Frissurata: A Calabrian Spiced Pork Recipe

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Frissurata, Calabrian Spiced Pork

Getting THE Frissurata Recipe

Crunch, crunch, crunch goes the gravel under two pairs of athletic shoes. Up the drive to Zia’s house, we go. Step one, step two up to the brick porch. Another four strides to the outer glass door.

Knock, knock on the glass. “Permesso!” Giuseppe and I exclaim in unison before stepping into another world.

Smacked in the face with the scent of sizzling pork fat, pepe rosso (spicy red pepper powder), and frying potatoes.

There’s nothing quite like a trip to Zia’s house to throw two grown adults who grew up on opposite sides of the world into a delightful state of childhood...

…I’m back in a familiar bright yellow wallpapered kitchen, the only ray of sunshine in the outer richmond district of San Francisco. My grandmother stands over the stove stirring, giggling in her deep raspy laugh.

Chicken and dumplings, cornbread, sauteed red bell peppers, 7 Up cake. Those are the scents of my safe space.

I’m neatly tucked away in the corner booth, telling her all about the drama that is a 10-year-olds life. Her signature “Mhmmm” accentuates the constant stream coming from her tiny TV propped on one of two stools…

Giuseppe’s zia pops her head out of the kitchen and yells:

“Giuse!” (pronounced juice-ay)