Big plug for Fra' Mani and Paul Bertolli

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.

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Max they certainly are good but I have to admit that I like Fatted Calf and Boccalone better than Fra Mani.

All three are Bay Area salume producers.

Thanks Tony…have to check out those guys now. Damn!

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!

My pleasure Max. Glad I could add some value to this board…

And to our fat count!!! [dance-clap.gif]

I also discuss cycling as to counterbalance the decadence…

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.

We get the hot and mild salumetti and the mortadella here at Whole Foods. I really enjoy the garlicky mortadella with artichoke hearts in olive oil.