Country ham in Greater Boston?

[MC Slim JB]

(I'm not trying to make this the all-ham-all-the-time board, just coincidentally posting two ham questions in one day.)

Does anyone know where I can find country ham locally? If you've never had it, it's extraordinary: a long dry cure (as opposed to the wet cure used in most familiar hams), very smoky and salty and concentrated in flavor.

I know plenty of mail-order sources. The Dig's current issue has an article on stuff you can get delivered; one of my contributions was "country ham from Finchville Farms", my favorite. But I'm wondering if anyone local carries it, so I could get some on short notice if needed.

[itaunas]

(Sorry to reply to a slightly old thread, but haven't been keeping up with CH and this thread looked like it wasn't answered.)

The one place in Boston I know that always has country hams (and all things southern) is Lord Jeff's. I believe it'll be from a larger producer and fully cooked, but they usually have a whole ham in burlap bag and cut to order too. Also a good place for smoked hocks, red hots (and a immense collection of southern size sausages), slab bacon, etc. Its in Newmarket, so not far from the South Bay 88. Lines can get really long on weekends, though.

[MC Slim JB]

Excellent tip: I've never tried this place, and it sounds like it has a lot of reasons to visit.

[mao]

Did you see the story on Smithfield Foods in December's Rolling Stone? Go to www.Ruhlman.com, the January 5 entry - the link is there.

[Sgt Snackers]

I was about to ask the same thing, having received the Lee Bros. Southern Cookbook as an xmas present (excellent book by the way!)
MC, let us know what you find...

[capeanne]

There are 2 versions available at Savenors in Cambridge We had the very large cured ham which required cooking over the Holiday and I thought it was way too salty, smokey and tough ..and expensive. But we really like the smaller fully cooked hickory smoked Edwards ham ..sometimes available at Savenors , sometimes you're not so lucky. It is pricey . If I recall about 40 bucks for about 2.5lb but delish Also it keeps forever in fridge wrapped in saranwrap and kept in its own cloth bag

[MichaelB]

Oddly enough, I've seen whole country hams at Super 88 (I believe it was the Allston location) -- no idea if it was from one of the better producers, but I'm pretty sure it was a Smithfield ham. I think they're used as substitutes for Yunnan ham (a chinese dry-cured ham), since those aren't available in the states.

Also, I personally have no problem with all ham all the time. (!)

[9lives]

You beat me to it. The Super 88 in Chinatown carries the Smithfield hams too.

[MC Slim JB]

Thanks, folks! I determined that the South Bay Super 88 does not.