I want to put together a cheese and charcuterie board with only American made products. I know my way around the cheese aisle, but I could use some suggestions for charcuterie. Prefer readily available e.g. Whole Foods, Trader Joes, major supermarkets, etc.
Thanks.
Berserker day participants
Smoking Goose is fantastic!
Everything is high quality, but be sure to get the Rabbit and Pork Cheek terrine.
Here are the reviews from their first BerserkerDay.
Based in Madison, Wisconsin; I used to buy from them at the Green City Market in Chicago and still order from time to time. In addition to the small and larger salami, their summer sausage is a revelation, and I like their āNduja a lot too. Great people.
For something available in national grocery distribution, La Quercia, based in Iowa, does terrific domestic prosciutto, speck, etc.
@Jim_Stewart Love the domestic dry-cured pride! And our butcher buttons are bursting, reading your compatriotsā recommendations of our meat treats here at Smoking Goose @Patrick_Taylor @cjsavino
Itās an excellent time to check out https://shop.smokinggoose.com/ with our full line up of Salumi, Larder Meats, Sausages, Whole Muscle Charcuterie + more
We just announced our NEW THANKGIVING HAM: Cherry Queen Ham - glazed under wild Amarena cherries, Italian Lazzaroni amaretto liqueur, and smoked over cherry wood: Cherry Queen Ham ā Smoking Goose
Loads of new Autumn specials, too: Limited Releases ā Smoking Goose
Remember to hit the Flash Sale section: Flash Sale + Deep Discounts ā Smoking Goose
Free Shipping on orders of $75+ to half the country: https://smokinggoose.squarespace.com/s/ShippingAndDeliverySmokingGoose.pdf
Happy shopping and cheers!
p.s. Smoking Goose is in delicious company in this Wine Spectator article focusing on Artisan Charcuterie in the U.S.: Artisan Charcuterie in the United States
Have to agree with Smoking Goose. I used to sell their stuff when I was in the grocery business. Also very good people.
@Corrie_Cook This is a little bit of a thread hijack, but I have a question. I live in the Indy area, so Iāve enjoyed your sausages often. But Iāve never figured out how to handle the casings on things like your āGin and Juiceā.
Is there a trick to peeling it off? Just cut it off with a knife? Or are you supposed to eat it? (Itās awful chewy thoughā¦) Any tips would be appreciated.
I can heartily recommend The Spotted Trotter, which I understand now has availability at Whole Foods though it may only be in Atlanta.
Hiya neighbor! Cheers to local Indy folks, @Charles_Perry!
The natural casing and natural bloom on our salumi are just some of the classic, old-school preparation that sets our charcuterie apart. Itās totally personal preference on whether folks want to eat the casings or not.
Personally, I like the texture and flavor it brings as part of the legit Old World style. But itās all a matter of personal taste and thereās no one ārightā way. It can even be circumstantialā¦for instance, depending on the pairings youāre serving with it or whether youāre cooking with charcuterie. (Holiday tip: a little dice of our Salame Piccante or Salame Cotto into Thanksgiving stuffing/dressing is so delicious.)
If youād like to remove the casing, some folks prefer to slice the salame and then peel it off each slice individually. (And I would definitely recommend being purposeful in your slicesā¦for instance, Iāve found some salame show their best in super thin slices, like Gin & Juice Salame, while I enjoy others, like Saucisson Rouge, in a thicker slice.) Others folks find it easier to run the tip of a sharp knife carefully and shallowly down the length of the salame, and then peeling off the casing before slicing.
Either way, itās best to only remove the casing from what you plan to eat. Keeping the casing on any uneaten portions (and storing them in the fridge with a bit of plastic wrap up against just the cut surface) will help prevent it from drying out so quick once itās cut into.
You might check out our Resources Page (resources ā Smoking Goose), especially the Bloom x Charcuterie Cheat Sheet: https://www.smokinggoose.com/s/SmokingGooseBloomMoldCheatSheet-kjyb.pdf
Smoking Goose has already been mentioned and they are really good. I usually eat my weight in charcuterie each year, so I would also recommend:
I would also recommend listening to this podcast with Elias from Olympia Provisions. He talks about the charcuterie industry:
On the west coast, I recommend Journeyman, in Healdsburg.
I second Marshallās recommendation of Olympiaā¦ and heās not a small guy.
I buy a ham from Bentonās every year, hang it in the garage until May and then slice it like you would jamon. Quite a few smoked hams that you can pick up, especially in VA (but ordered online).
Just had a Cherry Queen Ham from Smoking Goose last night. First time trying anything from them, definitely not my last. Will be paying attention for a Berserkers Day offering! Thank you @Corrie_Cook, most interesting and delicious ham Iāve had, highly recommended.
Awesome pics, @Rob_Isaacs ! So happy you enjoyed our Cherry Queen Ham!
Heads up, yāall: weāre making more for the winter holidays, but after that, this limited release is done for the season: Cherry Queen Ham ā Smoking Goose - click here
p.s. Black Friday deal Use discount code BF10 for 10% OFF your order at shop.smokinggoose.com
Or use discount code BF15 for 15% OFF your order of $150+
Expires end-of-day on Black Friday. A few exclusions apply including Sampler + Gift Packs (already on sale here!(Samplers + Gift Packs ā Smoking Goose)), gift cards, event tickets, catering.
If ya donāt make it in time for #BlackFriday sale, be sure to sign up for emails (click here) so youāll get #CyberMonday coupon codes!
p.s. donāt miss our latest seasonal releases (that Beef Baconā¦for realz): https://shop.smokinggoose.com/collections/holiday Limited Releases ā Smoking Goose
#CyberMonday discount codes!
Expires midnight on Tuesday, Dec 3: Use discount code CM10 for 10% OFF your order at shop.smokinggoose.com
Or use discount code CM15 for 15% OFF your order of $150+
A few exclusions apply including Sampler + Gift Packs (already on sale), gift cards, event tickets, catering.
Heads up: some special app-only deals will be coming out later in December, too ā be sure to download our free mobile app for apple and android here: Smoking Goose Meatery - https://share.shopney.co/Hrjia9kqBy (Open these links on your mobile device to go straight to the app download pageā¦or search your app store for Smoking Goose)
I will say the Smoking Goose items are great. Definitely worth buying.
As Alan said above Journeyman is really tasty. They have a brick and Mortar store in Healdsburg in the same building as Single Thread restaurant. Pete Seghesio started Journeyman. Iād also like to put forth FraāMani they make very fine italian Salumiās. FraāMani was founded by Paul Bertolli who started as a chef at Chez Panisse and then was the founding chef at Oliveto in Oakland (he was doing truffle dinners in the 90ās with white Alba truffles hand carried back from Italy).