Feral Pig

Got game? We'll tell you who's got game: the gents over at Fabrique Delices who are delivering the goods when it comes to traditional French charcuterie classics like pate and saucisson. Everything they make is ground and given hands-on attention during every stage of the process' from meat selection to packaging. Their artisanal p't's are made from fresh, coarsely ground meats that are mixed with dried fruits, wine, and nuts, making for a textured, full-flavored mouthful. An excellent companion to any cheese plate, they're at their best with strong cheeses like Scharfe Maxx, Epoisses, and Mahon Curado'don't forget the Moutarde de Dijon and cornichons! For drinks, think big, bold reds.

Watch your fat back, bacon! There's another cheeky slice making the scene whose sole, plump purpose in your kitchen is to turn sow's ears into silky, succulent purses. Originally a delicacy in Umbria, La Quercia's Iowa-bred meat is simply seasoned with rosemary, black and white pepper, and sea salt. It's a traditional staple that you'll want to keep on hand once you've tried it. Depending on how you're using guanciale, you may want it sliced thinly or whole to cut into chunks. With that in mind, we'll ship you a 1/2 pound piece whole that you can slice at home with a sharp chef's knife or cut into chunks. Since it's so rich, it pairs well with big red wines that can stand up to the flavors it deepens. It's best used in cooking, particularly traditional Italian favorites like spaghetti alla carbonara and pasta all'amatriciana, and adds an extra-luxurious texture to sauces and stews.

Mangalitsa pigs (aka mangalica pigs) are a “lard-type” heritage breed. Because of their unique wooly appearance, they are sometimes also referred to as “wooly pigs." While almost all other pig breeds raised in America are “meat-type” breeds that have been bred since World War 2 to be leaner and leaner with each generation (their meat progressively getting dryer and less flavorful), Mangalitsas have remained essentially the same since the breed with first developed in Hungary in 1833. They require nearly twice as much time, pasture and feed as conventional pork, which contributes to their price and is why they’re so rarely raised on American farms. The extra time, space and expense is worth it - Mangalitsa pork is extremely well marbled (often with more than double the marbling of conventional pork), with smooth fat that is both buttery and cleaner tasting. Mangalitsa’s flavor is far superior to mainstream pork and it is also much less likely to dry out. The Mangalitsa breed, when raised free range with quality feed as these pigs have been, produces fat that is primarily monounsaturated and higher in oleic acid. This means it melts at lower temperatures for a rich, moist result in cooking, and also cures far better than conventional pork.