Kat's 9 Lives

Who hasn't have the porchetta sandwich? Well if you are one of those poor unfortunate souls who has yet to have the chance to visit the Rolli Roti at the Ferry Building or hunting them down around town, it is time to get to it! If you happen to be in Napa and would like to venture out to the Oxbow Public Market for what many people have claimed to be the equivalent or greater than Rolli Roti's porchetta sandwich to taste and compare for yourself.
When I hear the porchetta sandwich my ears just perk up. I had to try the Fatted Calf and their famed porchetta sandwich. Is it truly as amazing as they say? Well first I had to find this place. They are actually not located inside the main area but have a store front outside. Just follow the signs.
As you walk in you can't help notice all the wonderful cuts of meats displayed. If the weekend wasn't so packed I would have packed up a bunch of the fresh meats to take back to the suite and cook up a storm! Sadly there was limited amount of meals and stomach space available.
The Porchetta looked amazing on its own, $14.50 a lb. Look at that luscious hunk of a Pork Belly and Loin Roulade with Toasted Fennel, Rosemary, Garlic, and Lemon Zest. The crisp and beautifully roasted skin was beckoning me. I really wish I picked up a nice chunk for the room. Mmm... drool drool!
That day we only decided to pick up a chunk of the Roast Lamb Leg stuffed with Olive Tapenade. There was a nice fatty layer of skin on top and the lamb was not too cooked to begin with. For me, the flavor was a little to gamey for my liking but it was a nice piece of lamb. We didn't bake it too long when we got home because we didn't want to overcook the meat. The flavors were nice but it was a little bit on the chewier side. Next time I am going for that gorgeous porchetta!
Of course we got the Porchetta Sandwich ($8.50) with Spicy Roasted Red Onions, Arugula, and Aioli. My only qualms with the sandwich was there was no crispy skin inside and that it doesn't come hot! =*( I wasn't feeling that great so I only had Three Twins Ice Cream for lunch and saved the sandwich for later. This ended up being a great idea because we had an awesome convection oven inside the suite and I toasted the baby up! The sandwich is fatty and flavorful but when it is cold, the oil overpowers you a bit. Of course when you make it nice and toasty the flavors just melt in your mouth and I love the crisp texture of the bread.
All in all the porchetta sandwich was good at Fatted Calf but I prefer the one at Rolli Roti more. Why? Well the sandwich here has more layers of flavor and components, BUT there is NO SKIN! I need that sensual crispy bite! =D The meat inside the sandwich was thinly shaved and there isn't as much meat as the one at Rolli Roti. Both sandwiches were flavorful and are great any time of the day. It just really depends on what you are looking for. I'm going with crispy skin and more meat at Rolli Roti. Yum!
Fatted Calf Charcuterie
The Oxbow Public Market
644 C 1st St
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 256-3684

Due to some snafus, I lost my lunch spot for the Truffle Festival in Napa and was stuck hungry without lunch plans plus be back in time for the orchard tour. What is a girl to do? Luckily the hotel was nearby the Oxbow Public Market where it is like a mini-version of the Ferry Building. We decided to walk there and explore some food options before coming back for the tour bus. Don't let the dirt road and exterior full you, depending on which way you came from. This place is super clean and new. Once you step food through the doors, you will find a bunch of quaint artisanal stores and food joints. I enjoyed the vibe and decor a lot. Yes, it is a lot smaller and there isn't as much to do as the Ferry Building but I enjoyed it and came back... more on that later.
First place that caught my eye was Three Twins Ice Cream. I hadn't been feeling well the night before and was a little iffy on what my stomach could take for the day, but somehow ice cream seemed like a good idea to me. Maybe it is the kid in me, but I wanted ice cream first! We moseyed on over to sample some of their delectable flavors. They offered some seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Pie, Eggnog, & Peppermint along with some interesting combos like Land of Milk and Honey. Before I chose which ice creams I wanted, I couldn't help notice their "absurdity" where you can get 20 scoops of ice cream in a pot for $45! Then they also divulged some of the world's richest and most expensive sundaes. Wow!
I know you think I was going to go for something absurd, but I chose the safe route. They were making fresh hand-rolled waffle cones so I got two scoops to go along with it. My favorite flavors for the day were Bittersweet Chocolate and Burnt Caramel. Loved the rich and thick texture of the chocolate. How can I ever say no to burnt caramel? It was sweet but slightly toned down with the hint of burnt flavor. The Three Twins know what they are doing. Everything was enjoyable. My only qualm was the cones were a bit oily so be sure to wrap it with napkins. After we finished there were glistening oil stains everywhere. That's a good sign right? Everything fatty and bad for you tastes good? lol
Three Twins Ice Cream
610 1st St
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 257-8946