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.

Il Cane Rosso is located on the Bay side of the Ferry Building, next to Charles Phan’s Slanted Door. They offer a daily changing menu which you can check on their website, www.canerossosf.com. If you aren’t fiending for a Porchetta sandwich like I was, Il Cane Rosso has a selection of other sandwiches, soups, salads, and rotisserie platters. They are open everyday for breakfast and lunch.

Il Cane Rosso
1 Ferry Building, #41
San Francisco, CA 94111

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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.”

You can check out some of Spice Hound’s offerings on their website. Or better yet, try to see Tammy in person at one of the following farmers markets:

Thursdays 4-8 P.M. in San Carlos (on Laurel St. between Cherry and Olive St.)

Fridays 10 A.M.-2 P.M. in Downtown San Jose (San Pedro Square)

Saturdays 8 A.M.-1 P.M. in Palo Alto (Gilman between Hamilton and Forest St.)

Sundays 9 A.M-1 P.M in Campbell (Campbell Ave. at Central Ave.)

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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.

The sandwich had only a few ingredients. Tender seasoned slices of Porchetta, with sweet caramelized onions, all topped with fresh arugula. One bite will had me saying, “Wow.” The flavors of the roasted pork made me reminisce about Filipino roasted pork. It was almost like having lechon in a sandwich, but tastier, and more filling.

Keep in mind, RoliRoti isn’t a restaurant. They are a gourmet mobile rotisserie catering company which you can find at most farmers markets in the Bay Area. Our particular experience with RoliRoti was at the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market. Even though they are mobile and operate out of the back of their trucks, the quality of their food isn’t sacrificed. I have to send a thank you out to Jo from Taking Over the World One Bite at a Time for the heads up on RoliRoti.

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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.

The taste of the sweet tomatoes complemented the light flavors of the sausage. I enjoyed each bite down to the crispy crust.

Currently, you can find Uncie Ro’s Take and Bake Pizzas at seven farmers markets from Santa Cruz to Menlo Park. The best way to find out if he has pizzas at your local farmers market is to email Roland and ask.

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What can I say? I never thought a spot like this would be classified as a spot for dates, but it sure is. The Farmers Market in Newark, CA has a lot to offer. If you’re looking to buy some fresh produce for that meal you’re cooking up, you’ll find it here. You’ll be supporting local farmers while doing it. You can find an array of vegetables and fruits. Some farmers give you the option to get purchase organic grown food from their stands as well. The best part is that if you’re shopping for fruits, most farmers will give out free samples for you to enjoy. I ended up buying a bulk of delicious white peaches the last time I was there because of trying some samples.

Just take a walk around and see what farmers are offering. Sometimes you’ll find produce that the bigger grocery stores don’t offer. A good thing to keep in mind are the prices too. You won’t be hurting your wallets here. You’ll find most of the food here is priced lower than your local grocery store. I feel that the prices I pay here justify the quality I’m getting in return.

Finally, you will get a chance to see local food vendors here as well. Everything from home made pasta sauces, pastries, and cakes can be found just by taking a walk around. They even had a Filipino food vendor there where I ordered a cup of fresh cantelope juice. It’s one of my favorite Filipino drinks that I enjoy. You will not have an excuse to leave this place hungry.

If you have a Saturday or Sunday morning to spare, come make a stop at the Farmers Market in Newark, CA. You will find it right in the parking lot in front of Macy’s.

It’s a spot for dates because…
You can find great produce to buy here, especially if you’re planning to cook that meal for two together. If you didn’t find anything at the Farmers Market, you could always take a look at what NewPark Mall has.

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