Sky Full of Bacon Road Trips to Iowa

Mike Gebert took a road trip to Iowa recently to film some behind-the-scenes footage at La Quercia in Norwalk, IA. La Quercia owners Herb and Kathy Eckhouse make some of the best dry-cured artisan salumi available, particularly prosciutto and guanciale. Jeffrey Steingarten called La Quercia's prosciutto "the best American or imported prosciutto [he's] ever tasted," while Bon Appetit once named La Quercia "Food Artisans of the Year."

The video accompanying this post features testimonials to that lofty claim from NAHA owner Carrie Nahabedian and Paul Virant of Vie, two of many chefs who carry La Quercia's products locally. As a bonus, Gebert recorded a 40-minute podcast with the Eckhouses that delves into the obstacles faced in starting an artisanal food business when the USDA is set up to monitor the factory farm model and how La Quercia's products tie into the slow food/localvore movement. It's worth a view and/or listen, and Gebert asks some very good questions in the podcast.