Pork, the other white vegetable
Did you ever see or hear that catchy pork commercial that went “Pork, the other white meat”. Who didn’t? Pork is the other white meat, isn’t it? That means it must have been a darn good advertising campaign. It is right up there with “hold the pickles hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us…” I hum the jingle every time I walk into a Burger King. But that is another story…and it’s a musical.
Back to pork.
A few years ago Jesse, Jonah and I were traipsing through an east Javanese jungle at the base of Mt. Semeru. Semeru is Holy Mountain to the local Hindu Tengger people who live on its slopes and in the highlands around it. We had been hiking for a couple of hours and as one will do out on the open trail, I asked the stupid theoretical question. I avoided the one about being on the life raft and having to choose which family member to save and the one about alien abduction. Those are good ones but I opted instead for; if you were on a dessert island what three vegetables would you choose to have? They dove into a lengthy discussion while I asked probing question about the selections, logic and recipes behind each selection. Eventually after debate and rigorous defense of veggie choices Jesse asked which three I’d take. I loudly pronounced potatoes, onions and BACON.
Bacon isn’t the other white meat, it is the other white vegetable. I adore bacon. Pigs are more vegetable than chickens could ever hope to be (not that I've ever seen a hopeful chicken). Chickens peck at the ground; pigs, onions, and potatoes live in it! Sometimes I’m embarrassed to say or admit how much I enjoy pork. Something about that claim feels slightly incriminating. Of course, that has to have something to do with Jehovah and Allah (both of them). If it wasn’t so good why make it off-limits? It’s like that apple, forbidden fruit always tastes better. Tell me I can’t have it and I know it must be good. If the twin God’s of Abraham hadn’t made bacon taste so good they wouldn’t have any problem with us grinding down a rasher now and again. But they did and so they do.
Bacon is one food you eat and don’t even consider saying that it tastes just like chicken. I know people who claim they don’t enjoy bacon. But that is like not liking salt! Still not convinced? Then take it from Quentin Tarantino via John Travolta (both of them) as Vincent Vega “Yeah but bacon tastes goooood. Pork chops taste goooood.” Well put gentleman, well put. I’m sure the big boys upstairs agree. I know I do.
In recent days I think Jesse and Jonah might be coming around to my way of thinking. Maybe they are not ready to call it a veggie but there is no doubt their love of pigs. Jesse recently wrote an article/blogpost over on Organic To Be .org, entitled My Son, The Pig Farmer (with Pork Chops and Cherry Port Sauce Recipe). Then the other night at jZ Cool Eatery and Wine Bar, Jesse and Talia’s suggested I try the new pork dish on the menu. I bit into the slow (slow) braised Niman Ranch pork roast topped with a meltingly juicy pork belly and served on a bed of greens. The second (slow), is mine because to say “bit into” is a statement made true only by the bed of hearty summer bitter greens. The pork melts in your mouth, creamy, soft, sweet and savory. There was a time when you would only find piglet bellies in China Town…or China. But I’ve seen it on menu’s with increasing frequency. God bless those pork-loving1.2 billion! In this new dish at the jZ Cool Eatery the greens add a counterpoint in flavor and texture that makes every mouthful something to relish.
Don’t eat pork? Try sushi. The closest sushi comparison is a great cut of toro. Don’t eat sushi or pork? I recommend a Red Delicious apple.
All good things, Eric
Did you ever see or hear that catchy pork commercial that went “Pork, the other white meat”. Who didn’t? Pork is the other white meat, isn’t it? That means it must have been a darn good advertising campaign. It is right up there with “hold the pickles hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us…” I hum the jingle every time I walk into a Burger King. But that is another story…and it’s a musical.
Back to pork.
A few years ago Jesse, Jonah and I were traipsing through an east Javanese jungle at the base of Mt. Semeru. Semeru is Holy Mountain to the local Hindu Tengger people who live on its slopes and in the highlands around it. We had been hiking for a couple of hours and as one will do out on the open trail, I asked the stupid theoretical question. I avoided the one about being on the life raft and having to choose which family member to save and the one about alien abduction. Those are good ones but I opted instead for; if you were on a dessert island what three vegetables would you choose to have? They dove into a lengthy discussion while I asked probing question about the selections, logic and recipes behind each selection. Eventually after debate and rigorous defense of veggie choices Jesse asked which three I’d take. I loudly pronounced potatoes, onions and BACON.
Bacon isn’t the other white meat, it is the other white vegetable. I adore bacon. Pigs are more vegetable than chickens could ever hope to be (not that I've ever seen a hopeful chicken). Chickens peck at the ground; pigs, onions, and potatoes live in it! Sometimes I’m embarrassed to say or admit how much I enjoy pork. Something about that claim feels slightly incriminating. Of course, that has to have something to do with Jehovah and Allah (both of them). If it wasn’t so good why make it off-limits? It’s like that apple, forbidden fruit always tastes better. Tell me I can’t have it and I know it must be good. If the twin God’s of Abraham hadn’t made bacon taste so good they wouldn’t have any problem with us grinding down a rasher now and again. But they did and so they do.
Bacon is one food you eat and don’t even consider saying that it tastes just like chicken. I know people who claim they don’t enjoy bacon. But that is like not liking salt! Still not convinced? Then take it from Quentin Tarantino via John Travolta (both of them) as Vincent Vega “Yeah but bacon tastes goooood. Pork chops taste goooood.” Well put gentleman, well put. I’m sure the big boys upstairs agree. I know I do.
In recent days I think Jesse and Jonah might be coming around to my way of thinking. Maybe they are not ready to call it a veggie but there is no doubt their love of pigs. Jesse recently wrote an article/blogpost over on Organic To Be .org, entitled My Son, The Pig Farmer (with Pork Chops and Cherry Port Sauce Recipe). Then the other night at jZ Cool Eatery and Wine Bar, Jesse and Talia’s suggested I try the new pork dish on the menu. I bit into the slow (slow) braised Niman Ranch pork roast topped with a meltingly juicy pork belly and served on a bed of greens. The second (slow), is mine because to say “bit into” is a statement made true only by the bed of hearty summer bitter greens. The pork melts in your mouth, creamy, soft, sweet and savory. There was a time when you would only find piglet bellies in China Town…or China. But I’ve seen it on menu’s with increasing frequency. God bless those pork-loving1.2 billion! In this new dish at the jZ Cool Eatery the greens add a counterpoint in flavor and texture that makes every mouthful something to relish.
Don’t eat pork? Try sushi. The closest sushi comparison is a great cut of toro. Don’t eat sushi or pork? I recommend a Red Delicious apple.
All good things, Eric
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home