David B.
Yelp
NOT PATA NEGRA !!! Buyer beware !!!
It looks like a very nice butcher shop in the Ironbound section of Newark, but based on a Google Search and the Yelp reviews, I came for "Pata Negra" Iberico Ham, from Spain. What they carry is a Portuguese Pig, raised in New Jersey, with a label of "Pata Negra" hung on the pig's leg.
$499.00 per pound !!!
First of all, "Pata Negra" refers to 0.1% of a particular Spanish Iberico Ham, which was not even exported outside of Spain until just a few years ago. Apparently, one can now purchase a pig (from Portugal, not even from Spain) that can be called "Pata Negra" and sell it for three times the cost of authentic Spanish Iberico "Pata Negra" Ham from a legitimate importer (about $1500.00 for a 7 lb ham from several companies which can be found on the Internet).
I also asked the butcher about purchasing some Spanish Iberico Ham de Bellota, of which the boneless ham can be sliced, paper-thin, on a slicer, to compare with the hand-sliced ham that this butcher offered. He had NO IDEA what I was talking about. Come on !!!
I tried the "Pata Negra" offered at this butcher. $55.00 for about 10 little, one inch pieces sliced from the leg. It was not even close to the buttery flavor and texture of authentic Jamon Iberico de Bellota that I have had in Spain and the USA.
So, don't be fooled into paying such a ridiculous price for this "NOT PATA NEGRA" ham sold by this butcher shop. You can get the real thing, imported from Spain, for a fraction of the price.