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If Thanksgiving turkey strikes you as b-o-ring (not to mention tasteless and dry if it’s not properly roasted), buck tradition with a worthy alternative: a holiday ham from Tender Belly.
We first wrote about this Denver-based company in February, and then again in September. Brothers and owners Shannon and Erik Duffy‘s philosophy is simple: The best pigs make the best pork. That means Berkshire hogs that are raised humanely, fed a vegetarian diet, and are hormone- and antibiotic-free. The result is richly marbled bacon, meaty cuts, and terrific hot dogs. (We’re not the only ones taking notice of Tender Belly: Food & Wine recently gave the dry-cured maple bacon a thumbs up).
Now, with the holidays within reach, Tender Belly has released 500 feast-worthy hams. Find these spiral-cut beauties—which are brined in herbs, slow-smoked over applewood chips, and then glazed—at Tony’s markets for $7.98 per pound. As of Wednesday, the Duffys had already sold about half their stock.
Bonus: Since the hams are already glazed, all you have to do is pop them in the oven at 275° and bake 12 to 15 minutes per pound. No basting, no fretting about white meat versus dark meat, no boring bird in the center of the table.
Tony’s Market, multiple locations
Follow Amanda M. Faison on Twitter at @5280Eats and on Pinterest.
