where can I get "homemade" bacon?

[tobze]

I'm not talking about pre-packaged thick cut/applewood smoked/etc like Nieman Ranch or your run of the mill whole foods/trader joes/etc. I'm talking about a place (restaurant/deli/unmarked-white-van?) that smokes their own pork. Yes, I've seen the recipes online, but I'm a bit lazy to go that far...for now.

Had some bacon (on a BLT as part of a sampler) at a BBQ place in Kauai, and it was the best bacon I've ever had. You could really taste the smokiness of the bacon, and checking their menu later, they said they make their own. After that, I'm surprised more BBQ places don't make and sell their own bacon.

[mmerino]

Prime Smoked meats in Oakland
http://www.primesmoked.com/

[rworange]

link 2

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Prime Smoked Meats
220 Alice St, Oakland, CA

[Chuckles the Clone]

The no-brand applewood-smoked bacon at the Berkeley Bowl came out of a package labeled "Prime Smoked Meats, Oakland CA" this afternoon. $3.99/lb. It doesn't have the happy piggy backstory that the Niman Ranch bacon they used to sell (and now only sell pre-packaged) had, but I'm really liking this stuff -- thick, meaty, and reasonably mildly salty.

[Ruth Lafler]

More about Prime Smoked Meats. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/3352...

Note, if you go, they only take cash.

[drgonzo]

I went by Star Meats in October when they were demoing a whole hog breakdown of two beautiful Mangalitsa pigs. They had a couple kinds of bacon, including Neuske's. Some slab and some sliced. I went to buy a jowl to make guanciale last weekend and noticed customers buying Neuske bacon too. They often have meaty goodies hidden in the case or the back, like the jowl and lardo from the Mangalitsa pigs (delicious!). They have a smoker but I don't know if they house-smoke bacon. They had just pulled a batch of house smoked andouille when I arrived...can't wait to go back for more!
Star Meats
3068 Claremont Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
510 652-7712

[rworange]

link

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Star Meats
3068 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705

[Shane Greenwood]

I just finished off a slab of bacon (jowl) from Marin Sun Farms and it was really great. They also have traditional belly bacon.

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Marin Sun Farms Butcher Shop
10905 Hwy 1, Point Reyes Station, Ca

[Melanie Wong]

Yes, the sweetness and texture of the fat of the jowl is fantastic. I loved the housesmoked pig jowls from Willowside Meats in Santa Rosa, a great buy at $1.89/lb. How much does Marin Sun Farms charge?

[Shane Greenwood]

I don't remember exactly what I paid for the bacon because I was also picking up some bone in rib-eye and jerky at the same time for about $60 total. But the website lists one pound of sliced bacon for $9.99. I think I paid a little less because it wasn't a full pound.

[adrienne156]

I was at the Kinder's in Hercules a few weeks back and they had a couple of different kinds of thick-cut bacon in their meat case. Haven't had it, but the yelpers seem to like it... Anyone here tried it?

[rworange]

Kinder's buys the bacon and doesn't make it. I would seriously doubt that any of they yelpers that tried the regular bacon with supermarket brands could tell the difference. There is not one thing about it that makes it rise above the average. The regular bacon is Daley's bacon.

The pepper bacon is better. It doesn't go overboard on the pepper. Nicely balanced. They say the brand is Ladino. I haven't found anything about it on Goggle.

One of those bacon's is from Wisconsin. I was hoping it was Neuske's. One taste of the regular, I knew it wasn't. Don't know about the other. Unfortunately Kevin Bacon is from Wisconsin so searching becomes useless.

[tobze]

Finally got around to trying some of the Nueske's (via GGM @ the Ferry Building), and that was rather good (and smoky). Maybe a ~tiny~ bit too smokey, but it could've just been batch variance.

Next up (once my arteries clear up a bit), Magnani's.

[Ruth Lafler]

Baron's at the Alameda Marketplace also sells Nueske's slab bacon that can be cut to order (GG's is pre-sliced). They also had some wild boar bacon last time I was in there, but I don't know if that's going to be a regular offering or if it's just a winter/holiday item.

[tobze]

At GGM, it was actually a slab they sliced to order (at least when I went). I think they had some pre-sliced too, but less than the amount I wanted, so I'm guessing that may be part of why they pulled out a new slab.

[Alan408]

I also recommend Corralitos. In Los Gatos, there is Los Gatos Meats and Smokehouse. In San Jose, there used to Ralphs, but they were recently purchased by Los Gatos Meats, still in Ralph's location.

Not in the SF area, but I also like Swingle's in Jackson.

[Skunk2Racer]

try for Diners Club BEST rated bacon In America www,smokedmeats.com

[Shane Greenwood]

I've seen it at Magnani in Berkeley before. They had a couple of different kinds and were slicing it to order. 1576 Hopkins St.

[rworange]

I relaly like Magnani's bacon. Berkeley Bowl has a surprisingly good bacon. I think T-Rex smokes its own bacon, but they don't sell it retail, just on the menu. It is not local, but if you ever see a meat market selling Neuske's, that is wonderful. It is on the menu at 900 Grayson and a few other restuarnts.

[A Amore]

I really like the Magnani bacon too - but have not been able to get it for months. Everytime I go in there is none available and from a brief conversation with one of the folks behind the counter indicated that the new owners are doing it less. I agree Berkeley Bowl is a good alternative. I do not find Fatted Calf is noteworthy.

[Windy]

Golden Gate Meats in the Ferry Building sells Neuske's in the refrigerator case toward the raw bar.

[lexdevil]

Fatted Calf makes super nice, smoky bacon. If you pre-order, you may be able to get it unsliced (I have on occasion).

[wally]

You can also order it sliced thinner than usual if that strikes your fancy.

[tobze]

Tried some from Fatted Calf, and while good, it still wasn't as smokey as I'm now looking for.

I suppose next on the list to try would be Neuseke's from GGM (would try Magnani's or Corralitos, but I'm closer to the Ferry Building).

[rworange]

Unfortunately I wasn't going home right away, but when I stopped by Seakor's Polish Deli today, I learned they make their own slab bacon.

Wow, has Seakor changed. Maybe not in product, but they are really more American friendly. I guess the owner is getting good with English and all this California sushine must have finally got to him, he was absolutly cheery.

Will try to pick the bacon up next time I'm in the area. The $100 dried mushrooms are still calling out to me.

[wolfe]

I was going to say that the best "homemade" bacon I have had in this area was from the Corralitos Market just below Aptos. However, this article is worrisome and I would call before making the trip. On e morning as I waited in line after the 9AM opening the man in front of me cleaned out the tray. I was was informed there was plenty more where that came from. Their many apple-wood smoked sausages were available online.
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_1...
I can't find any online contact now. They are at
569 Corralitos Rd
Corralitos, CA 95076
[phone]

[virtualguthrie]

Wow, that was a scare. The article says the owner planned to be open that evening, mostly just product loss. Thank the stars that Corralitos did not burn. They have some of the best bacon I've ever had, cured and smoked in house. Of course the main attraction at Corralitos is their huge variety of smoked sausage, also made on site. My favorite sausage is the Cheesy Andoullie, it's absolutely amazing, very rich. They do mail order.

Every year for Christmas my uncle from sends each member of my family 5 lbs. of bacon from Coursey's smoked meats in St. Joe Arkansas. Let me tell you this is some of the finest bacon you can get. Deep hickory smoke, absolutely wonderful pork, definitely an artisan product. They also do mail order.

Both of these places are highly reccomended.

[Discerning1]

The Corralitos Market is in a beautiful valley of apple orchards. Thus their pork is applewood-smoked. While you are there, buy a ham shank (cracked) to keep in the freezer for making bean soup. It's terrific.

[Cicely]

Dittmer's in Mountain View... I'm pretty sure they smoke their own, they make sausages and have smoked legs of things as well.

[epicurgirl]

Roundman's in Fort Bragg, CA. OMG! The BEST Bacon EVER!! You can order online: http://www.roundmans.com/