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Who Loves Salami? Or Is It Salumi? Or Salame? Columbus Foods Review and Giveaway

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gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan, grain free, rolls, biscuits, Brazilian cheese rolls

Full disclosure: Columbus Foods provided free salami products for me and my support group to review and also for this giveaway. However, this is not a compensated post and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

UPDATE:  This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered and shared their favorite ways to eat salami! I’m happy to introduce  so many of you to Columbus Salame. I used Jennette Fulda’s Pick a Giveaway Winner tool to select the following winners. (Winners will be contacted via email.) Congrats to all! Please stay tuned to more giveaways as I continue my gfe “spring cleaning.”

denise mallett ~ “As a child I was introduced to hard salami sitting on the back porch swing with cousins. My uncle had a full stick of hard salami, slicing pieces for us all to enjoy. I have eaten it this way since, for 52 years now. I purchase a good quality salami every two weeks, I eat it mostly by the slice, on gluten free pizza, with goat milk cheese or as salami sandwiches. My mouth was watering gazing at your wonderful picture of salami’s teasing my tastebuds.”

Janet Lewis ~ “I love salami with a cracker!”

Stacy (Paleo Parents) ~ “On the rare occasion my boys keep salami in the house long enough for me to eat it, I like to snack on it with an orange or clementine. The flavors work perfectly together!”

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When I posted my Brazilian Un-Cheese Rolls recipe, and shared a photo that showed how I’d made the rolls into little salami sandwiches, several readers commented on how appealing they were.  Some even specifically commented on the salami. As Amber (The Tasty Alternative) said, “P.S. Don’t you just LOVE salami! Mmmmmmm!” Yes, I do, and those Brazilian Un-Cheese Rolls are a perfect way for anyone to enjoy salami. This is especially true for those who would normally pair salami with a good cheese, but who are eating dairy free now. Somehow that cheese is just not needed when the salami is tucked into the Brazilian Un-Cheese Roll! (Note that the photo does show cheese though; these were Mr. GFE’s lunch.)

In my book, there’s “really good” salami, “okay” salami, and “no thanks, I’ll pass” salami. Columbus Foods offers really good salami! Mr. GFE and I enjoyed it as an appetizer on crackers, in the aforementioned rolls, and even as pizza topping.  With the help of my support group “sous chef,” I even served up some at our last support group meeting … just for small bites or pairing with some of our other food items that evening. Those tasty bites were very much enjoyed, even without much accessorizing!

gluten free, dairy free, salami

Columbus Foods sent me one of their tasting kits, plus one more—a total of five products with their tasting guide that allow you to be a true salumiere. The latter is an education on both Columbus Foods and this delicious type of meat.

Columbus Foods, salami, salume, salame, gluten free, dairy free, grain free, pork

Some noteworthy tidbits that are shared in the tasting guide include:

~ “Salumi is the general Italian term for cured meats and it derives from the Italian word for salt, sale. It came into being as a necessity; it was a way of preserving meats to last longer for consumption. The most common examples of salumi are Prosciutto and Pancetta. Salame is a specific category of salumi that is dry-cured, fermented meat that’s encased in a natural or synthetic casing. Salame can be made from many different types of meat … all Columbus salame is made exclusively of pork.

~ “We at Columbus maintain the original Italian spelling—salame, to honor our founders’ heritage. In Italian, salame is singular, and salami is plural.”

~ “Columbus Foods has been making salame for over a century. We live and breathe salumi, so much so that we even wrote a book about it—Salumi.”

~ “High quality salame should have a rich red color, not washed out or pink, with good definition between the meat and fat. When there is little or no distinction between the two, it’s a sign of a lower quality salame. Authentic, gourmet salame should have a firm bite and should never taste fatty on the palate.”

~ “Salame should be served at room temperature.” (20 to 30 minutes out of the refrigerator.)

~ “Sliced salame is best when consumed within 7 – 10 days of opening.”

Columbus Foods material stated that “Like all Columbus salame and deli meats, these are gluten free and contain no MSG or trans fat.” When I inquired further about the gluten-free status of Columbus Foods’ salame, the representative stated, “All of our products are gluten free. We have no gluten within our plant; this includes the turkey broth in items like our turkey breast.”

Columbus Foods, Salame, Salami, Salumi

photo courtesy of Columbus Foods

The five products that we enjoyed were:

~ Italian Dry salame: An Old World classic with a San Francisco twist

~ Pepper salame: Hand-rolled in freshly cracked peppercorns. (From the Columbus natural line)

~ Sopressata salame: Robust with sweet fennel, hot peppers, paprika and red wine

~ Chorizo salame: A one-of-a-kind mixture of paprika, fresh garlic, and spices

~ Classic Toscano salame: Columbus Foods’ leanest salame

Three gfe winners will get this same giveaway package, plus the very worthwhile tasting guide (with pairing suggestions, an area for tasting notes, etc.—makes for a great little party activity for two or more!). Each giveaway package is valued at about $40 (not including shipping and handling). This giveaway ends Thursday, March 29, at midnight. Important Note:  Because this giveaway prize involves food that must remain cold during shipping, this giveaway is not open to international readers; I am sorry.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment on your favorite way to eat salami. You can “like” Columbus Salame on Facebook for one additional entry. (There are great recipes and quotes shared on this page!)

And as the Columbus Foods rep always signs off … “Buon Appetito!”

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Comments

  4. I love chopped up on a salad with black olives, chickpeas, red onion and a homemade Apple Cider Vinegar salad dressing!

    Reply

  5. Another great giveaway, Shirley! And while we don’t have it around often, we love good salami in our home. Columbus Salame sounds like a great company. I think I’ve seen some of their products at Cost Plus World Market. I’ll have to get some when I go next time!

    Reply

  6. In the past it was in a sandwich of a nice French bread with a bit of mayo.

    Now I love to smear some avocado on the salami and roll it to eat. I might even add a bit of onion.

    Reply

  7. I love salami with slices of cheese on it, as a very filling appetizer. My second choice is in a sandwich with bread and mayo.

    Reply

  9. My husband and I love to have a light dinner of salame, cheese, crackers and fresh veggies some evenings when neither of us feel like cooking.

    Reply

  12. your salame or salami is the best all around.eat it with sour dough bread or crackers.and provalon cheese very aged.

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  13. I Love Columbus Salame the way it was served at our favorite restaraunt growing up on an Antipasto type plate. We do this occasionally for snacks or light dinner. Great for a summers eve.

    Reply

  15. I love salame just by itself! I also like it with french bread and a good cheese. Or on pizza.

    Can you tell I’m Italian and I love any kind of salami? 😀

    Reply

  16. I love all Columbus products. One of my favorite snacks is a slice of cacciatore on a piece of crust from fresh italian bread, with a dab of gorgonzola dolce. Yum!!!

    Reply

  17. This days I enjoy it plain, or maybe with a little good-quality cheddar cheese. When I still ate gluten, though, I loved it with bagels and cream cheese.

    Reply

  20. We are HUGE Columbus Salami fans and go through three packages a week in our house. My husband likes it on g/f bread and I dearly love it in a salad!

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  22. I’ve never had this brand nor have I eaten salami in a long time. If I won, I’d just savor it plain. 🙂

    Reply

  23. I’m Italian so therefore I LOOOVEEEEE Salami anyway I can get it- plain with some sharp cheese is best!! I don’t buy it too often, but the love is always there!! 🙂

    Oh- and I get your updates via email!!

    Reply

  25. Years ago I loved Salami with fresh Wonder bread w/butter (crust cut off and squished till the butter came out). Now it is Salami love by itself or w/rice crackers and cheese! Thanks for the chance to win. Dee

    Reply

  30. As a child I was introduced to hard salami sitting on the back porch swing with cousins. My uncle had a full stick of hard salami, slicing pieces for us all to enjoy. I have eaten it this way since, for 52 years now. I purchase a good quality salami every two weeks, I eat it mostly by the slice, on gluten free pizza, with goat milk cheese or as salami sandwiches. My mouth was watering gazing at your wonderful picture of salami’s teasing my tastebuds.

    Reply

  36. salami and swiss on a sourdough roll with mustard and mayo

    or

    Roll up salami with philly cream cheese and peppercini.

    Reply

  38. Yum! I’d love that! I’d totally share it at my dad’s upcoming birthday because we are all gluten-free, and he loves sausage, etc. and so many have sketchy ingredients!

    Reply

  40. Ah boo that it’s not open to international readers, but I do understand :(( It looks amazing. Keep up the great work!

    Reply

  43. I love Columbus brand lunchmeats. Costco sells them for a great price. I have not tried the salami but would pair it with crackers and a piece of cheese.

    Reply

  44. Hi, I’m 12 years old and I love to bake and cook. I just wanted to tell you I made your recipe for pizza muffins tonight and they were delicious!! Thank you for the recipe!

    Reply

    • Hi there Grace! Welcome to gfe. 🙂 Thank you so much for popping in to tell me that. It totally makes my day! So happy that you are cooking and baking, and especially enjoying gfe recipes! 😉

      Shirley

      Reply

  50. I love Columbus deli meats, but have never had their salame…I am a huge fan of salame though and would love to try this. I enjoy it on sandwiches with mustard and on gf crackers with sundried tomatoes.

    Reply

  52. On the rare occasion my boys keep salami in the house long enough for me to eat it, I like to snack on it with an orange or clementine. The flavors work perfectly together!

    Reply

  56. I love salami with a little Swiss cheese or even just plain for snacking. It’s also great in salads with some Italian dressing!

    Reply

  57. I love salami no matter how you spell it. 😉 Especially when I’m out of gf crackers—they’re a handy holder for cheese to go with my wine, HA!

    Reply

  61. Yum! I noticed that salame in your picture as well. You could just tell it was amazing. I love salame as part of an antipasto plate (just not with crusty bread anymore). Will have to give your rolls a try as soon as I get around to boiling more hommous beans 🙂

    Reply

  62. Oh crud, I guess I didn’t finish the previous comment before posting it. My favorite way of eating salami: pure, just like my grandfather and I used to eat it. I was way too young back then to drink wine with him but I’m sure I make him proud now every time I drink red wine with salami 🙂

    And I also liked Columbus on Facebook

    Reply

  65. We love to eat salamis in sandwiches, or with crackers & cheese & dips at cocktail & hors d’oeuvres time. I like it as a quick snack with pickle & chips. I also like mine with mashed potatoes or pasta. Good salami goes well with a lot of dishes, snacks, crackers & more. The possibilities are endless!!

    Reply

  67. I love the Columbus brand salames. They are perfect paired with a great Italian red wine or on my favorite panini. I make the panini with gluten free ciabatta bread, the Italian dry Columbus salame, fresh basil, roasted red peppers and a good fontina cheese. Buon appetito!

    Reply

  68. I like salami cut up in pieces, grilled, and dipped in honey mustard. So yummy! Haven’t had it in years though since its hard to find some without MSG or other chemicals.

    Reply

  71. I love eating salami on a nice antipasti platter, maybe a glass of wine and a nice night with my boyfriend, if we can ever get a babysitter.

    Reply

  72. I like my salami sliced very thin…On a sandwich, crackers or just by itself!!!! I’ve never tried the Columbus brand and I will have to look for it at my favorite market!

    Reply

  78. Our family is a ‘good’ German family and we love Salami. I’m excited to read about Columbus salami because I had given up on eating it again. My gf daughter has been very sad, BUT NOW :D)))))

    Reply

  79. I won and am so excited! I’m looking forward to my Columbus salami. Thank you so much for this wonderful giveaway!

    Reply

  80. I was just eyeing up some salami this morning at our local grocery! I was surprised and delighted to see an email this afternoon with such fantastic news that I am one of the winners! Thank you for the chance to win such an awesome prize. As I was squealing my dear hubby said he never knew someone could get so excited over salami!! 🙂

    Reply

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