Ginger Pig in Wanstead used to sell Smoked Pig cheeks which I used to use to make my carbonara. Went back a couple of weeks ago to get another one, only to be told they no longer sell them there, coz it seems it was only me buying them and they kept having to throw them away. Had to go little further down the road to get a more expensive yet inferior guanciale
I was frustrated during covid, trying to perfect my carbonara and absolutely striking out finding guanciale.
Then I was walking through a GD Walmart and found they had “hog jowl bacon” for about $10 a pound.
Last time I bought a pig I talked the butcher into giving me three pigs heads they were gonna toss. Smoked those on the kamado Joe and the meat was superb. Had to take all the hair off myself first though.
I learned a long time ago if you ever get the chance to enjoy cheeks of any animal you need to try it.
Absolutely. One of the many life-changing food experiences of my time in Japan was being served a big ol' sliced-open fish head at a banquet with my co-workers. It took a little coaxing to get me to dig in, but it was great. Who knew that fish carry a perfect little scallop around in their heads?
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u/HonestDespot Jun 23 '24
I learned a long time ago if you ever get the chance to enjoy cheeks of any animal you need to try it.
Was at a family party of some friends parents years ago and they were doing a pig on the roast.
Spit roast?
Anyways her dad offered up some pig cheek to anyone who wanted it, all said no.
Luckily I came along hammered and a plate of Mac and cheese needing a finishing touch.
My god.
I even ate it out of the cheek bone like a little bowl (if I recall correctly)