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If you want to make a foodie swoon—and who doesn’t?—then start talking about the joys of prosciutto, pancetta, coppa, and any other variety of cured pig. If that doesn’t do it, mention La Quercia. The Iowa farm’s artisan salumi may get an awful lot of glory (The New York Times, Bon Appétit, Vogue, virtually every upscale menu in Chicago), but any American producer that out-prosciuttos Italy deserves every last ounce of praise. If you see those two magic words in a menu item, regardless of the description that follows, order it. There’s no safer bet in restaurants.
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Speck, prosciutto, coppa, pancetta . . . thin slices of buttery, smoky tasting ham are suddenly the most sought-after food on the planet and savvy restaurateurs, chefs, and meat markets are using the velvety pork perfect products of Iowa-based La Quercia Farms. From Evanston to Lombard and Humboldt Park to the Gold Coast, here is a list of places where you can pig out in style:
Avec »
615 W. Randolph
312-377-2002
Birchwood Kitchen »
2211 W. North Ave.
773-276-2100
Blackbird »
619 W. Randolph
312-715-0708
Brasserie Jo »
59 W. Hubbard St.
312-595-0800
Campagnola »
815 Chicago Ave., Evanston
847-475-6100
D.O.C. Wine Bar »
326 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard
630-627-6666
Enoteca Roma Ristorante & Wine Bar »
2144-2146 W. Division St.
773-342-1011
Everest »
440 S. La Salle St., 40th Floor
312-663-8920
437 Rush »
437 N. Rush St.
312-222-0101
Gioco »
1312 S. Wabash Ave.
312-939-3870
MK »
868 N. Franklin St.
312-482-9179
Naha »
500 N. Clark St.
312-321-6242
North Pond »
2610 N. Cannon Drive
773-477-5845
Panozzo’s Italian Market »
1303 S. Michigan Ave.
312-356-9966
Prairie Grass Cafe »
601 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook
847-205-4433
The Publican »
837 W. Fulton Mkt.
312-733-9555
Quince at the Homestead »
1625 Hinman Ave., Evanston
847-570-8400
Rootstock Wine and Beer Bar »
954 N. California Ave.
773-292-1616
Spacca Napoli »
1769 W. Sunnyside Ave. »
773-878-2420
Spiaggia »
980 N. Michigan Ave.
312-280-2750
Terzo Piano »
159 E. Monroe
312-443-8650
Vie »
4471 Lawn Ave., Western Springs
708-246-2082
Photograph by Nathan Kirkman