We’re always looking for new, delicious products from small producers to bring into the shop. We have a host of new cured meats from a couple of great producers:

La Quercia
(pronounced La Kwair-cha ) Started by Herb and Kathy Eckhouse means the Oak in Italian. The Oak is a traditional symbol of the province of Parma, Herb and Becky’s home for three and a half years, and, through its acorns, has been associated with the production of premium dry cured ham for millennia. It is also the state tree of Iowa.

La Quercia Acorn Edition Coppa - These Tamworth (heritage breed) hogs spend their last three months foraging an Ozark Mountain hillside where acorns and hickory nuts make up an estimated 65-70% of their diet. Before this, they were pasture-raised on the same farm.

Alle-Pia
Each small batch is created with love by the talented Antonio Varia, Chef and Owner of Buona Tavola Restaurants in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, California. For nearly two decades, Chef Varia has delighted residents and visitors with his inventive Northern Italian cuisine in his Buona Tavola (meaning “good table”) restaurants.

Cacciatorino - This salami’s fresh flavor comes from juniper berries and Chianti wine from Italy. It has a lighter taste than the other varieties. Salami Cacciatore translates into “hunter’s salami.” It got this name because it is formed into small pieces about six or seven inches long, making them a simple and portable snack easily carried in a hunter’s shoulder bag. Aromatic juniper berries impart a clear, refreshing flavor.

Calabrese - A drier, spicy salami.

Sopressa - Salami with just a little kick! Locally produced Paso Robles Zinfandel wine and cayenne pepper add zesty flavor without being too hot or spicy. Bold enough to stand up with other strong flavors, but is not overpowering. Salami Sopressata got its name from the practice of pressing the salami between planks of wood resulting in a straight, flattened shape. The Northern Italian version did away with the pressed shape. Sopressa is known for having a more robust taste thanks to the amount of garlic and additional added spices like paprika and cayenne pepper.

Nudja - Handcrafted Italian salami spread (awesome sauce).