Framani Pancetta SD COSTCO - moved from California board

[normalheightsfoodie]

I just saw Framani Pancetta at Mission Valley Costco, @ 7+ per lb. How can I use it.

Can you just eat it as is?

[Josh]

Wow, that's a fantastic deal. Just paid 2x that at Whole Foods.

How large are the packages?

[normalheightsfoodie]

1.5lb or about 11.50

[rquitaso]

spaghetti carbonara

[honkman]

I would use guanciale for spaghetti carbonara

[Josh]

Guanciale is for amatriciana, pancetta is for carbonara. At least, that's what I saw on all the menus when I was in Italy.

[honkman]

Interesting, my understanding is that guanciale is the "classical" ingredient for carbonara (even though pancetta) is also often used.

ETA, just googled it and it looks like that there is no real agreement in Italy (or any part of the world) which is the authentic one. Even though people seem to prefer guanciale for the deeper flavor

[stevuchan]

Michael Mina has a recipe in Wine Spectator in which he wraps a pork loin in pancetta pan sears till crispy and a quick blast in the oven to finish cooking. Hard to get good pork, but I've had good luck with Bristol Farms and Bischer's in Poway. Thanks for the heads up on the Fra Mani, they make a good product.

[honkman]

It has a different flavor profile as bacon but you can use it a substitute for bacon in a lot of recipes.