Calling Salumeria Italiana one of his favorite stores in the world, Andrew Zimmern, star of Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods, swept through the store recently, accompanied by cameramen, light and audio technicians, producers, and a few curious fans. The congenial Zimmern who travels the world seeking out the unusual, the authentic, and the molto delicioso in foods sampled Coppa di Testa, or head cheese, pointing out its piggy parts and how our version was especially delicate. He tried Cinghiale, or wild boar, Cacciatorini. He marveled over Moliterno al Tartufo, the wonderfully aged Sardinian truffle cheese. And he smacked his lips at the Octopus Salad. With owner Gaetano Martignetti, (pictured above, Gaetano on left) he discussed regional Italian specialities, where to source the best cheeses, and all the little producers the two had discovered in remote towns in Italy.

Zimmern confessed he has been coming to the store since forever and remembers all the remodeling over the years. He could identify the olive oils, said he and his son love Rubio, and filled his arms with Setaro, Alce Nero, and other pastas to be sent to his home in Minnesota. After stopping for a photo with Gaetano, Zimmern made sure to have two packages of Bottarga di Mugine (mullet roe) wrapped in a cool pack to take on the plane with him. 

The segment featuring Salumeria Italiana as part of a tour of the North End is slated for February 2012. Stay tuned for an exact date and watch for the Salumeria staff on air.!!!