I had an opportunity to eat my way through two of Western Europe’s most renowned meat-loving countries within the last couple of months, and I did it all without having to go through customs.
The first stop was a trip to Italy — or at least, as close as you can get to it in Chicago. For this month’s cover story, I visited West Loop Salumi to get an education on fine Italian cured meats. I’ve had the occasional opportunity to visit salami companies in the past, and they’re always incredible experiences. This was no exception. The products produced by Greg Laketek and his team at West Loop Salumi are mouth-watering delicious and produced with an attention to detail that’s hard to find. The company may be in the heart of a trendy neighborhood in Chicago, but the products are enough to transport you to a delicatessen in Parma. It’s no wonder that Laketek’s customer base is growing, even without any advertising or publicity campaigns.