Saturday, April 28, 2007

Bacon


This morning was a good slow morning started off with old friend, bacon. You see I had given up on it because I heard somewhere that you couldn't get it Italy. All they have here is pancetta and that just doesn't cook up crispy like bacon.
This all changed when Natalie and I visited "Il Salu...mino" together during her visit. She asked me if they had bacon and before I could answer Mino heard "bacon" and said "Si, Si". I was amazed. Here I was going what I heard through the grapevine and it was so wrong. Mino said that Levoni makes bacon and they are very proud of the "original style" in which they still make it. I had no clue how bacon is made so I thought the only real test is to try it. His first slice was ridiculously thick and the second too thin but now he cuts it just right every time. And yes it tastes so frickin good. I would say it's perfect but I haven't had it in so long that I may be biased right now. I'll grade it against mom's the next time I'm in town for some BLTs. MMMmmm BLTs...
Some of my fondest memories of bacon takes me back to the good old days of working at Hardees for the morning shift. I would cook up 120 strips of bacon before the place even opened. I could snatch up a piece hot off the grill when it's just turning crispy but not quite there. MMmmm. I hope this is just a passing greasy kick that I'm on. I think not too long ago I was talking about all the good healthy food I'm eating now. Bacon doesn't fit into that category.

6 comments:

Kataroma said...

Yum - that bacon picture has inspired me to try to make bacon and eggs (with worcestershire sauce!) for breakfast. I'm frying up some pancetta as I write this.

Healthy schmealthy!

Delina said...

120 strips of bacon?! I WANT BACON TOOOOO! I saw some in Carrefour but it was full of fat, but thinking, maybe I should have picked some up anyway.

Michelle | Bleeding Espresso said...

I'm very jealous of your bacon, and just the mention of BLTs has me swooning....

Jeff Gromen said...

Kataroma,
I don't want to rise the cholestrol of all the Expats in Italy. Go back to fruit!!

Delina,
Look for the brand name Levoni. My salumeria swears by them. I wouldn't get Carrefour brand (that's French!!!)

Sognatrice,
BLTs are mostly good for you! That has to count for something.

Jeff

Delina said...

The packet I saw in Carrefour was actually Spanish... Hmmm

Anonymous said...

you found somebody who makes real American style (not UK) bacon? I mostly find here in rome that when people are selling bacon, its really pancetta which has such a different taste. Saltier of something about the curing...