š· Porchetta!!!
- Dan Matheny
- Aug 10, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 11, 2023
Porchetta (pronounced por-ketta) in Italian means ālittle pigā.
It refers to slow-roasted pork belly roll, pork loin, or whole pig, with the rind always included. Moreover, a classic porchetta recipe requires butterflying the pork, stuffing it with herbs, rolling and tightly securing it with butcher twine, and slow-roasting it to perfection.
Weāre throwing ours on the rotisserie and serving 16 pounds of this Italian pork roast on an olive oil panino, slathering it in truffle mayo with a few arugula leaves, and adding some Italian Doratti tomatoes for this Saturday. Want an appetizer? Asiago Arancini will be offered as well. Arancini: rounded balls of cooked rice with savory fillings (such as asiago cheese) that are coated with bread crumbs and deep-fried. š

Hours of Operation
Monday ā Saturday
10am to 6pm
Calendar š
August 12 (Saturday) - Thereās no better way to plan a trip than enjoying some great Italian fare. Arancini, Porchetta sandwiches and of course spending some time with Gianni. If youāre interested in a trip to Italy in 2024 come on down and talk to Gianni. Get all the answers to any questions you may have, or if youāre just hungry and thirsty weāre well equipped to take care of that as well.
September 8 (Friday) - Friday night Anniversary Tasting, 5-7pm. Thatās right, Friday night wine tasting! Four wines, four different and delectable bites to enjoy with your wine, and a bar thatās open until 9pm serving some of your old favorites. Itās an anniversary after all (not however a statement on whatās to come).
September 9 (Saturday) - Second Saturday! Poutine it is. Crispy fries, cheese curds, and a great gravy to complete the dish. This is our Fall favorite, and while not technically Fall, weāre getting a jump on the season!
September 23 (Saturday) - Itās Oktoberfest Findlay! (SOLD OUT)
Store News š¬
Weāve had a busy couple of weeks down here, and weāre not slowing down this weekend. Itās a great excuse to get out the rotisserie and to roast a Porchetta. Itās always great to welcome back Gianni, and itās even better when you celebrate with this classic sandwich! And I finally gave in⦠Oktoberfest beers have arrived; I canāt continue to say no thanks. Seriously, Oktoberfest 2023 starts in like 37 days... September 16 to be exact, but hey... whatcha gonna do? Got to get it while you can.
Wine Newsš·
Brought in some new white wines this week. Summer isnāt even close to being over! We have a couple of new German wines that have a bit of a spritz, making them perfect for a warm summer day. The others are just great everyday bottles that will please just about anyone. Additionally, while not new, I did buy the remaining inventory of a wine going away and a 2017 Cabernet that is exceptional and will show up next week. Weāre always looking, and on a good day, we find a few, too.
Danās Feature āļø
Iāve featured this wine before, but this week's feature is more of a farewell. Iāve been enjoying a particular Pinot Noir for well into 13 or 14 years. I've enjoyed it under two different names, and have ordered it from two different distributors. Brecca, as it was originally known, and the Fel Pinot Noir has always been one of my go-to's and personal favorites, but not anymore. Today I met with the regional representative of Cliff Lede wines and was informed that this product would not be produced anymore. I bought everything that was left⦠a whopping 6 extra bottles. So my feature is a farewell to an exceptional Pinot Noir, a 94-point wine and Wine Enthusiast's āEditors Choiceā. It goes for $39.99 and is worth every penny. The final vintage is their 2020, and thatās what we have in house. The winemaker's final notes have this to say: āthis 2020 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is a reflection of the appellationās excellent flavors, aromatics, and textures. First impressions of black cherry and rose petal on the nose open into mission fig and a citrus character. The palate is focused and delicately layered, with darker notes of clove and cola mingling with bright raspberry and currant. Anderson Valleyās spice shows in the finish, with a familiar cedar and sous-bois, lifted to the last moments by bergamot and the return of the beautiful rose character with which the wine opensā. Enough said. This is the last of these, so if youāre a fan or want to know what this soon to be gone bottle tastes like, stop in and pick one up. This is a Pinot lover's Pinot.

Danās Pick š„
We have a new Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough that I decided needed to be this weekās pick. Jules Taylor, the ex-winemaker for Kim Crawford wines, decided to make wine for herself. Thus Jules Taylor 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is my pick for this week. Described by the winemaker herself as being, āvery pale yellow, on the nose fragrant notes of elderflower, guava and mint jump out of the glass, followed by hints of oregano and thyme layered with passionfruit and citrus. This in-your-face drop captures the essence of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.Concentrated citrusy notes of lime zest and tropical guava combine with a lick of wet stones. The palate is dry and gives way to a lip-smacking, mouth-watering finishā. This is a very well-priced wine at $18.99 and should satisfy anyone who likes Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. We have quite a few bottles like this, but every once in a while, we enjoy bringing in new labels of what has become one of our best selling varietals. I donāt think you can go wrong with this bottle. If it's a clean and crisp white with tropical notes youāre desiring, then this is just what you need.

Food News š
Looking for a few new items to bring in. This week, I decided to try out Michigan Family Farms boneless skin-on chicken breasts. We already have a following for their thighs and wings, so why not try out their breasts? No GMOs and no antibiotics, these free range Amish chickens from Michigan taste like no other. We also decided to bring in Arnarlax Salmon from Iceland this week. Bakkafrost is always wonderful, but I've brought in Icelandic before, and everyone loved it. I just couldnāt keep the price down. This week the price dipped, and I decided to jump in. Thereās rarely a day that goes by someone doesnāt ask for a specialty item. 20 pounds of fresh Ohio Lake Erie Perch? Not a problem. Long bone short ribs? You bet! We've even brought in a suckling pig. I donāt care what youāre looking for - look here first, and weāll do our best to get it in.
Food Feature š„©
Sometimes I just canāt help myself⦠Coming in tomorrow, 50 pounds of Prime Tomahawk Ribeyes!! Yeah, you remember these big, beautiful pieces of meat. The end of summer is drawing near, and you need one more grill extravaganza to cap off this season. Iāll hand cut these beasts for you. My best guess is that one bone will weigh out around 3.5lbs. Seeing how thereās 7 bones, itās a pretty good guess. Iāve cooked a few of these, and I have never had a better cut. Priced out at $20 a pound makes these a bargain. A 40oz Tomahawk purchased at a restaurant came in at $140.00⦠Iām thinking ours should weigh in around 56oz and run you about $70.00 --- significantly larger and unbelievably lower in price. I have seven sold and seven left to sell. Stop in and ask for one of these big boys.
Oyster News š¦Ŗ
Summer Love from Prince Edward Island were the apparent favorites from last Saturday's celebration, so we brought more of them in to share with you. These oysters present a buttery, creamy meat that finishes with a perfect balance of salt and mineral notes. The suggested pairing with these are a golden ale. Personally, I think theyāre wonderful with whatever you have in your glass. Theyāre the perfect size and go down way, way too easy. Stop in for a dozen... or more. Itās Oyster Day every day down here.
Market Items š
*Fresh Tomahawk Ribeyes - $19.99/lb
*Fresh Wagyu Hanger Steaks, 2 Pack (1lb) - $29.99
*Fresh Wagyu Burgers 4pk - $16.99
*Fresh Oysters - $24 a dozen
*Fresh Icelandic Salmon - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Sashimi-Grade Ahi Tuna - $18.99/lb
*Fresh Michigan Family Farms Amish Free Range Chicken Boneless Skin-
on Breasts, 2.2lb - $18.99
*Fresh Duroc Double Bone-In Pork Chops - $12.99
Frozen Michigan Family Farms Amish Free Range Chicken Boneless Skin-
on Breasts, 2.2lb - $14.99
Frozen CAB Steak Burgers 4pk - $14.99
Frozen CAB Dry-Aged Ribeyes - $18.99/lb
Frozen Center Cut 8oz Beef Tenderloin Filets - $16.99
Frozen Choice Strip Steaks - $18.99/lb
Frozen Choice Ribeyes - $18.99/lb
Frozen Choice Sirloin Cap Strip Steaks, 8oz - $9.99
Frozen Lamb Sirloin Roast - $22.99/lb
Frozen Lamb Racks, 2lbs - $49.99
Frozen Spiral Cut Dearborn Hams, approx. 9lb - $27.99
Frozen Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin - $12.99
Frozen Pre-Cooked Frozen BBQ Ribs (approx. 3lb racks) - $23.99
Frozen Italian Sausages, 4 per pound - $8.99
Frozen Nueske Cheddar and Bacon Sausages 5 per pound - $9.99
Frozen Black Pepper Bacon - $14.99
Frozen Chilean Sea Bass, 6oz - $16.99
Frozen Buddyās Detroit Style Pizzas (Cheese or Pepperoni) - $17.99
Frozen Ahi Saku Block Tuna AAA Sushi Grade, avg. 16oz - $19.99
Frozen U-16/20 Raw Shrimp deveined (1lb package) - $19.99
Frozen U-10 Scallops - $29.99/lb
Frozen Lobster Tails, 2pk - $35.99
Frozen Whole Petite Potatoes - $8.99
Frozen Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges - $8.99
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Strozzapreti from Italy - $14.99/lb (serving for 2)
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Lobster & Crab Tortelli from Italy - $16.99 1/2 lb
Fresh/Frozen Bacchini Pear & Cheese Fiocchi from Italy - $7.99 1/2 lb
Fresh/Frozen Drakeās Pasta Ravioli (Veal or Butternut Squash) - $12.99/
lb (serving for 2)
1932ās Pasta Sauce (Arrabbiata, Pomodorina with Fresh Basil,
Pomodorina with Barolo) - $7.99
Fusco Mezzi Rigatoni Dried Pasta from Italy - $6.99
Fusco Casarecce Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Spaghetti Chitarra Dried Pasta from Italy - $5.99
Maurizio Trofie Dried Pasta from Italy - $7.99
Tribeca Bakery Bread (Asiago or Rosemary) - $5.50
New Wineš·
Fritz Müller NV Perlwein Rosa Trocken, Germany - $19.99
Fritz Müller NV Müller-Thurgau Trocken, Germany - $19.99
Bonny Doon 2021 Le Cigar Blanc Beeswax Vineyard, California - $15.99
Folk Machine 2022 White Light, Napa Valley - $16.99
Domaine De Fontsainte 2022 Gris de Gris RosƩ, France - $19.99
Mirabeau en Provence 2022 RosƩ, France - $19.99
New Beer šŗ
Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest MƤrzen, 6pk bottles - $10.99 Trƶegs Oktoberfest Lager, 6pk bottles - $11.99
Schafly Oktoberfest, 6pk bottles - $10.99
HofbrƤu Oktoberfestbier, 6pk bottles - $10.99
Paulaner Oktoberfest MƤrzen, 6pk bottles - $10.99
Great Lakes Oktoberfest, 6pk bottles - $10.99
Bell's Oktoberfest Beer, 6pk bottles - $11.99
Toppling Goliath Limited Edition Oktoberfest Lager, 6pk cans - $11.99
Fat Head's Hop JuJu Imperial IPA, 4pk cans - $12.99
Weihenstephaner Festbier, 6pk bottles - $12.99

Kegs - 1/6 Barrel š¢
Schlafly Kƶlsch - $109.99
La Chouffe - $175.99
Outerbelt Oktoberfest - $131.99
Final Thoughts š¬
We didnāt quite hit our record for oysters last week. My best guess 900+. Either way, I think everyone had a great time. No blood was shed, and weāve got more oysters in for those who may have missed the big day... fortunately or maybe unfortunately š¤ Either way, weāre never at a loss for a Saturday special event. Weāll keep thinking and dreaming up new ways to have fun down here.
Cheers from all of us here at the Wine Merchant!
š 419-424-0391
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