Amuse Bouche: Craving Pancetta

We’re equal opportunity gluttons around these parts. We love all the different kinds of meat that come from that magical creature, our friend the pig. We must admit, however, to a preference for those meats that come from the pig’s belly. Pork belly is wonderfully fatty and flavorful and it brings us both bacon and its Italian cousin, pancetta. Pancetta usually features more spices than does bacon and is not generally smoked, but rest assured: it is just as delicious as bacon. Below, four of the Hub’s best pancetta-glorifying dishes.

Basta Pasta is lauded for its great deals on pasta dishes, but the pizza isn’t too shabby either! Try the pie topped with pancetta, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, and mozzarella. It’s a lot of flavors all at once, but it works.
dante gets decadent with its lobster PLT and, oh yeah, that does stand for pancetta, lettuce (or, in this case, arugula), and tomato. It’s slathered with a roasted chille aioli, if you like that sort of thing.
Joe V’s pancetta pizza comes loaded with sliced tomato and basil in addition to the pork. It sounds simple, but given the excellent ingredients, the flavors shine.
Salvatore’s goes all out with their Pasta Abruzzazie, which seems almost like a modified pasta amatriciana. Pancetta is sauteed with hot peppers, cherry tomato, and fresh garlic before being tossed with pecorino romano and mafaldine pasta. Warning: it’s incredibly addictive.


Basta Pasta [Official Site]
dante [Official Site]
Joe V’s [Official Site]
Salvatore’s [Official Site]

[Photo: Wikipedia]

Amuse Bouche: Craving Pancetta