Rotisario (Oxbow Public Market), Napa report w/ pics
I was getting food at Pica Pica and told hubby to get something else at the Oxbow Public Market, so he wandered around and got food at Rotisario.
It's from the same people that brought us Roli Roti, this is their stationary retail site. That's cool. I've had Roli Roti at SF Ferry Building Farmers' Market and at SJ Santana Row's Farmers' Market. They have good chicken! I didn't know about this connection until I got home of course since I didn't talk to them.
Hubby picked up a Roti de Porc plate $12 - comes w/ a HUGE slab of pork, salad looked boring, and rosemary roasted potatoes. He loved the pork and ate everything.
He picked up a Zota Organic green tea w/ ginger soda $2.75 that he didn't really like.
Credit cards taken.
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Oxbow Public Market - duplicate of #12512
644 1st St Napa CA
hhc
Feb 23, 2008 09:40PM
Update: Another of our stops on Saturday was to drool over the rotating meat at Rotisario. Not enough room in the tummy for steak frites here (something not offered on the farmers market trucks), but I did shell over $6 to try the pommes frites. This was a big bowlful of blonde fries mixed with deep-fried herbs and served with a big dollop of eggy mayonnaise. The frites themselves were good with a pleasingly waxy and firmish texture, but not as crisp I like and they did get a little soggy on sitting. BUT, the herbs were fantastic, as I can never get enough fried sage leaves.
Thomas seemed very happy that some of his "regulars" from the Ferry Plaza, Marin, Berkeley and other markets in our party had come up to visit his new venture. We were too full to order anything, but he insisted on making up a meatloaf sandwich and a porchetta sandwich for us to sample. Here he uses Acme bread, whereas Della Fattoria makes the rolls for him at Ferry Plaza. The meatloaf dressed with pan juices was great, very beefy and deep in flavor---sold! Some of us bought sandwiches to-go for later, to feed March Madness spouses glued to the set at home.
Porchetta post (with photo) -
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/460708
610 First Street, Napa, CA 94559
610 First St. napa, ca
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These were two exceptional sandwiches, a stark counterpoint to Ubuntu. It would be hard to decide between the juicy meatloaf and the porchetta if you couldn't have both.
They were served on two different breads: the porchetta roll was whiter and crustier..
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and I am happy to report that hubby's porchetta sandwich held up quite well in the four or so hours it took us to do more eating, a bit of wine-tasting and finally make our way home...I loved the generous serving of greens on the sandwich, and it would be a great picnic option (or great just enjoyed on the beautiful patio at Oxbow).
I agree with Windy that if eating them there it would be hard to choose between the porchetta and the meat loaf (one of each would probably be in order) but the porchetta is the winner if it has to travel before eating.
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I was away from the stand and missed most of the discussion about special ordering a pork belly. Could someone who heard the conversation fill us in?
24829 Huntwood Ave Hayward CA
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He said that he is making the pork belly randomly at the Rotisario only. He'll only make it when he can get the exact right pig with the right pork belly. When pressed, he said he would possibly make it for a group if we called ahead.
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I was one of the fortunate recipients of a porchetta sandwich, but I had already eaten that evening. So the sandwich went into the refrigerator.
I ate half of it later that night ("midnight snack" at 2am, suffering from insomnia and hunger). Cold the sandwich isn't very good; cold pork fat isn't delicious, it's gross. One bite convinced me I needed to reheat it, carefully.
After 20 minutes of reheating in the toaster oven on low, with the top and bottom separated, it was ready, and quite good. And my cat came in and started relentlessly begging for bits of pork. We both got our share, and were satisfied. Still, I couldn't help think that it would have been even better eaten at the scene.
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Will have to do a taste-off .. but consider the porchetta-style pork at Fatted Calf next time and get some bread from Model Bakery for the sandwich.
Yeah there's a good portion of fat, but if you heat it really slowly in a skillet it brings it to life. I was surprised how delicious this was re-heated. I agree though that cold fat = not appetizing.
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Since "hhc" posted about her husband's plate, presumably she tried the porchetta here or she wouldn't have reported. Maybe she can tell us how it compared to her purchase at Fatted Calf.
I will say that the curly cress and carmelized onions on Rotisario's product adds a lot to the sandwich. Love the peppery bite and freshness of those greens.
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No. I remember hhc didn't try the porchetta at FC. I'll have to give Rotisario's sandwhich next time I'm up that way.
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Hmmm,
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/49276...
In any case, look forward to your comparison.
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Yeah, she just took pictures of the FC porchetta. The conversation about if she tried it might have taken place offline.
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In that linked post, hhc wrote, "I did get a piece of the pork -she hacked up a small piece for us. It was nice."
Sounds like she tasted it.
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Finally got the Rotisario porchetta. Didn't get the sandwich but 1/2 lb.
How does it compare to Fatted Calf ... depends.
Both are delicious. I think the quality of the pork itself is a better at FC. As for the prep, it is a dead heat.
It is sort of like Zuni chicken is excellent and so are the Roli Roti chickens. However, you are paying $40 at Zuni (bread stuffing and restaurant service aside). The Roli Roti chicken is about ...what $12 now?
FC charges almost double what Rotisario does. So, by the pound, Rotisario might be a more frequent purchase and the FC porchetta a special occasion porchetta.
They do give you a little container of those onions if you buy them by the pound. They are excellent.
One of these days will have to try the sandwiches at Rotisario and FC and see how the compare.
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lucky you, poor husband of Celery didn't get any porchetta, but we've got to plan a Napa trip soon. I loved the meatloaf sandwich and would happily head up Napa way for that sandwich.
And Thomas was so lovely. Really hope the vendors in Oxbow make a good go of it. The Fatted Calf shop was nice to see and was able to get some chicken schmaltz - great for roasting potatos.
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Which Berkeley market does he go to? I've never seen him at any of them.
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He doesn't, at least during the winter. Here's his current schedule:
http://www.roliroti.com/locations_new...
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Quoted from Melanie (above), "Thomas seemed very happy that some of his "regulars" from the Ferry Plaza, Marin, Berkeley and other markets ..."
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Sorry, guess I'm more familiar with my girlfriends' shopping habits than the truck locations. (g) Per the schedule Fig Newton linked, he's not serving Berkeley currently. FWIW, he started out more than six years ago parked outside Office Depot in Emeryville, and has added and dropped markets over the years.
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Its ok. I just thought that maybe I was missing something.
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