Have you tried Serrano ham? For me it's easier to find now than it was several years ago - a higher end supermarket will carry it. A bit more expensive than imported prosciutto but worth it IMO.

Speaking of ham, I'm craving the "Lacksschinken" I couldn't get enough of in Bavaria a couple weeks ago. Gotta get to the German butcher to see if they have it.

Serrano was one of the ones I had, though not the one the Spanish really prize. I am going to Trader Joe's later, I will see if they have that. There are high end supermarkets in neighboring towns: I don't normally shop at those, but it is worth a try. Thanks!

Do you have a name?

ETA - just googled Spanish ham and came up with this offering of D'Artignan's Mangalica ham at Costco, $49/lb with an 8 lb minimum if I'm reading it correctly. Wonder if this is close to what you're looking for. Might be a heck of a gamble though!

Here is a link that might be useful: Costco

This post was edited by foodonastump on Sat, Nov 8, 14 at 13:19

If Costco is near you, check with them also. Occasionally they will carry the Iberico and the Serrano Spanish hams. But fair warning the are very, very pricey.

Here is a link that might be useful: Serrano Ham at Amazon

I don't need the kind of quantity/weights that seem to be offered. While I was there, I looked at ham packed for legal export, and that too was a much bigger package that I would be able to use. I will only be using a few slices at a time. I may just have to give up on the idea. But I thought I woudl just ask and see if there was a similar thing that I was just not aware of.

I would reach out to Dona Juana/ La Espanola Meats in the Los Angeles area. They are direct importers of wonderful Spanish products and meats. They sell both wholesale and retail. Their website says that they also sell online. Jessy took the CF group there twice and it's wonderful!

Here is a link that might be useful: La Espanola

The mos prized Spanish ham is the Pata Negra.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pata Negra

Have you tried a local Spanish store in your area? I don't know if you are located close to Chicago but I have been to several Spanish tapas stores that sell small amounts of deli produce. In the DC area where I live there are several high end grocery stores including Whole Foods that carry specialty hams from around the world! You may want to give whole foods a call and see what they have. You may also try Cafe Iberico in Chicago. There is also a website called tienda dedicated to Spanish food but I don't know if the do deli meats.
Good luck.

You still haven't named the specific ham you're looking for. I think you just need to look around until you find something you like. I saw Iberico ham today at the supermarket (no more details on the sign and I didn't ask) but at $200/lb I was reluctant to buy even one slice to give you my tasting notes!

Try ordering from La Tienda.

You might also look at The Spanish Table (stores in Seattle and somewhere in Southwest). There is some phenomenal cured ham from Spain and France in which the pigs are fed acorns. It makes the best cured ham ever IMHO. I haven't ever been able to find it in the US though.

The last comment was almost a year and 1/2 ago, but here goes. I have had Spanish Serrano ham and several other hams cured in various ways. The closest I have found to Serrano ham is something from the southern Atlantic coast, called Country ham or Southern Country ham. It's common in Virginia, N Carolina and other such places. There is a company out that way called Smithfield's that sells Country ham. Here is a link to them and another ham company.
http://www.smithfieldmarketplace.com/category/country-hams?utm_source=MSN&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=country-ham&utm_term=%2Bcountry%20%2Bhams&utm_content=Country%20Hams

http://www.countrycuredhams.com/

Have you ever had a Virginia dry cured ham? the kind sold in a canvas sack that you have to soak for 3 days ands crape the crud off the outside, then bake and baste? that might be a less expensive alternative.

I don't think you're doing a good selling job on that ham, Lindac LOL

This Virginia ham is as good or better than Spanish ham:

Surryano Ham.

This is different from VA hams, like Calhoun's. It's like a very fine Jamon Iberico.

Looks delicious.

A local, high end market had Spanish ham at the deli counter. If I recall correctly, they want $175 per pound. I was tempted to pick up a pound or two. <lol>

(Off topic somewhat), I'm glad that our deep country hams are rated (by some people at least) as better than an old world variety. I truly enjoy country hams and they're usuallly not too unaffordable, though almost all are mail order for me (outside the ham zone).

mimipadv, I was getting ready to order some Surryano ham - it turns out, due to a fire, they are not accepting orders.

shuffles_gw

mimipadv, I was getting ready to order some Surryano ham - it turns out, due to a fire, they are not accepting orders.

*****

Oh my, I hope everything will be OK. I get Surryano from a local gourmet shop. I also get cooked, shaved VA country ham from a local farmers market.

A little goes a loooooong way.

The really high end, acorn fed Iberico was expensive even in Spain. I never actually tasted it. But serrano I had often in restaurants; typically used as a garnish. I'd "settle" for that, as my tastebuds can't clamor for the other that I have never tasted. ;) I recently saw in Sam's Club a assortment package of meats that had serrano in it. But I didn't want the others, which were sliced sausage. I don't eat sausage, though who knows: maybe those were wonderful.