Gremolata's Profile
Purchasing half a pig (butchered and frozen)
Thanks for the recs for Brambly Farms -- they look to be just the ticket for me. I'm trying to get in touch with them for my new half pig!
Purchasing half a pig (butchered and frozen)
Hello Hounds -
I'm looking to fill a freezer with a lot of delicious pork. I've lived in Chicago for the past few years, and every winter I've purchased half of a sustainably-raised pig, butchered to my specifications, and sealed in cryovac. This has been just about the best investment that I could imagine (much better than what I sunk into a house...). I'm moving to the Boston area, and I'm again looking for half a pig, ideally a great tasting breed (e.g. Berkshire, or similar) raised sustainably (without antibiotics, under humane conditions, etc.). I've searched this board, and I apologize if there has been a recent similar discussion, but I just can't find any info on this. I see that Chestnut Farms has a highly-regarded meat CSA, but I'm looking to buy the whole half-pig all at once, instead of receiving distributions monthly, and Chestnut doesn't do this. Can someone please recommend a source? I'm also in the market for chickens with which to stock my freezer, so recommendations for that would also be welcome.
Many thanks!
Half pigs or quarter cows?
Has anyone on this board successfully purchased a (butchered) half pig or quarter cow from a high-end farmer in the region? I'm looking for either a heritage pig (e.g. Berkshire) or grass-fed cow, professionally butchered, that I can stash in a chest freezer through the cold months. If no one has any suggestions for me, I've looked on Heritage Foods, and identified their featured farmers in the Illinois and Missouri areas, and I'm planning on contacting them directly.
Thanks for your help, and I'll report back my findings.
Best butchers in Chicago?
I am a soon-to-be transplant from California, and I seek your advice on finding the best butchers in Chicago. I've searched this board, but have yet to find a real consensus. I'm looking for a shop that sells grass-fed beef, heritage pork, pastured poultry, and home-made sausages and salumi. I want to be able to talk to my butcher, rather than buy weird meat wrapped in plastic. Alternately, if anyone can recommend purveyors from whom one can purchase half pigs and quarter cows, I would also be very interested. I will be living in Hyde Park, but I will certainly travel the length and breadth of Chicago, if that's what it takes to find a really quality shop. Thanks very much for your help.
Making sloe gin
Has anyone here ever tried to make sloe gin? I know that the sloe berries aren't grown in the U.S. (at least not in Northern California), but I am considering a local small plum (which no one seems to eat here in Berkeley, except maybe Michael Pollan) as a substitute. So, my questions, please:
1) Is it worth it to use a very high quality gin, or will the fruit overwhelm the flavors? I was going to pick up a 1.75 of Bombay-level gin (not my normal Plymouth).
2) Has anyone else done this, with plum varieties other than the sloe/Blackthorn plum?
3) When using other fruits, are there any special considerations? The plum I am hoping to use is about the size of a monster cherry, and I am worried that too much of the gin will remain absorbed into the fruit at the end, and I'll lose a significant volume. Maybe I'll pit the fruit first, and press it pretty hard at the end of the maceration in order to extract as much booze as possible?
I know that Plymouth is starting t sell a sloe gin th U.S., and I'll be happy to report back on the homemade version vs. the Plymouth.
Thanks.
Looking for trays of 10+ tamales in the East Bay
Hi All -
Can anyone recommend a place to buy tamales in the East Bay -- specifically, some kind of quasi-bulk order? I have friends with a new baby, who likely have zero energy to cook, and I'd like to bring them some food. I'm searched this board for tamale recommendations, and most of the favorites are carts run by Guatemalans (e.g. on International Boulevard, between 48th and 49th). This would be fine -- great, in fact -- if you think that they would be able to prepare a larger order, but otherwise are there some markets that you would recommend? I live in Berkeley, so I will probably check Mi Tierra (San Pablo right off University) as first try.
Thanks very much.
Marbled pork in SF Markets?
Prather Ranch (in the Ferry Building) sells heritage pork, including Berkshire. They are certainly not afraid of fat. Their pork and beef is always excellent (but not cheap).
Liquor Store in East Bay with GREAT Selection?
I'm always surprised that Ledger's Liquors (University Avenue in Berkeley, near Sacramento cross street) doesn't get more respect on this board. Granted, it's a really weird building, but it has a selection of liquor that is is both vast and thoughtful. When there's something hard to find, it alway check there. I've recently found Indonesian "Batavia-Arrack", Basque Patxaran (sp?), and the grapefruit Fee Brothers' bitters there, to name just a few. It gets additional points in my book for being both family run (you'll often find Ed Ledger behind the counter) and historical (it's in the top 10 oldest California liquor stores post-Prohibition, or something like that).
Michael Pollan's Twelve Commandments for Serious Eaters
Regarding #7, I think that Michael Pollan would argue we'd all pay less, in the long run, by focusing on why it costs more to shop at the farmers' markets than at the supermarket. Sure, there are economies of scale for the big producers, but the larger story is all of the hidden costs we pay for the supposedly cheaper food. We pay for the farm subsidies for the cheap corn, we pay for the costs of the environmental degradation from the fertilizer run-off, and we really pay through the hose for the diabetes from the massive overload of high fructose corn syrup in almost every product. By paying attention to the real costs of the food we eat, perhaps people will demand that the actual costs are really reflected in the sticker price, so that people can make more rational (and economical) decisions about their food.
Rye
There's a wide selection of Fee Brothers' bitters at Ledger's Liquors on University Avenue in Berkeley. In fact, it was their cryptic sign reading "Looking for the Bitter Brothers Fee?" that first drew me into the shop a few years ago. This place just seems to have everything.
where to buy annatto/achiote seeds?
The Berkeley Bowl certainly used to carry them -- I would guess that Rainbow Market might as well
El Tucan no more
I think that you should give Angel's another try. Maybe they were having some difficulties early on, or maybe it's just me, but I find that Angel's is now significantly BETTER than El Tucan was. My favorites include the sopes with chorizo, and the pupusas with queso and loroco (although, I will admit, their curtido is a bit bland).
Where can I find pickling lime?
HI Mange -
Sorry I didn't see your post until now. I have plenty of extra pickling lime if you want some -- I live in Berkeley. Please contact me if you're interested.
Where can I find Kurobuta Chops in the Bay Area?
More and more often, Cafe Rouge in Berkeley has been carrying Berkshire pork at their meat counter. They've also occasionally had other heirloom varieties (Red Wattle, maybe?). Good stuff.
A foodie's tour of Morgan Hill - from a native
Thanks for the Morgan Hill report. I had to go to Andy's Orchards, and based on your recommendation I stopped into Trail Dust for lunch. The pulled beef brisket sandwich with a side of the "Hog Wash" sauce really hit the spot. If someone else had been driving I would have been all up for stopped in at the El Toro brew pub, but no dice.
Looking for a US retailer of pacharán
Wow, timely post. I just came back from Spain where I really enjoyed some great pacharan, and I've been looking for it here. My wine shop just stopped carrying it (they carried the Baines "pacharan", but they tell me it's no longer imported), but they pointed me to wine-searcher.com. Using that spelling, I was able to find a bunch of retailers, including two in my area. Good luck.
