Finally took a quick look into Big John's PFI the other day. I've only parked in that back lot for a year and a half, and my friend's boyfriend, a really great cook, only swore by the place long ago, and I've been lamenting the fact that sometimes when I'm in Uwajimaja, as fabulous as it is, when I'm looking for more Mediterranean ingredients, it kind of stinks...now I have no idea what took me so damn long! That place is amazing, and fills a serious culinary gap in my regular shopping route! They have stuff in bulk, an elaborate cheese counter, chocolate of the gods, and reasonable prices, to boot. P.F.I. Stands for Pacific Food Imports, and the place looks like it's been around for awhile. Ok, just looked it up, and that is indeed the case--45 years, to be exact! It's a family business that started as an olive importer. (Didn't even touch the olive dept! Will have to remedy that soon!). It has a warehousey charm, short on the fancy pants, but long on the fabulous products. I was in part checking it out for my mother-in-law, sine she was lamenting the lack of great Italian staples ever since moving to the Northwest a few months ago. Well, I found her pancetta, and then some! I can't wait to bring her some goods from my next trip.
Menu: weeknight porchetta (thanks, bon appetit!), smashed sweet potatoes, romaine salad.
Unfortunately, the porchetta, for all it's fabulous bacon flavor (really a bacon wrapped pork tenderloin,) was undercooked--I would have put me out of Top Chef on the spot!) and the Hub, who is very wary of this kind of thing, would not stop giving me grief about it. It was much better today, after a little longer in the oven. Usually I grill my pork tenderloins, so I was not used to the way the oven behaved. Yes, I WILL blame it on the 50 year-old oven, thank you!
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment