Guanciale at Jewel! (not really, but almost)

I stopped by the Jewel on Ashland, near Bryn Mawr to pick up a couple of things on my way home. I don't shop there on a regular basis except to pick up an item or two on the way home, etc.

Last night I noticed they had stocked quite a few smoked pork products that I had not seen before. They were all from the same domestic producer and now I can't think of the name (sorry). I was pleasantly surprised to find hog jowl to be among the new products! In sliced form and hunk form. I didn't pick any up but I may tonight to saute with some broccoli rabe and serve over pasta.

I know it's no guanciale but it may be a better substitute over bacon in certain dishes, i.e. Amatriciana(sp?).

Hi,

Did it look like this?



I saw these at Southern Foods in Kenosha. It appears Burger Brothers is actively marketing in our area.

Regards,

yes! that's it. Have you tried any of these products?

No, but I know who has.

HI,

No, not yet. From your post I am glad all I have to do is drive to my local Jewel.

Thanks for the information.

Regards,

I'm glad this stuff is showing up. But I want to know why. It seems to me that country ham has always had a market in Chicago among Chinese immigrants and, obviously, former southerners -- e.g., the fading white Appalachain community and African Americans with southern roots.

But it appears that Chicago's recent Balkan immigrants might also be major buyers. Devon Market, whose meat case leans heavily toward the Serbian, Croatian, etc. customers, has been carrying Clifty Farms meats from TN for some time. Same for Westbrook Market in the suburbs.

One can't underestimate the importance of the Balkan community to grocers on the North Side. Indeed, Golden Pacific, on Broadway near Argyle, is about as Asian as it gets, yet they are now stocking ajvar, pickled peppers, and Balkan sausages. The manager says they are going to do more to meet demand from the neighborhood.

So who's buying this stuff, other than LTHers?

We were the recipients of a generous gift of several Burger's ham-steaks from Erik M. and they were excellent.

Some suggested servings:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=40962#40962
La Boumiano ambé la polènto, lou cambajoun de campagno e leis ious fregits
Old Fashioned Ratatouille with Polenta, Country Ham and Fried Eggs


http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=41025#41025

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Jeff,

With regard to the Balkan factor, I should mention that down in that other zone of Balkanisation, down on the (South-) East Side, one finds old style American cured pork products in a store popular with immigrants from South Slav countries, namely the Greek store down on Ewing I wrote about last fall, Ellinikon Pandopoleion:
http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=50065#50065

I got some good cured items which I used in various beans-and-greens sorts of preparations back in the days when great fish tacos were available just a few blocks away...

sniff sniff ...

Antonius