Food Information:

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. Guanciale (Gwan-cha-lay) comes from the pig's jowl and consists of delicate fat and ribbons of earthy meat throughout. 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. 

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.

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