A look inside Momofuku's exclusive Tasting of Country Ham experience.
David Chang’s Momofuku at The Cosmopolitan is known for an umami-centric menu, and its Tasting of Country Hams is no exception. Chef de cuisine Mike “Ruby” Rubenstein handpicks a rotating pair of country hams, sliced paper-thin and served alongside Chang’s infamous redeye mayo, Honeycrisp apples and chive drop biscuits. It’s an intense offering of rich, complex country hams rarely seen outside the Southeast. Rubenstein’s current selections include Edwards Surryano ham, named for its town of origin, Surry, Virginia, and Lady Edison Extra Fancy country ham hailing from North Carolina. The former exudes hints of smoke, remnants of a weeklong smoking process occurring prior to a brief 400 days of aging, resulting in intense marbling with a mouthfeel mimicking serrano ham, while the latter is funky on the front end and salty, aged for 16 to 18 months without any time in the smoker. The redeye mayo, made with Nescafé instant coffee, serves as a particularly effective foil to the Lady Edison’s funkiness.
If you miss either—Momofuku goes through three to four hams per week, so selections change when stockpiles run out—rest assured Rubenstein has a series of other impressive swine products waiting in the wings, including revered Benton’s Reserve smoked country ham from Tennessee and Heritage Culatello from Tempesta Salumi in Chicago. Momofuku has your swine craving covered.
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