already.
Boccalone makes their stuff here in Oakland but sell it a Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market and on the Internet. The guy behind it is Chris Cosentino the chef of Incanto and the guy with the blond mohawk you saw on the latest Anthony Bourdain show. Amazing chef.
The fatted calf stuff is a former Oliveto chef, IIRC (and Paul Bertoli was the chef at Oliveto and former Chez Panisse).
I just think both, overall, have more flavor than the Fra Mani stuff.
I’m about to order some stuff from Boccalone. They have guanciale and lonza which I rarely see and there is nothing like Bucatini all’amatriciana with some real guanciale. Thanks Tony!
Sure wish Costco still sold the Fra’mani meatloaf (polpettone). Haven’t seen it there for a while. I just checked Fra’mani’s website and it’s not even listed. Maybe, they stopped making it. Quite a deal for $13.