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crisp porchetta

It felt a little funny heading over to Porchetta for lunch. I mean, I live right next to Italy and had amazing porchetta there just recently. So why am I taking a lengthy subway trip down to the East Village for lunch?

And I was tempted even further when I was on the way to meet my friend Shira (who I met on a boat trip on the Côte d’Azur last year) for lunch, and I passed a ‘San Francisco-style’ burrito place that tugged in the pit of my slightly bulging stomach at my sense of nostalgia for the famed tummy-torpedos I remembered so well.

potatoes and lemon seltzer porchetta

But like the people who told me that that Mexican food and BBQ in New York aren’t going to be as good as where they originated (which I find partially true, but I’ve had great French food in New York and wonderful Italian fare in San Francisco, so perhaps I’m becoming a little too globalized for my own good) I’m going to agree that it’s pretty hard to replicate a San Francisco burrito. So in my twisted logic that says you can’t get a good San Francisco-style burrito in New York City, but good Tuscan roast pork is a possibility, porchetta it was. And boy, am I glad when my convoluted reasoning works out.

porchetta sandwich

Porchetta is the perfect place to eat. I always say, “The perfect restaurant makes just a few things, and does them perfectly.” Price it fairly and people will be happy. It doesn’t seem so hard, does it? I don’t need a long menu with everything—including the moon on it; I’m happy to have a place that just roast chickens on the spit or brings out generous plates of good charcuterie.

And while I don’t mind a fancy meal once in a while, it’s much more fun to sit outside on a bench and catch up with a friend while fighting each other for crispy bits. I usually win, but that’s because I don’t have good table manners. But I’ve learned to be okay with that.

pig at Porchetta very crisp porchetta

When you walk in to Porchetta, there’s not much in the way of fancy decor. Which is fine, because under glass are oversized humps of roast pork resting under the warm lamps and that’s all I want to look at. I was gazing at those bundles of glowing meat like a new parent gazing at his firstborn sleeping soundly in an incubator. This isn’t just pork that’s been cooked forever until soft and meaty—it’s about the crust…oh, the crust! If you have any doubts that God exists, if you take a bite of this pig skin, you may see something resembling a divine presence. (And if I did have a baby, wouldn’t that be some sort of miracle, too…)

roasted potatoes pork fat

Each roasted pork has crust that’s so hard and crackly that you’ll probably think you bit into something you shouldn’t have. Which happened to me when I pulled out what I thought was a roast potato I’d speared on my fork, but was actually a dark, caramelized chunk of pork skin, firm on the outside and meltingly tender within that had been tossed with the potatoes. If you within a 100 mile radius of this place, speed by and order the Crispy potatoes and burnt ends ($5). Please, for the love of God, or whoever you worship, do it just for me.

greens at porchetta

I am feeling a little faint just recounting that dish, so I’ll stop talking about it. But do order a neat oval dish of Cooking greens ($5), quickly sautéed in olive oil and whole cloves of garlic. As someone who constantly craves greens, eating mouthful of this hearty mix of kale and broccolini felt like a good dose of fiber to scrub away any bits and pieces of pork fat that might be lingering in my insides.

If I wasn’t wearing my only pair of clean khakis, I would have been a little more aggressive with these greens and I am trying to work out my calendar so I can squeeze in another visit, and bring a rubberized apron (and a few damp towels) so I can let myself go whole hog.

porchetta new york city

Although I gotta say, we didn’t do too bad without them.

porchetta porchetta aftermath

Porchetta
110 East 7th Street (between 1st Ave and Avenue A)
Telephone: 212-777-2151




New York City Dining & Travel Notes

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62 comments

    • Alex Waidley

    Where have you had good Italian food in San Francisco? I use to live there and am moving back up but had a hard time filtering through all the hodgepodge of Little Italy tourist spots. Would greatly appreciate it being half Italian myself. Also, just made your malted milk ice cream and mixed in cookie dough to make “Milk and Cookies” delicious!

    • Earline

    Dear David:

    Thank you for this wonderful entry. You may want to rethink the following sentence, however: “If you within a 100 milk radius of this place . . .”

    • amusette

    What I wouldn’t give for a forkful of those greens … kale and broccoli rabe have been impossible to find in Paris…It will have to wait till I get back to NY I guess. Enjoy your trip David!

    • Christine @ Fresh Local and Best

    I must agree that this is one of NY’s best kept secrets…until now. I’ll definitely take your advice to try the gloriously crisped potatoes that are visually – and likely tastfully – reminiscent of the pork itself.

    I can’t say it enough, I’m really looking forward to meeting you this evening!

    • merce muse

    david! if you go back, please stop by abraço a few doors down–absolutely amazing hole in the wall. jamie is a wonderful barista and elizabeth is my favorite pastry chef in nyc!! everything she makes is amazing.
    xx merce

    heres the link for the site:
    http://www.abraconyc.com/#home

    • Janet

    You know, the cheap and cheerful places are the best. Everything looked so good. I’ve been thinking of a trip to New York this fall and Porchetta sounds like a perfect place to go for good eats.
    Thanks David

    • krysalia

    dark orange and overflavorful caramelized pork skin, this is plain heaven.

    I love the way it is always partly blown out with crispy bubbles. I often cook a pork rouelle (a round and 2″ thick slice of ham or pork shoulder, with the bone in the center and a side of the slice covered with pork skin still attached) in the oven for 50mn or so, just to have the pleasure of munching bits of this delicacy :D.

    I love the idea of a side dish made of kale and broccolini. how clever ! how appealing ! (how cheap, how my god :D !) It’s a shame that almost no restaurant here, no matter the fanciness, has tried to offer this to French customers :( .
    Actually I’ve never seen kale or broccolini in any French market i’ve ever went to :[ .

    Do you think that those vegetable are available in France somewhere, or have you ever found those in Paris ? I’d be happy to have some tips to find those greens if you or your readers living in France have informations about this.

    • Gail

    Thanks for helping me plan where Michael, Brian and I will be eating and snacking when we arrive on Labor Day. Especially the tip about the salted caramel donuts!

    • lala in nYc

    I will miss you at the Border’s signing today. I’m so bummed. Perhaps you did a recipe reading from your book too. I would have loved that!

    “2 cups flour” pause “1 egg white” pause “1 teaspoon of Tahitian vanilla extract” pause “Gently combine ingredients” “Voila!”

    Hope you had a great signing in NYC!

    • FemmeFraiche

    Porchetta is soul food! We ordered it from the local butcher for family functions and I always push people out of the way to get to that crispy skin before they do! And table manners need not exist when it comes to things like porchetta skins, I’ll tell you that much. I was planning on doing San Francisco next, as I haven’t been there before, but now you’ve got me contemplating a return visit to NYC instead…hmmmm

    • Anna

    ohhh, I love to make pork shoulder, slow roasted all night (10-12 hours, depending on size). I can’t find a source locally for roasts with the skin still on, but I can find one place that leaves on a decent layer of fat, so that works fairly well. I score the fat and rub with salt & pepper, sometimes some other seasonings.

    You are so right about the crispy goodness on the top (I don’t fear natural pork fat, BTW, provided it was from a humanely-raised pig that had access to its natural omnivorous diet, and not just agri-garbage (corn, soy, etc.).

    • ron shapley

    OK OK I’m there tomorrow………. Caught your “act” at Border’s.. What a crowd !! and what a night for the air conditioning to crap out.. It was fun seeing and hearing you “in person”… Fascinating and fun presentation.. Thanks Dave..

    • Noriko

    I am so happy to see that you are a foodie without being a food snob! My partner and I fall into the same category and are happy as can be when eating good food ranging from the simplest fare to Masa’s in SF.

    I’ve never tried porchetta but from your description it sounds quite similar to lechon (a Filipino dish). If you ever have the chance to try fresh lechon (there was a place in San Jose, CA that we used to frequent) it is amazingly good (but oh so bad for your conscience). Alas we now live in Montreal so we empathize with the lack of plentiful, inexpensive, and delicious homey Mexican food (as opposed to the heavy interpretations often found in restaurants). You can’t imagine how excited I was to find your carnitas recipe, which is on my TO DO List for this weekend…

    And thank you for your generosity in sharing recipes. My love of cooking started with baking in my teens but as the years went by, practicality demanded a greater focus on main courses. Your blog & recipes have rekindled my love of making sweets this summer, much to the delight of everyone around me.

    • bunkycooks

    I wish I lived in NYC so that I could meet you and dine at Porchetta. The pork, the greens, the potatoes…everything is just perfect. Maybe I will get to Porchetta at some point and I hope you make it to Atlanta!

    • Leslie

    Great post, especially the pics… I love Porchetta but I can’t justify the price. For another Italian lunch experience just a 5 minute walk from Porchetta is Motorino on East 12th Street, their $12 week day lunch special is the way to go when visiting the East Village.

    I hope you have time to try it before you leave New York.

    • Amanda

    Alright – I am really jealous, now.
    Very difficult to get a meal like that at a price like that here in South Australia!

    • The Italian Dish

    I have so wanted to go to this place. Great post. Loved your photos.

    • Katie K

    Sounds like a great meal. By the way, 7th Street between 1st and A is in the East Village, not the Lower East Side. In fact, according to Wikipedia, “The Lower East Side (also known as LES, L.E.S. and Loisaida) is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street.” Which is 7 blocks south of 7th Street. Glad you’re getting around.

    • Ginger

    … and I ‘m guessing you were able to get the “burnt ends” here after “burning out” at RUB Barbecue. Asked a friend if he had been to RUB when he was living there and he said, “Several times and … they were always out of the “burnt ends”!

    • Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet }

    A porchetta sandwich is one of life’s decadent treats – not for the everyday dining delight. Every Saturday at the Farmer’s Market in San Francisco, the Roli Roti truck parks and the long, long line follows for their porchetta sandwich. I do part take every few months in this true delight. Next time I make it to NYC, I will have to check this place out. Thanks for sharing and I enjoy your blog.

    • Hannah

    I’m probably an odd one in that the pork itself doesn’t thrill me, but oh golly! Those potatoes and greens! So vibrant and crunchy and surely delicious!

    • Jessica

    Hi David! I loved hearing and seeing you at Borders tonight! As a musician who has to greet people all the time after concerts, I totally know what it must have been like tonight so thanks for being so nice to all of us. Are your cheek muscles spazzing out now from having to smile all night? :) And you totally didn’t need the list – you were great!

    I hope you like the nori/kim. It’s one of my favorites I bring back from Korea when I visit. If you like it, let me know – I’ll totally bring a box with me to Paris next month! I’m serious! I’m bringing a box to my friend in Berlin and nori is super light!

    Have a great rest of your trip – do I see Taim falafel sandwich and City Bakery pretzel croissant in your future? I’m known to have psychic powers sometimes. :D

    • David

    Leslie: It’s interesting that some people consider Porchetta expensive. The sandwich is $10, which isn’t inexpensive (for a sandwich) but I consider the cooked greens and potatoes and burnt skin at $5 each quite a bargain. Maybe next time you should go (semi-) vegetarian and just go with the sides : )

    merce: That was choice #2, but the idea of this caramelized pork was too much to ignore and we ate here instead.

    amusette: I think it’s unfortunate that kale and broccolini are impossible to find in Paris. (And believe me, I’ve looked.) I think they just don’t eat stewed or braised greens like they do in Italy. You can find certain kinds of greens (notably chard) in Paris, but I’d love to find some real kale, since I love it stewed with garlic and olive oil, like they do at Porchetta.

    • Lisa

    Everything looks absolutely delicious! Oh, please tell us about the bread…. I just LOVE good bread! Thanks for taking us all to lunch.
    Lisa
    *I’m going to cook-up the greens and potatoes this weekend!

    • maryn

    Dear GOD, I love Porchetta. That skin… (wanders away, glassy-eyed, bumping into objects)

    • amy stein

    GREAT signing tonite! I was so star struck that I forgot to say “thank you!” for the “great arms” comment. Enjoy the rest of your visit. Try to get to Hill Country. It is yummy and I love the name of the chicken breast–the Dolly!

    • amy stein

    One more thing – Levain Bakery 167 West 74th Street has the sickest cookies– try to get there.

    • sonya

    Thanks for a wonderful reading. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay to get my book signed and to say hello (that was one very *long* line), but it was great to put a voice and body to your words. You are utterly charming, a true mensch. Enjoy the rest of your stay.

    • Geraldine Toltschin

    Well, I do not eat pork, but the BREAD in the photo looks fantastic, I am a baker.
    The greens made me go down to my garden and cut some to perpare for my lunch.Thanks for your news and views. I will tell my friends in NYC about Porchetta for sure! G. in Cadiz

    • Don Madrid

    Ah yes, porchetta…such porky goodness.

    I first tasted it in Frascati, Italy. Buy the pork from a street vender, buy bread from another. Then sit down in a dark deep storefront where they pour you carafes of Frascati wine strait from huge barrels in the back of the space and provide you with tables with paper tablecloths.

    Yeah, its all good.

    • Gordy(PimpThatFood)

    I’ve tasted Porchetta when I was in Roma from the typical kiosks… and I tell you what is worth tasting. That crackling fat inside your bread makes you wanna stay there eating the whole lot. Those huge pieces of ‘Porchette’ where amazing for some photo shots.

    Great post David!

    • mary jane cryan

    Why did you leave those potatoes?
    Here in Italy we roast the potatoes using our extra virgin olive oil, a bit of garlic (aglio) and rosmarino in the oven for about 40 min. (they are cut in larger pieces)
    Recently some visiting friends from Delaware and NYC actually gave a standing ovation for the potatoes —-
    Mary Jane Cryan

    • Cecily Shores

    Dear David,
    Merci for sharing your insights and experiences at the reading last evening. As you said, others have commented that your observations about living in Paris are “dead on,” I too believe it to be true. I have been to Paris and I smile (respectfully) at the gentle pokes.

    I hope you and your NYC host enjoy the Apricot Jam. Next time I come to see you at an event, here, in Paris, or in SF, I’ll hope to bring a sample of one of your recipes; but first I have to get rid of the mouse. I am off to the Farmer’s Market. I am inspired by one of the recipes from your book! Ciao

    • David

    mary jane: Believe me, I didn’t want to leave any potatoes. I’ve really been shoving the food in and it’s very hot in NYC right now. But yes, looking at the picture again, I feel bad I didn’t polish off the bowl (although I am going back…and will try to do better)

    cecily: If there’s a ‘quirk-free’ city in the world, I don’t know what it is. Paris is indeed a special place and if you really want to hear people talk about the Parisians, just travel through the rest of France. It was cute having that Frenchwoman there who nodded in agreement. Of course, being in New York, there’s plenty of curious behavior here as well. Last night, I saw people eating on the subway (I know, how odd is that?!), folks stood patiently in line without trying to cut in front of anyone else, and I even wore flip-flops to my booksigning—Quelle horreur!

    sonya: Glad you came, but sorry I couldn’t sign your book. I keep forgetting that we’re in the states and people don’t cut in line. But I might have made an exception for you if you had to run ; )

    Amy: Thanks for coming..and for the recommendations.

    Ron: Actually since I live somewhere were AC isn’t an option, I didn’t find it too bad. But I was so thirsty afterward I needed 2 bottles of sake with dinner to quench my thirst.

    Lisa: I don’t know exactly what the bread was, but thing it was some kind of ciabatta, since it was puffy with lots of irregular holes, and had a great crust. But I may need to go back for confirmation. . .

    • marie

    David,
    I too love all at La Porchetta and I would like to suggest the Banh Mi Catfish Sandwich at 21 e. 12 st. and University. Not to be missed as are their other sandwiches. It is my most important FOOD STOP in nyc. I hope that you can get there. M

    • TonyMnLA

    David,

    On a trip through Tuscany we heard about the country road side stops where you can get Porchetta. We found one on the way back to Florence where we were staying after driving around the country. Parked the car and walked inside to smell the roasted pork and herbs! Not much conversation as you just get one thing…a sandwich. Served up on fresh baked bread and no spread of any kind. We sat leaning on the hood of our car, not speaking as we enjoyed the simple pleasure. FANTASTIC!

    We’re living in London now and the Sunday Pub Roast is a great source for roasted pork! I fight for the crunch bits too!

    Tony

    • Hannah

    Love your observation that “The perfect restaurant makes just a few things, and does them perfectly.” Completely agree, and one of the (many) reasons I love Porchetta (the other reason being that I live to eat not eat to live, etc etc). The first time I ate there … twas absolute bliss. I’m pretty convinced that, these days, I actually prefer the places that are small and tucked away … but maybe that’s just the New York Kool-Aid speaking.

    Hope your time in the city is going splendidly.

    • Hannah

    Oh, for the fan of Korean and spicy (redundant, my white boyfriend who hails from Minnesota would say) food, may I recommend David Chang’s spicy pork sausage and rice cakes dish at Momofuku Ssam? (Corner of 12th and 2nd).

    Absolutely DELISH.

    p.s. Their seasonal dishes are always fun to check out, too. Very playful, crazy weird flavors that all come together just right in your mouth. And I’m just going to assume you’ve already been told to try their steamed pork buns.

    • Camille

    Re: the greens in Paris issue, I’ve had some luck finding non-chard-or-spinach greens in the Chinese grocers in Belleville. They have something called “feuilles de brocolis” which looks kind of like broccoli rabe but isn’t as bitter. Sometimes you can also find mustard greens, which make me very happy.

    • Susan

    David,

    What a fun event last night! Charming as you were at W.H.Smith, I think your sensibility plays even better to New Yorkers. Loved that you brought a serpilliere for show-and-tell — I am so bringing one back next time, perfect to wrap around that jar of crunchy Speculoos spread (Casino!) that didn’t fit in the suitcase last month.

    Do try to get to Dinosaur Barbecue–the ribs are amazing, and if you take-out you can picnic right on the waterfront, a short block away. Bonus: if it’s really hot you can take refuge inside the chiller section at Fairway, where meats, fish, and dairy are shelved in a cooler room the size of the entire Monoprix at Fbg. St.-Antoine — there’s a rack of parkas to don when you go in. I assume you already know Fairway? Always worth a visit. (When I drive up there for a big shop I always sneak around the block to Dinosaur to avoid getting hassled by the Fairway parking lot attendant)

    If you don’t make it up to Harlem, Blue Smoke and Hill Country aren’t bad.

    Have a delicious continuation!

    • Jeanie

    I’m with Lisa on the occasional few months at the Roli-Roti truck at the Ferry Building. It is available at not just the Saturday market, but also their Thursday market at the Ferry Building. The lines are long and totally worth it. Here’s why: the best ingredients. Fresh Acme bread which they use to mop up the porchetta juices that end up on the cutting board. On the bread, the meaty Porchetta with the layer of crunchiness. Then, they add about a 1/4 cup of this carmelized onion jam and then sprinkle Fleur de Sel de Guérande and then a whole bunch of fresh crisp rugula which adds a nice contrast.

    Oh, and of course the potatoes cook under the rotating porchettas and chickens.

    • Sini

    Mouth-watering! I guess one more have-to-go restaurant in New York.

    • Kathy

    So, where am I? In PARIS! For 6 months! And where are you? NEW YORK! What’s wrong with this picture??? I have been here since the first of June and I am DYING for those greens! Yeah. The pork looks fabulous and so do the potatoes. But I am awash here in pork! You can hardly NOT get pork here. But GREENs…they just don’t serve them. All their main dishes are brown on white plates. I am starving for GREEN, fresh, al dente, perky green…… And I need a little attention, David. I need to know where the hell does one go for a decent middle class meal? I’ve been to Joel Robuchon’s Atellier. I LOVE it! But I can’t do that every night. And BTW there aren’t many of him around here either. I was disappointed in Pierre Gagniere’s Gaya. Nothing imaginative there and uptight waiters. And the pricetag makes you think about life. But, when I leave my apt. of an evening with no big deal at hand,I just want to eat a decent dinner in a nice, small place, there is no place to go to get eatable fare. Its either high or junk? I am in the east end of the first and I can walk for blocks and see nothing that serves anything even slightly above bad. This can’t be right. HELP! I know you French, and by now you are French, get 5 weeks off, but what’s a girl to do in this town while you are parading around N.Y.?

    • amusette

    I’ve been told by a couple of green grocers that they don’t carry these types of greens because they are “amer” (bitter) and the french palate doesn’t care for the taste. I guess that’s why you can find spinach, chard and so many varieties of lettuce. One of my favorite organic suppliers assures me that in season (winter) he carrries both escarole, and a variety of ‘chou’ which is similar to kale….

    Paris Bio: 179, rue Saint Denis… 2eme
    50, rue des Plantes….14eme

    • Erin

    Next time you’re in NorCal check out the porchetta at Fatted Calf, it is beyond incredible.

    • fotografiafoodie

    Yummmm. Looks phenomenal.

    • micki

    So David, how does the porchetta sandwich at Porchetta in NYC compare with RoliRoti’s porchetta sandwich in SF. My last time in SF was almost a year ago and I cannot stop thinking about that sandwich. Can’t wait for a Saturday at the Ferry Building’s farmer’s market to have it once again. The stuff dreams are made of…

    • frenchy but chic

    Hi David,
    I’ve certainly seen kale in Paris, but unlike in the US it wasn’t sold as a few leaves bundled together, but as either a whole or half chou frisé. Granted, I’ve left France more than 6 years ago, so maybe there has been a dearth of chou frisé since then. If you don’t see them at the marché, try a maraîcher in winter.

    Broccolini I’ve never seen. Even broccoli is a relatively recent thing, I don’t think I had seen one before the mid to late 1980s, and they were exotic then where I lived, in Normandy.

    • sonya

    Thanks, David – like I said, you’re a real mensch! Yeah, I’m a bit hesitant to even think about cutting a line here as New Yorkers take lines very (very) seriously.

    • Suzi

    it was “brocolli rabe.”.no? Brocollini is similar but way different…
    my Nana’s green always used broc rabe..wonderful…bitter rabe…love it!

    David…this one has my mouth watering

    • David

    Suzi: It looked like broccolini to me, but I didn’t ask.

    amusette: Thanks-I even asked some Portuguese folks where to get kale in Paris and they didn’t know. I like that little shop, so I’ll give them a try next winter.

    micki: I’ve not had the porchetta in San Francisco, but have had it in Italy and I’d say this was just as good, if not better.

    • Jonathan

    On the same block is Lukes, a fantastic place for a lobster roll. I love to do a grazing lunch on that block — Porchetta, Lukes, and maybe a walk up to one of the Momofukos.

    • krysalia

    amusette> thanks for the name of the shop and the address ! next time I’m in paris, I’ll be glad to ask them if they have some, maybe I’ll be lucky :D.

    • Ivana

    David: According to the on-line order menu at Porchetta the greens are a combination of Swiss chard, kale and BROCCOLI RABE (my favorite!!! I just can’t get enough of anything bitter).

    • Suzanne

    You must go to the Roli Roti truck at the Saturday farmer’s market at the Ferry Bldg. in SF the next time you are here. The cress on the sandwich makes it. My arteries are clogging just thinking about it.

    • Tim P

    Leaving for London / Paris in 3 weeks so am re-reading Sweet Life in Paris for refresher course in all thing Parisian. I’ve been looking forward to lovely crispy duck confit, but after seeing that divine porchetta I may have to stop in NYC on the way back. I love reading you and the fact that you’re such a fantastic photographer of all things food-related is just icing on the cake.

    • Meghan

    Are you still here in NY? You must, must go to Dos Toros. Coming from San Francisco myself, I can say with some authority that these are the best burritos in NY. The two guys who started it are from Oakland, so you know it’s for real!

    • Julie Hoffman

    On the strength of this post a friend from Boston and I made our way to Porchetta for lunch the day after the USA:Brazil friendly at the New Meadowlands this past week.

    WOW! Every bit as marvelous as described.

    • Cookin’ Canuck

    Oh my – that crust! I would gladly get into an arm-wrestle with anyone trying to snag the last crispy pieces out from under my nose. Very entertaining post!

    • Deb

    Such a cruel post! I had oatmeal for dinner tonight. There needs to be a “spoiler alert” that particularly yummy food will be featured in today’s post. ;-)

    • Nathan Marcus

    Good info, you can now actually get the product from Costco.com. they even have the whole pig!

    • JungAh

    I’m so happy that you enjoyed Porchetta as it is one of my favorite places as well!
    Next time you visit, you should definitely check out Porsena. It’s Sara’s new venture (down the block from Porchetta) and she serves excellent cozy pastas and entrees. I hope you will enjoy it as much as Porchetta!

A

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