San Francisco: The Salami Capital of America

A national food writer once penned, “To be a great food city, it helps to have a large body of water nearby, a classic dish or three, and a population with a fondness for food and drink.” It is safe to say that San Francisco meets these criteria in spades.

When it comes to food, most of us know that the city by the bay is famous for its sourdough bread, world class wines, and for Irish Coffee, said to be invented at the city’s famous Buena Vista Café. What many of us may not know is that San Francisco is also the salami capital of America.

Long before the word “artisan” entered the nation’s lexicon, Columbus Meats was handcrafting, drying and curing their Italian-style salami in the “Little Italy” of San Francisco known as North Beach, where Italian flags adorn every light post and front window. It’s no accident that San Francisco, with its cool climate and pervasive fog, is perfectly suited for dry curing meats.

But it wasn’t the weather alone that secured this singular title for the city. In the late 1960’s Columbus and a group of artisan salami makers convinced the U.S. Department of Agriculture that their disciplined, Old World methods for making salami in San Francisco entitled them to exclusively call their products “Italian Dry.” This remains a standard of identity for salami made in the Bay Area.

Fast-forward to today, and this same commitment to quality and excellence is evident in the city’s vibrant and ever-evolving food scene. San Francisco is home to over 40 James Beard Award-winning chefs and restaurants and has been awarded over 50 stars from Michelin (second only to New York). It continues to raise the bar with its innovative and forward-thinking approach to all things food. With its proximity to world-class wines and craft beers, the freshest produce in the land, and home to purveyors of some of the best craft meats and cheeses in the country, San Francisco is undeniably one of the best places in the world to experience culinary delights. And at Columbus we not only share that passion but are dedicated to maintaining that tradition.

Check out the 38 Essential San Francisco Restaurants and also San Francisco’s hottest new restaurants according to Eater SF.