Have you ever been given

[tim]

a Jamón Serrano?

Takes a while to get through it!!

[tim]

[katynewbie]

 :o
WOW! No I have never been given one, or been any nearer to one than across a counter, but it looks fab!

[lolabelle]

no but I'm on way will call in at tescburys for figs  :D :D :D :D

[Tin Shed]

If you need any help eating it, Tim, just let me know ;D

[tim]

Snap - picked our first Fig yesterday.

[saddad]

Had our first about two weeks ago... about the time of the last of the cherries. Must check the tree today...  :)

[Barnowl]

Very envious - always bring some back from Spain but never a whole ham!

[PurpleHeather]

I much prefer the cerano to parma. Stronger flavour and great with crusty bread and olives.

Good bit of soup coming from the bone too, no doubt.

[tim]

Is it always a bit chewy??

[PurpleHeather]

Yes, which is why you have to cut it so thin, you can read a newspaper through the slices.

There are grades too. In the Spanish shops which sell the whole legs there is a great difference in price between them.

http://www.marketuno.com/spanish-food/serrano-ham-spanish-food-2/determining-quality-of-spanish-iberian-hams-jamon-iberico/20081110/

The above is a very informative site.

I think you need to hang the leg in the attic from the roof beams to simulate it being in the mountains inbetween cutting off slices to eat.

I love seeing them hanging in Tappas bars. I wonder if they ever go off?

[tim]

Not like a good old Steak then, which is tender an inch thick!!