La Unica: Chorizo Español

La Unica: Chorizo Español y Unos Otros Apuntes


In a way, the following is not news here, but nevertheless it seems a worthy public service to call attention to something which JeffB has mentioned several times; those references are, however, all somewhat buried in other discussions.

So then, what am I actually talking about? Spanish chorizo, one of the world's better pork products. Jeff has mentioned the presence of Spanish chorizo at La Unica at least three times in the following posts:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=18528#18528
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=26437#26437
http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=26445#26445

Unfortunately, I had failed to make the proper mental note and, despite having a general desire to visit La Unica (primarily based on comments from JeffB and Zim), didn't get around to doing so over the past year until finally, last week, after a visit to the nearby Café Salamera. After Amata and I had lunch there, we stopped by La Unica, in part to look for El Yucateco brand jalapeño sauce (which, in fact, turned out not to be available at La Unica) and in part just to look around. Well, as some of you already know but others perhaps need to find out, La Unica is a marvelous store for all manner of Hispanic foodstuffs and drinks. Here are just a few stray notes on things that caught our eye:

• the Spanish chorizo available at the meat counter: outstanding. We got about a pound and a half, I think, which cost $5.66. Each link is then about a quarter of a pound and a little less than a dollar. We had some along with eggs and -- what else -- boumiano (link) or perhaps, under the circumstances, what more appropriately might be called pisto con berenjenas or alboronía. Together with some lepina (link) from B&M Bakery, this was a fine meal.

Incidentally, they also carry large tins of Los Minos brand Spanish chorizo packed in lard.

• Goya brand Achiotina, that is, lard coloured with annatto (small jar $1.49). One could, of course, surely make a better version from scratch but having never seen this product for sale before, I couldn't help but give it a try. And Goya products are, I believe, generally of high quality.

• Goya brand Frijoles Cargamanto Rojo ($.99 per can). A Columbian bean which I had hitherto not encountered.

• Goya brand Frijoles Bola Rojo ($.99 per can). Another kind of bean which I had hitherto not encountered. Where these beans are popular is not mentioned on the can, but it seems that like the cargamantos, they are popular in Columbia and are often made along with plantains. To be honest, the illustrations of the beans on the two cans look very similar but the labels clearly indicate that they are to some degree distinct sorts. As a dedicated frijolero, I look forward to trying both of these legumes.

La Unica is a great store and the little attached restaurant looks good too. We intend to make this place one of our regular stops for Hispanic food products, despite the considerable distance it is from where we live.

Jeff: I should have paid better attention to your chorizo recommendations.

Bon pro'.
Antonius


La Unica
1515 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL
773.274.7788

Antonius wrote:La Unica is a great store and the little attached restaurant looks good too.

Antonious,

Agree 100% with both you and Jeff, La Unica is a great store and the attached restaurant is quite good, both for daily specials, Cuban coffee and Cuban sandwiches.

Speaking of La Unica, I ran into a former neighbor, who is Cuban, at the gas station. She was on her way to pick up a whole pig they had roasted for her at La Unica. When I expressed surprise, they have a La Caja China and typically cook their own party pigs, she said it was convenient, La Unica does a very good job of roasting and they let her come the day before and season the meat to her liking.

I'm guessing one needs long-standing customer status before La Unica will let you season your own pig, but they will, in addition to their regular weekend roast pork, roast to order for parties.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:Speaking of La Unica, I ran into a former neighbor, who is Cuban, at the gas station. She was on her way to pick up a whole pig they had roasted for her at La Unica. When I expressed surprise, they have a La Caja China and typically cook their own party pigs, she said it was convenient, La Unica does a very good job of roasting and they let her come the day before and season the meat to her liking.

I'm guessing one needs long-standing customer status before La Unica will let you season your own pig, but they will, in addition to their regular weekend roast pork, roast to order for parties.

Gary:

That's great to know. Muchas gracias! Now I won't have to dig up that flower-bed, after all.

A