photo: El PaísIf you missed the news, jamón ibérico arrived in the US several months ago and I immediately took heat for not having properly and proactively informed every American friend I had introduced to this heavenly treat during visits to Salamanca.
Then El País proudly published this photo of Barack Obama sampling mediterranean treats at a charcutería in the Italian Market in Philadelphia during a campaign march through Pennsylvania. The (very generous) man behind the counter sliced our candidate a nice thin slab of $99 a pound jamón ibérico - Salamanca pata negra, in fact - and let him know he was tasting a recently legalized gem.
Obama asked what he meant by "legalized". "What, it's like a drug?"
Just taste it, he was told.
Moments later our rapt candidate spoke again. "I only know it's really good."
An understatement, but it's better than a campaign season exaggeration. I'll take it.
Fermín, a jamón producer based in La Alberca, in the my home province of Salamanca, won permission to be the first producer of pata negra jamón to import its products to the States last December.
So what do my neighbors say about all this, you ask? Well to be honest, the talk here is endearingly Spanish. Salmantinos are certain all those jamón-lusting Americans are going to drive up our local pata negra prices until only wealthy foreigners can afford the stuff.
But I'm not worried. Yet. I'm going to a wedding Saturday. And guess what they're serving during the wine-sipping hour? One guess, Laura?
6 comments:
You are killing me.
Hey, they taking eggs to the Clares?
You know, they're not. Yet the sister of the bride is already lamenting the weather (raining now and supposed to rain Saturda). Hmmm. Secularist Republican (in the Spanish definition, as in not a monarchist ;)) Madrileños, these novios. Maybe I should drop Clare's gals an even dozen myself, you think?
Are you aware of this:
http://www.blogged.com/blogs/a-wandering-woman-writes-from-spain.html
Hehehe, I got .1 points less (although I feel I'm leagues behind you):
http://www.blogged.com/blogs/building-bridges.html
Uh oh, the Claras sure got angry. Was quite the ugly gale yesterday
I did see that, Alex! Cool, huh?
lrb, wasn't it an awful day? I don't remember many days worse than yesterday, weather wise, in my 4 years in Salamanca. But! But! The wedding was at 530. And I don't who sweet talked the Claras, but the rain stopped and sun came out at 5. :) It was chilly, to be sure, but there was sun!
And embutidos de bellota, and tostón and a Tuna serenade. :)
Hi, i'm new to your blog, but due to my recent first visit to Salamanca, I felt like I should comment on this post, as the food in Salamanca was amazing! I went to a few different restaurants during my stay (the names of which I cannot remember), and I recall some of the food that I had: jamón, salchichón, chorizo, lomo embuchado, queso manchego, boquerones y pulpo a la gallega. I have never been treated to such a great feast in my life (with a good friend of mine that lives there). I will have to look around to find some of the jamón ibérico so that my friends can try it. They really don't believe me how good it really was!
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