The thing that I find most charming about San Francisco is the uniqueness of each neighborhood. The Mission is aplenty with hipsters, tacos, bars, and coffee. In the Presidio, you’ll find endless stretches of natural green wonder with a nice dose of fog. Lots and lots of fog. Chinatown is where you’ll find people who appear to be arguing with each other but are actually carrying a perfectly normal conversation. All these pockets of the city add to its charm. During my middle school years (my tweens) North Beach was like a second home. This “Little Italy” is nestled right in between the calming waters of the bay and hustle and bustle of Chinatown. A walk along the often sunny Columbus Street, and you’ll be sure to find a bevy of Italian flags, cafes, restaurants, and gelato parlors that I became all too familiar with. That small sliver of San Francisco is a haven for any food enthusiast. I was so happy when Columbus Foods asked me to create a recipe with their craft meats. Not only have I been cooking with their meats for years, but I felt connected to the company because they were founded in North Beach! Nearly 100 years ago, the founders started air-drying salami in the neighborhood. The foggy climate of the city was just want they needed to make the perfect salami! Many of us are having spring gatherings with friends and family, and with Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, I wanted to share a quick and easy appetizer recipe using Columbus’s dry coppa. The coppa is already thinly sliced when you buy it at the supermarket, which saves a lot of kitchen prep time. Plus, the asparagus cooks in just 8 to 9 minutes! The roasted asparagus pairs so well with the savory and slightly peppery flavors of the coppa. Trust me, this will be a crowd pleaser!
MASTER MY MISTAKES / COOKING NOTES
How to Prepare Asparagus: I usually give the asparagus a quick rinse to get rid of the soil that’s stuck on the stalks. Then, I pat them dry. I’ll snap off the ends of the asparagus. I learned this tip from Ted Allen when he was on Queer Eye—the asparagus will naturally snap at the point between the part is good to eat and the part that’s too woody. For the purposes of these photos, I snapped and then trimmed the bottoms so that they looked neater.Alternatives: Don’t have any asparagus at home? Try wrapping the dry coppa around sliced bell peppers. They taste great!
P.S. While you’re at it, try some of Columbus’s Felino and Hot Sopressata salami. It’s so delish.
Thank you to Columbus Foods for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own.
