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Jamon it! Jamon it!
Today is the day foodies have been dreaming of – the mouthwatering Iberico Pata Negra (“black hoof”) hams from Spain are finally available in Chicago. The ham comes from Iberico pigs, which are descendants of the wild boar -- these free-range porkers eat an acorn-heavy diet, which gives the meat a rich nutty aroma and flavor. We haven’t been able to get the hams here because there were no USDA approved slaughterhouses in Spain before Embutidos Fermin got the green light -- evidentially the meat quality of these piggies goes downhill with the stress of travel, so slaughtering them in approved plants in northern Europe (where most Serrano ham comes from) was a no-go. Solex Partners, the Midwest distributors of the primo product, hand-delivered a limited supply of hams to select spots that pre-ordered today; more hams will be available in the Chicago market in 3-4 weeks.
Want a sample? Chef Mark Mendez is doing a Taste of Pata Negra at Carnivale with a trio of preps for $15 – thinly sliced, in a ham-fat spread on grilled bread, and in a soup with Spanish Marcona almonds. Café Ba-Ba-Reeba is serving the thinly sliced ham with Spanish bread sticks and olives for $13.95. The ham will also be available at Café Iberico, 1492 Tapas Bar, Wave Restaurant, Pastoral and Sam’s Wine and Spirits.
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