La Barrica is just the latest in fine Iberian products

• Sol Farmers, 2413 Holly Lane

Given the greatness of Spanish cuisine and the importance of Spain's cultural influences around the world, I’ve always been mystified by the almost complete absence of Spanish restaurants in so many Canadian cities.

During my many years in Toronto, I believe I found two such restaurants although that has changed dramatically in the intervening years. Ottawa however, still has no proper Spanish eateries.

We do however have a pretty great substitute in the form of the importer Sol Farmers located just off Walkley Road.

Here you’ll find an excellent selection of cheeses, unique tinned seafoods, olives, marcona almonds, olive oils and quality vinegars, jams and fruit pastes for your charcuterie board and the list goes on. They also offer catering services for your next big get-together.

I’m on their mailing list so I was particularly interested to read that they are now representing a charcuterie producer named La Barrica. Being a fan of Iberian pork I placed an order and can report that these are products you’ll want to try.

The race of pigs known as Iberian are found grazing in the wild in both Spain and Portugal and there are a number of classifications each commanding their own price. 

Iberian Bellota (acorn) ham for example comes from pigs that are 100% pure-breed Iberian and that graze in the wild almost exclusively feeding on acorns. This is one of those foods that is one of the most highly prized globally and it’s a ham that’s been named “The World’s Greatest.”

Jamón Ibérico de Cebo de Campo is a ham from pigs that have at least 50% Iberian genetics and that graze in the wild with a diet more restricted in flavour-giving acorns.

The La Barrica ham is of the Jamón Ibérico de Cebo designation which means this ham is cured for a minimum of two years but the pigs are conventionally raised with almost no acorns in the diet.

If you’re a cured ham aficionado (and I know you’re out there) you need to know that the La Barrica version, while a little pricey at $33 per 90 grams, gives you a beautiful representation of why this ham commands these prices. By contrast top end Iberico Bellota will run you $70 per 100 grams.

These hams are sweetly nutty with the salt so well integrated it only emphasizes the musky richness of the meat rather than dominating, as it does in low-end prosciutto for example. 

As with most such things, this ham is meant to be eaten on its own or simply with fresh baguette and a drizzle of quality olive oil.

I was fortunate enough to try the other La Barrica products which are an outright bargain when you compare them to much of the charcuterie products we see in supermarkets. You are getting Iberian quality with beautifully elegant flavours, and no gristle, with each bite.

What Sol Farmers offers is a heck of a way to treat your guests as we slowly move into the entertaining season. They have something for every dinner course and I suggest you visit their website and join their mailing list as, several times a month, they offer very nice discounts in a variety of categories.

At the moment they have a 40% discount on select Spanish Turrón and chocolates. They also deliver.