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https://www.museidelcibo.it/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Museo-del-Prosciutto-Norcini-della-ditta-Archimede-Rossi-Collecchio-1920-ca.jpg
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Italian food culture might be one of the biggest and most celebrated food cultures in the world. And Italians love their meat - the Florentine steak, the cured cuts, the sausages, the ragu.
There is a whole tradition of travelling butchers that since ancient times moved from town to town to help butcher the animals that families raised over the summer and fall. When the winter came so did the Norcini, equipped in knowledge and craft.
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| http://www.andrealaganga.it/addio-norcino-quando-mangiare-il-maiale-era-una-festa/ |
The tradition was born in a small town in the region of Umbria called Norcia. Up in the mountains where farming wasn’t easy, villagers ate a lot of wild boar and raised their own pigs. The men were responsible for killing animals and cutting them into workable pieces. They also learned to cure their meat to perfection. They used wild herbs and spices, relied on yeast and bacteria and magical properties of salt. And that is how and why they became known throughout Italy.
For centuries it was common in most Italian families to grow two or three pigs each year. The Norcini wandered from town to town, killed animals and made salumi for the family. They were so skillful, people considered them mystics. They were very skilled in anatomy and sometimes even called to perform small medical procedures on humans.
They usually traveled in pairs. One of them was responsible for killing the animal and cutting it into precise pieces and the other one transformed that meat into salumi (which is a name for cold cuts of meat such as prosciutto or mortadella).
Every piece of meat was used as nothing could go to waste. Norcini turned pig legs into prosciutto, fat from the back of the pig into lardo (which is cured with spices and thinly sliced into transparent pieces) and with the shoulder and belly meat they made spicy ‘nduja – a type of Calabrian soft spicy sausage.
When the World War II ended, raising and butchering pigs started being industrialized. The tradition of Norcini slowly faded. But the craft never died. Most butchers all around Italy are still cultivating the fascinating craftsmanship of salumi making. The tradition was passed down through generations. Some families still use every single part of the butchered animal – from snout to the tail. In some regions of Italy you can still find original Norcinerias – Italian meat shops that sell mortadella, pancetta, salami and lardo.
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| http://www.casellasalumi.com/legend-of-the-norcini |
As with any craft these days, it is possible that it will die in the near future. Italians will never stop making prosciutto, but that process has been industrialized.
What was special about the Norcini was the simplicity of the tradition. These men were simple but very well trained people that became masters in their craft. They respected the animals, took care of the communities and loved good food. They butchered the animals because people had to eat to survive and couldn’t let anything be left or thrown away.
In the world of so much waste it’s good to know that there are people that still honor the long lived tradition of respecting whatever they put on their plates.
Sources:
https://mrsalamiman.wordpress.com/2015/11/13/norcino-the-mediaeval-art-of-curing-pork/
http://www.casellasalumi.com/legend-of-the-norcini
Questions:
1. Have you ever heard of Norcini?
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
Comments
2. To be honest I don't have any favorite italian food tradition. It's not like I'm ignorant, I've been to Italy several times. Even quite recently, in December 2019. I was often in Italian restaurants, all in all the only thing that I associate with me is that I often took white wine with meals. But I don't know if it can be considered as Italian food tradition?
3. It's up to you if you are such a craft, you must be a master in your profession, or very famous to survive. The current world and life are constantly being automated. Man is replaced by a machine. Even when the machine breaks down, there is no need repair - it goes to the trash, and another machine goes in its place.
No I never heard about them. I didn't even know that some butchers can be so famous and have so interesting story to tell.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
Definitely pizza and pasta. I spent half year in Italy and their food is delicious mostly because of the very good quality of vegatables. While beeing there I learned cooking very good pasta for myself :)
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
Depends, I can compare to being a musician. You can be famous all over the world but that's just few percent of all people that are in this business.
2. My favourite Italian food is pizza especially Neapolitan baked in wood-fired oven. Nevertheless Sometimes I like to prepare it myself using leftovers which were actually used in ancient history to make a bread more flavorful.
3. I think they are. Unfortunately, we are forced to buy low-quality food, which not only has less taste, but also contains preservatives and artificial colors because it is cheaper to produce. On the other hand, products bought from farmers - meat, dairy products and vegetables from the garden are becoming a kind of luxury - expensive and difficult to access.
1. I have never heard of Norcini. I just found out about him from this blog and I must say that he is quite an interesting person. I did not expect that a butcher could be popular. I wonder what else will surprise me, let him not come back from the afterlife and cut me into pieces :)
2. I love pizza and pasta. However, I don't like Italian-style pizza because it has few ingredients and is thin. I prefer the American version of pizza :) It's the best. I also like Italian wines, they are refined and delicate in taste.
3. In my opinion, it all depends on people how they respect tradition and culture. Everything depends on us, our tastes and habits.
Never heard of them before, but thanks for the text as they are quite amazing group of people.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
Nowadays I am not sure what is tradition and what is only meant to be a tradition. But propably some their great cheese.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
Yes, everything traditional is endangered but the saddest thing is that what comes isn't something great. It just is, globalization makes everything dull in the long run.
2. I don't know any Italian traditions but I know their dishes. My favorite is Pizzoccheri from Teglio from the Lombardy region.
3. No, I think that such professions are not endangered. Despite the development of industry, people began to value craftmanship and it is rather considered as a luxury thing. The example is the creation of samurai swords whose prices are comparable to new cars.
No, I have never heard about them. As I do not eat meat, different kind of hams and stuff is not something that I’m interested in, but it’s still nice to learn something new about old traditions and craftsmanship, especially when they are so unique…
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
I do like Italian cuisine (like pizzas or pastas) and tend to eat it quite often, but I don’t think I have favorite food tradition. If I had to choose something, I would say that my favorite are desserts, but considering my sweet-tooth I can assure you I would choose them regardless of the cuisine we are talking about :D
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
Yes, I do think so. Especially when it comes to traditions connected with meat processing as vegetarianism is beginning to be more and more popular every year. Additionally, as you have mentioned in your article, we live in industrialized times, and people prefer to buy something that is easily accessible and rather cheap instead of waiting for good quality meat that is probably more expensive. Presumably this tradition will become symbolic, only for those that consider themselves true gourmands.
I haven't heard of Norcini, their job is certainly interesting, travelling to places and
making the chance for ordinary people to taste great prosciutto.
2.
I like Pizza and sphagetti just as most of people, also Panini is a great way to start a day I discovered it quite recently.
3.
Yes, although they always will be customers for quality products, with the help of internet they could reach more people and still be in the business, oferring to send food via post.
When it comes to me, when I am in my normal mood I prefer italian pizza, because of it's flavor. But when I'm in the party mood - fat, thicc american pizza is the only solution ;)
I aggree with you about your answer on craftsmanship, it truly becomes a luxury product these days. I would also add steel-art-workers as another example of poeple beeing proffesionals and creating luxury art.
In my humble opinion crafts are starting to be more like a luxury products these days, don't you think?
Honestly i did not heard about Norcini butchers before. Anyway their story looks very interesting. I think i will read more about it at the weekend.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
I huge fan of pizza. I can even eat pizza with pineapple - but a lot of people hate it. :)
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
In my opinion they are endangered. Companies are focused on making profit and we have to buy food which is cheaper to produce. A lot of times it is low quality food.
I've never heard of such a tradition. This is very interesting. From what I understand, one was a butcher and the other was a sausage farmer. The waist is famous for its delicious food. Apart from refined pasta, the world's most delicious pizzas, fresh fruit and vegetables and a variety of cheeses, delicious cold cuts come from Italy. Now I know where they get their ideas and knowledge about cold cuts.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
My favorite dish of Italian food is carbonara. But this is the original version without cream. It is also worthwhile to expand on the topic of cream in Carbonara. It has been popularized in England because people there are sensitive about eating uncooked things. In Carbonara boiling eggs spoils the taste completely, so English chefs had to come up with a substitute and invented cream to serve Carbonare in their kitchen.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
These days the crafts are doing well. I'm not saying there are a lot of craftsmen, but there are and I do beautiful and at the same time very expensive things. It is also very difficult to get an internship to such a craftsman.
2) I really love Hawaiian pizza. I know Hawaii is far away from Italy, but the pizza is from Italy, so it is kind of Italian food if you think about this way.
3) Yes, it may be endangered if next generation won’t try to learn those things to do them by themselves. I really hope this not happen!
Pizza is also awesome, I remember as I stayed for a week in Rome, the best pizza I ate was sold to me in a local bakery ah! These awesome days with tasty pizza and two bottles of good white wine for the prize below 5 euro.
I think I should move to Italy haha
Regarding internships - I think it is almost impossible to get it.
2. I’m going to be boring and I’ll say PIZZA, because who doesn’t love pizza! Also all kinds of pasta, I’m trying to master doing carbonara but I have problem finding good pancetta in Warsaw.
3. I do not think that they are endangered. I actually think that because there are not as many people doing that as there used to they can promote their bussines model as unique.
No, I have never heard about Norcini before. I generally adore all Italian cuisine. Pasta, lasagna, pizza, wine ... It is a very nice topic. It was interesting to learn something new about Italian cuisine. Thank you for your presentation :)
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
I know one very nice tradition that my friends from Italy told me about. For almost every holiday, the Italians give guests a small bag - bonbonnieres. Usually, it is almonds in a glaze of a certain color (depends on the holiday). This can be a wedding, christening, holidays on the occasion of engagement, silver and gold wedding anniversaries, anniversaries, graduations from the university and so on.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I think it all depends on demand. It seems to me that such crafts as this are a rather interesting tourist feature that can be popular among country visitors.
Italian people have so many special requirenments regarding the food and when this particular dish/ drink is taken and how. I remember I had a colleague from Italy and once I had a lunch time and he entered the kitchen while I was making cappuccino. He was so surprised that I drink it during lunch time:) Also their favourite pasta al dente, in my country we usually overboil spaghetti, while in Italy only people who have problems with digestion or old people eat overcooked pasta as I heard (Let me know if I am right:)
What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
If I get your question in a right way, so my favourite dish is lasagne and spaghetti with sauce bolognese.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
On my opinion, it depends on the demand of consumers. If people like the high quality and ezquisite taste of these products, so it won`t be endangered. Hard to answer this question, because in Ukraine people still always buy meat from butchers directly rather than from the supermarkets.
What about cappuccino during lunch time, is there anything wrong with it?
Due to the fact that I'm very interested in Mediterranean culture, especially in terms of the alcohols produced there, e.g. rakija, wine etc. I'm also interested in food. Seafood, Spanish palea, or Croatian kevap (not kebab), I know who Norcini are. Norcini are known around the world for their skills in making pigs, making prosciutto, salami, sausage and other cold cuts. They also produced other specialties:
Spaghetti alla carbonara: pasta with "guanciale" - bacon from the pig's cheek, pecorino cheese and egg.
Fiori di Zucca: Fried zucchini flowers with ricotta and anchovies.
Coda alla Vaccinara: beef tail stewed in a thick aromatic tomato sauce.
Pasta cacio e pepe: spaghetti with cacio cheese, paprika and olive oil.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
Let's think about it! ;-) my ... lasagna. Lasagne with Spinach. This is a real feast for the palate. I like it since I tried it at Pizza Hut, then I made it at home and I haven't eaten it since then! My lasagna is the best, according to my family.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
No, there will always be someone who cultivates tradition. Of course, there are fewer and fewer people. You can see it in Poland, look for a blacksmith's factory or saddler near Warsaw. It isn't easy and such skills are passed on from father to son! Nowadays sons prefer IT or marketing. A good shoemaker is also hard to find.
1. Sadly, I've never heard about Norcini before! And I dared to consider myself a big food nerd before. How shameful of me! The craft itself sounds very impressive and I always appreciate good food making. Cooking is art after all!
2. Honestly, Italian cuisine is the best in the world and choosing only one best tradition from it is a too hard of a task for me. However, I will share my latest favourite discovery from Italians masters and it's called "burrata". It's like mozzarella cheese but better. It's firm on the outside, but liquid inside so when you cut it open, the wonderful cream just pours out of it. And it tastes so good with tomatoes.
3. Of course, modern times love to kill crafts like this. Nowadays all that matters is getting as many products as possible in the fastest way possible and earning the biggest sum of money for them. Real artists get rarer these days and that is why it is important to support those traditions.
1. Have you ever heard of Norcini?
I've never heard of them honestly hovever I think that their story is very interesting and inspiring
2. What is your favorite Italian culinary tradition?
I really like the classic pizza pasta menu and I'm also a big fan of the Italian coffee tradition and things like traditional coffee cakes. I don't remember those names, but Nespresso has many
3. Do you think these ships are currently under threat?
I do not think that, we live in a globalized world where such products are not so popular but are appreciated for many people
I have never heard about Norcini. The presented story was for my very interesting. I learned something new. I think some old traditions are worth to be cultivated.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
My favorite Italian food tradition is pizza. I love eat pizza. Once ago I was with my friend in restaurant that served traditional Italian pizza with olive oil. She was delicious. I could see how she is prepared. My friend told me a story about pizza. At the beginning pizza was a dish for poor people. The first restaurant that served pizza was in Neapol in 1830. The pizza name „Margherita” was named in honor of the queen.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I think some of them are endangered. A good example is a shoemaker profession. Once we had a lot of shoemaker's shops. Today we have many factories that can prepare a lot od products in short time. The process is automated. Another example is a baker's profession. Many school students don't want to learn this profession. They want learn a profession that will help earn a lot of money. We don't have many shops that bake bread naturally. My grandmother told me that in earlier time in homes they baked bread. Until today she remember the smell of fresh baked bread. It's very sad that many old profession have disappeared or in nearest future will disappear.
Unfortunately, I have not heard of them. But thanks to your article I learned a lot thanks :)!
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
:) There are too many of them. But definitely pasta, pizza. In sum they have everything good. But from what I remember they eat very fat and a lot for dinner.
Ahh italy :)
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I think so. Now we don't pay so much attention to spices, proportions or quality. Of course, tradition is preserved in some regions
and they keep on eating good food. In Poland, the tradition has probably gone, although I do not know
2.There are many dishes from Italian cuisine that I can't pass by indifferently. However, my favorite is spaghetti and lasagne. Yummm. My stomach growls at the very thought.
3.I think it's fortunate and unfortunately it is. Nowadays, such crafts will not work, because now everything is industrialized and produced on a large scale. On the other hand, I think that currently few people in their small houses would like to breed pigs themselves.
No, I haven't heard of Norcini before. I visited Italy a few times and have tasted authentic and regional products, including typical cold cuts but I have never been to the Umbria region and never heard the story of the Norcini.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
I really like pasta dishes - from carbonara to pasta with ragu. Of course I like pizza too, both the traditional one and the americanized version with fake cheese and strange, spicy toppings. When I visited Naples, I had a chance to try the deep fried pizza, which is very popular there, and even though it is very greasy, I enjoyed it a lot.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I believe that as world becomes more and more industralized, the craftstmanship will slowly fade away. Authentic products have great value, but currently many people are looking for cheap and quickly produced goods, often without any regard as to where or by whom were they produced.
Nope, I did not hear about them. The itallian food is good and I like that. I don't have any objection to the thing that is presented in the story. In my opinion that is just a survival kind of thing with tradition, which resulted in quality food.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
I don't have the intel you are asking, but when it comes to food I really do not see my life without a good italian pizza.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I think that it is not times dependant. If the craftsmenship is meant to survive by destiny, it will be remembered and maintained by younger generations.
2. I don't think that I know any other food tradition - only some well-known dishes. It's hard to find in Italy's cuisine anything that tastes bad, but in my honest opinion pizza is the greatest gift from Italy to the whole world. Even better, if you can get free delivery.
3. Any crafts are endangered, cause anything that can be automated will become automated soon. And maybe it should. Yes, there are beautiful and interesting stories about such groups of people, but automation makes our lives more comfortable and safe. And yeah, we're in IT, we have chosen the side.
2. My favorite tradition is also the essential for Italians food - simplicity is key for good food.
3. For sure it will be less popular, but I do believe that some will continue to maintain traditions like this one
2. I'm not sure... I like Italian cuisine a lot, but I've never been to Italy. I don't know if after trying food made there, in their traditional way, I wouldn't decide that I don't like it that much. When I had few occasions to eat pasta or pizza made by Italian cooks here in Poland it was below my expectations, and every time I was very disappointed. Moreover I'm not even aware what we can consider traditional in their cuisine. If we omit this fact and I'd have to just choose favorite food then maybe lasagna? I'm even doing one tomorrow :)
3. Everything dies with time and so will such craft. There are plenty of people that like traditions though, so it will probably at least outlive us. Even if using such measures will have to become more expensive, there should be people that can keep them alive for a bit.
2. I love most of the Italian food except for the meat. I don't eat meat for a few years now. But I do eat fish and seafood, and Italians know very well how to prepare them. I like almost everything they make, pizza, pasta, gnocchi, lasagna. It's all good for me. As long as it does not have meat in it!
3. It really depends on the profession. People sadly still do eat a lot of meat, and in this subject I suppose machines cannot do all the work. But maybe crafts like watchmakers, are actually endangered. In our times it is more common to throw away something and buy new instead of fixing something broken.
2. I like prosciutto if it comes to meat. Italian sausage is also interesting. Italian cheese is awesome. But the best Italy’s accomplishment is pasta, all kinds of it!
3. Depends on the culture. In Europe and US - yes. But in Japan it's a common thing. They treat their food with respect, that's why they have such professions as tune filleter. This profession is very respected and requires a lot of practice. That's why the skills are passed in the families and this job considered as a tradition.
Ah burrata is the best. Maybe three months ago I've seen it in Biedronka and bought tons of this cheese!
2. My favorite is pizza. I love pizza on thin crust with lots of toppings and crisp. I often cook pasta, one of the simplest dishes.
3. I think yes, because now there is a tendency to replace a person with a machine. Nevertheless, today there are famous butchers - masters of their craft, and many people dream of getting to their restaurant.
No, I've never heard about Norcini but thank you for this article. It's always a pleasure to learn about foreign culture.
2. What is your favorite rite Italian food tradition?
I will say bolognese because with it you can have different delicious meals like macaroni or use bolognese to make a good lasagna.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
Nowadays everything is industrialized, the market for crafts like this is so low. We might find a few places that still do things the old way but it not enough market. so, Yes!
No, I haven't.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
My favourite Italian food tradition definitely is pasta like spaghetti or tortellini with tomato sauce and penne with chicken in cream and cheese.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I think so. Nowadays, most of crafts become industrialized and it's more economic or profitable for companies.
No, I have never heard of Norcini but now after your article, it appears that my uncle was someone like them well maybe not as good as them but he also was a butcher and sometimes he travelled to small farms to kill pigs on commission and he also was cutting them into workable pieces if it was necessary.
2. What is your favourite Italian food tradition?
My favourite Italian food are pasta, pizza and lasagne but I didn't eat them in the real Italian version they were my version of their dishes.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
Yes I think that in modern times crafts like this are endangered because there are more and more regulations and it is less and less profitable to keep animals for slaughter but they will never completely disappear because products created in a traditional way will always be sought after by connoisseurs and tourists.
I have never heard of them before even though I visited Italy a quite few times and have tasted traditional and regional products. Thanks that I could discover them today. They are quite fascinating group of people. WOW!
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
Pizza, cheese and pizza one more time :) When it comes to eating their cheese, for sure it would be with cheap and very good wine and maybe baguette.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
Yes, crafts like this and everything else that is traditional is endangered. Unfortunately more and more people don't pay so much attention to spices, proportions and especially quality, which is the worst that could be..
2. I will not surprise you if I tell you about pizza and spaghetti carbonara? By pizza I mean traditional Margherita- that’s totally different Margherita than the one from Poland.
3. Of course, but what I love in tradition is a fact- that it will remain because there are people who cultivate it 😊
2. I think I love every dish of Italian cuisine, but I'm a big fan of Italian pizza on a very thin pastry, preferably with Parma ham, rocket and Parmesan cheese. I also love spaghetti carbonare, but unfortunately I've never even found a half as good one in Poland as in Italy. Going to desserts of course my heart steals gelato and tiramisu.
3. I hope that nowadays such professions will be preserved, because the main element of whether a dish is good is the quality of the ingredients it consists of. Luckily, more and more people realize this, so there is hope for crafts.
No, to be honest, this is the first time I've heard about this. But it is really interesting. It is very good that there is such a tradition and most importantly it is very cool that there are people who are ready to observe such things. In general, this nation has a lot of similar traditions, for sure each of them has its guardians.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
I noticed most wrote about pizza and pasta. Of course, it is good when such traditions have many followers around the world. I wanted to say that many forgot about dessert, so I would mention Tiramisu. If such an Italian dessert can be counted as a tradition, then I will probably dwell on it.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
It seems to me not in Italy. This is generally a country where all culinary traditions are preserved. Moreover, as we have noticed, they are supported around the world, so these traditions will not fade. It seems to me in the case of the Italians, then they have the opposite, every year there will be more and more such traditions associated with food.
No, I haven't heard of it before. I'm glad I've learned about it today.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
Pasta is my favorite Italian food tradition. I like both Carbonara and Bolognese sauces, and enjoy eating almost every kind of Italian noodles.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I think so, automation and improving of capacity of production is a danger for such crafts. Hope is in people that care about environment and those who are able to appreciate the taste and other aspects of Norcini butchers work.
No, I haven’t.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
I like pizza and some other Italian food. But I like Siesta. Siesta is also common in Italy, where it is called riposo in Northern Italy and pennichella or pisolino in Southern Italy.
A short nap after a meal - that's it.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
If you can earn money on it - it is not endangered.
2. Sadly, I don't know any. I've been to Italy one time during high school, but only noticeable thing was that they make you pay for a place to sit in restaurants.
3. Of course, whole world is in the process of automating every job that we can. Many ancient crafts are already forgotten, and more will meet their end in next years.
2. I really love Italian cuisine and its many traditions. For example, a dish that is completely cooked in cheese is just dinner.
3. I am sure that they are on the verge of extinction due to the influx of the technological process, and if they are not supported, they will completely remain only in folklore.
No, I haven't. However, my next time I visit some traditional Norcini shop and buy some good quality meat. Who knows, maybe they do Guanciale too, and I could make some Carbonara later.
2. What is your favorite Italian food tradition?
The Italian people have crafted their cuisine and everything around it - the atmosphere, the food, and the service. I enjoy it every time I am there. But I don't think that I have a single favorite tradition.
3. Do you think in modern times crafts like this are endangered?
I think they will survive alongside industrial manufacturing. This traditional craftsmanship will become a luxury product, for rich people.