My $32 Salamis from Mario Batali's Dad

Sometimes I do rash things.  In this case I was watching the "No Reservations" show on the Travel Channel.  Anthony Bourdain, the host, was up in the Pacific northwest, Portland and Seattle mainly, and near the end of he show he visited Salumi, a deli and Italian salami store.  The store is run by Armondino Batali, who happens to be Mario Batali's father.  Armondino retired from his job and went to Italy to learn how to make traditional Italian salami.

So I watch the show and think, "Gee, it would be great to try some of those traditional salamis, I wonder if I can order them online."  Sure enough, you can.  They are $15/lb plus shipping via Fed Ex 2nd day air.  I ordered them without really thinking about how much shipping would be.

It turns out shipping 3 pounds from Seattle to Chicago is $26.  I didn't think shipping would be anywhere near that much.  So the total for the 2 salamis I ordered was $64.  Thank goodness they are incredibly good.

Here are a few pictures:

The Finnochiona is amazing, the fennel gives it a great flavor.  The Winter Salumi is more "normal" and also very good.