Charcuterie is the art-yes art of making as well as preserving animal products, especially pork. You may think you’ve never had it, however unless you grew up in a vegetarian family, you have most likely had it countless times. American charcuterie is, regrettably has long been commercialized, beaten into submission, and the consequence is sausage that shrinks when you place it in a hot skillet, “bologna” that does not actually resemble a accurate bologna, and hot dogs that i wouldn’t feel safe serving to my dog.
All isn’t lost. In recent times, there’s been a renaissance of sorts, starting in classical french bistros and gradually spreading to the public. If you so choose, anyone can purchase genuine prosciutto di parma and also soppressata at the deli counter in many top end supermarkets. And people DO buy it! If you are reading this article and thinking “Why would I invest $12 per lb on dried up, raw pork?” then perhaps you should stop looking at this, go out to a shop and buy some. Not one pound, not a half pound. Purchase two pieces. Paper thin. Try them and your issues will be clarified. if every person in the united states did that, this nation would be a much better place. A far better place with fewer fastfood eateries and more artisanal food items. If I’m able to aid, even in a little way to help make that a reality, then I will have attained my goal.
Charcuterie has its origins within the very foundations of civilization, in mesopotamia as well as the fertile crescent. Without the cabability to preserve meat coming from slaughtered livestock, a reliable supply of protein is extremely hard to come by. What started as need with time became an art. Taking a cut of pork and curing it, and then drying it slowly and gradually for weeks, or cold smoking it to slow down microbial development offers an unintended side effect. It alters the taste, consistency and excellence of the particular meat itself. It will take an everyday cut of meat and turns it into something special. The fifteenth century french charcutier had been probably the first business to take this industry and elevate it to an art. They weren’t permitted to sell raw pork, so to be able to attract more buyers they began to cook, cure, stuff, and smoke pork products in exciting new ways. 6 centuries afterwards, we’ve got confit de canard, prosciutto di parma, and all manner of dry and/or emulsified sausages thanks to those engenius craftsmen.