Chris, Rose, and I were looking forward to see if RoliRoti would be at today’s Thursday Ferry Plaza Farmers Market for a bite of their Porchetta sandwiches. After looking around, they were no where to be found. After walking around in search of that magical truck, we managed to work up an appetite. Instead of chowing down on a Porchetta sandwich, we snagged a few Korean style tacos from Namu, still wishing that we had that sandwich in our hands.

Before leaving, I stumbled upon a pleasant surprise. A new restaurant had opened up called Il Cane Rosso.

Il Cane Rosso is a casual Italian rotisserie and sandwich shop that focuses on using the freshest local ingredients possible. After checking their website, we found out that it was created by Daniel Patterson, the chef and owner of Coi, and chef Lauren Kiino. They had just opened about a week ago.

I looked at Il Cane Rosso’s menu and my eyes lit up after I saw that they had a Porchetta sandwich on the menu. Just behind the counter you could see the rotisserie at work, spinning the meats as their juices slowly dripped. Watching the rotisserie was hypnotizing. Suddenly, I just got hungry again. I still needed my pork fix so I gave in and ordered one to go.

The sandwich was piled with a good amount of sliced tender pork, topped with mustard greens. A plum mostarda finishes off the sandwich to give it a slight tart finish. Not only was it a relief knowing that I still had my chance at a Porchetta sandwich today, but it was good to know that this casual Italian spot had opened for when I’m in search of deliciously roasted meats.

Continue Reading » Il Cane Rosso, an Italian Rotisserie in The Ferry Building Marketplace

Tammy of Spice Hound can guide you through the world of herbs and spices. Based out of Sunnyvale, this local Bay Area company goes out in search of herbs, spices, and salts from across the globe. You might just come across something that you can’t find at your local grocery store just by browsing Spice Hound’s Online Store.

Tammy and I met this weekend at the Connoisseur’s Marketplace in Menlo Park. The array of salts that Tammy had on display was enough to stop me in awe.

Sure I was familiar with a few special salts like Fleur de Sel and Pink Hawaiian Salt, but nothing like what Spice Hound had on display. More exotic choices like Porcini Mushroom Sea Salt, Black Truffle Sea Salt, and Hawaiian Black Lava Sea Salt, is a sample of what kind of salts you can expect from Spice Hound. To know that Spice Hound had salts that were infused with these amazing flavors was incredible. You don’t have to be a gourmet cook to try out these salts either. Just let your creative cooking self out or follow what the label suggests. I was tempted to buy a jar of the Porcini Mushroom Salt after reading that it would be wonderful for risotto. I could only imagine the aroma that the salt would have created.

Tammy and I talked about how her interest in salts before the food trend of specialty salts being the “it” thing. Whether it’s being ahead of food trends or just having a genuine passion for what she does, Tammy is in the right business. It shows. I said to myself, “Who else better to talk to than the team of Spice Hound, when you’re in search of specialty salts or spices.”

Continue Reading » Your Local Bay Area Spice Hound

Sometimes standing in line for a sandwich and having the sun scorch the back of your neck is well worth it. For a Porchetta sandwich from RoliRoti, I’d do it again without hesitating. With the line about fifteen people deep, it was only a matter of time until we reached the front to order our sandwiches. The aroma of roasted chickens and pork filled the air with each step taken.

Right when we reached the front of the line we were greeted by the beautiful sight of the Porchetta being prepared for sandwich orders.

The hasty slicing action of the roasted pork led to all of the juices drip onto the cutting board. The folks at RoliRoti know not to let the juices go to waste. A quick grab of a piece of bread to wipe down the cutting board to absorb all of what was left over ensured that you wouldn’t miss any of the flavors.

Continue Reading » RoliRoti’s Porchetta Sandwiches

On Sunday I visited the Menlo Park farmers market. Plenty of vendors were showcasing their produce. There was one booth that captured my attention, not because of fresh fruits or vegetables, but pizzas. Pizza at a farmers market? I had to check it out.

The man behind the pizzas was Roland Konicke, a New Yorker who moved to Santa Cruz to share his passion for pizza. It was here he founded Uncie Ro’s Take and Bake Pizza. First thing to keep in mind is Roland’s pizzas are far from being an ordinary take and bake pizza. I had a chance to talk with Roland about why his pizzas are so special.

I found out that his pizzas are focused on using locally available organic ingredients. Roland pointed towards the pizzas he had on display and said, “I just made these pizzas yesterday.”

His hand crafted pizzas use flour from a company out in San Francisco. What’s more impressive is that the toppings he uses are purchased at local farmers markets. His vision of supporting local farms seems to be the driving force behind the company. “Everything, but the cheese is locally grown. The cheeses on these pizzas were imported from Italy,” said Roland. I was sold. I took a Sausage & Pepper pizza home with me to try out for dinner.

The pizza was topped with four different cheeses – Provolone, Parmesan, Mozzarella, and Romano. The sausage was made from grass fed pork. What really catches your eye are the bright red bell peppers on the pizza. I was anxious to see how the flavors would marry together. I threw the pizza into oven and soon enough, the smell of the sausage and fennel filled the kitchen.

Continue Reading » Uncie Ro’s Organic Artisan Pizzas