Has anyone shopped at La Espanola Meats

[andiesenji]

Melinda Lee, KNX Radio, on her Food News show just mentioned that this company will soon be offering the acorn-fed Iberico de Bellota Paleta shoulder jamon (ham). This is in addition to other specialty ham products.

I don't know how I have managed to miss this place but this is the first I have heard of it.

They have a web page La Espanola Meats but it is just a one page history with a link to a location map.

I would like to know if it is worth my making the long drive from Lancaster to shop at the store.

If anyone has shopped there, please post information.

[chezcherie]

i have been there, and would go again. it is pretty small, and the clerks seemed quite and shy when we first entered the store. but once they saw the three of us ooohing and ahhhing over some chorizos and cheeses, they began to offer us tastes of lots of different things. i don't go there a lot, but if you are combining the trip with someplace else (say, Penzey's in Torrance, which is no more than 10 minutes away), i'd say check it out. i have heard that they make a killer paella, but don't know if that's a special occasion event--there was no cooking happening when we were there.

[Joe Blowe]

I live in Torrance, and I visit La Española about once or twice a month. I'm hooked on their imported jamon serrano, and my wife loves their domestic jamon. The store has been around since 1982, but I only discovered it about 10 years ago. (Ah, all those missed ham opportunities... )

As mentioned in the recent L.A. Times article, La Española is one of the first U.S. distributors of the ibérico ham. That's probably due to Jauna's, the owner, strong relationships with Spanish exporters. They are already wholesaling the ibérico, but as of two weeks ago it still was not available through their retail storefront. I assume it'll be for sale any day now, though.

I'm not sure if I would make a special trip to their store just for ham, but if you plan ahead you could pre-order the paella (which is only sold on Saturdays), hit San Pedro for some cevapcici (my recommendation ), stop by Cookin' Stuff, Penzeys, an Indian grocery store or two, etc.

ETA: Try this link instead -- http://laespanolameats.com -- you'll be able to see the rest of their site...

Edited March 9, 2008 by Joe Blowe (log)

[andiesenji]

Thanks for the info.

I don't eat seafood but if the paella is the one with chicken and snails, i.e., paella Valenciana, I can have that.

I visit Cookin' Stuff fairly often but have yet to get to Penzeys. I generally combine a visit to Surfas with visits to points further south.

I have a portable fridge in my van for the long trips - makes a huge difference in how much I buy...........

[Jon Savage]

Thanks so much for the tip - since I live and work in Long Beach I'll be heading over to check that place out sooner rather than later.

[Jon Savage]

Stopped by there after work today... Wow!

Well worth even a special trip IMHO.