Hey y'all. Recently I had a conversation with a compadre of mine and the subject of Filipino style tocino (cured pork) came up. I recalled that years ago when I lived in Alaska, one of my best friends, Manolo, a Filipino, would make up a batch of this tasty pork goodness. Manolo's family prior to moving to Alaska, had a butcher shop where they would take pork butt and slice it thin and then add salt, sugar, water, red food coloring, and a few other spices that were never revealed to me. Manny would make up a big batch and let it cure for a few days. Once done, he'd invite me over for some grilling fun.
Traditionally, tocino is boiled until the fat is rendered or grilled and served with rice and or eggs for breakfast. We never did it like that. It was always a late night affair with me showing up with the evenings session beers and he supplying the meat and trimmings along with the grill heating up.
After curing, the meat is a bright red/fuschia with almost a phosphorescent glow to it. We'd slap that on the grill, being mindful of flare ups. You'd want some char and caramelization but well short of being burnt. Once the meat was cooked and it came off the grill, we'd add it to warm flour tortilla's schmeared with cream cheese, hoisin sauce and green onions. It was all a man could do to resist the temptation to finger food the meat straight into your mouth before hitting the tortilla. But lemme' 'splain y'all...OH MAH GAWD!
Thinking about it now, it falls into that category of...
THE BEST THING I EVER ATE
Since that conversation, I haven't been able to get the thought of that tocino out of my noggin. I have to get a fix so I'm off to the store for some pork butt. I'm not down with the thought of using artificial red food coloring (made from South American ground up beetles so I hear) so I'll have to come up with a substitute. Wait! I have achiote paste in my cupboard!
So what y'all got?
What was the best ANYTHING you ever ate? Pizza? Red beans & rice? Deep fried oysters? It doesn't necessarily have to be loaded with heat and certainly not confined to one style, region, or ethnicity.
Bring it!
Pics are welcome!
Traditionally, tocino is boiled until the fat is rendered or grilled and served with rice and or eggs for breakfast. We never did it like that. It was always a late night affair with me showing up with the evenings session beers and he supplying the meat and trimmings along with the grill heating up.
After curing, the meat is a bright red/fuschia with almost a phosphorescent glow to it. We'd slap that on the grill, being mindful of flare ups. You'd want some char and caramelization but well short of being burnt. Once the meat was cooked and it came off the grill, we'd add it to warm flour tortilla's schmeared with cream cheese, hoisin sauce and green onions. It was all a man could do to resist the temptation to finger food the meat straight into your mouth before hitting the tortilla. But lemme' 'splain y'all...OH MAH GAWD!
Thinking about it now, it falls into that category of...
THE BEST THING I EVER ATE
Since that conversation, I haven't been able to get the thought of that tocino out of my noggin. I have to get a fix so I'm off to the store for some pork butt. I'm not down with the thought of using artificial red food coloring (made from South American ground up beetles so I hear) so I'll have to come up with a substitute. Wait! I have achiote paste in my cupboard!
So what y'all got?
What was the best ANYTHING you ever ate? Pizza? Red beans & rice? Deep fried oysters? It doesn't necessarily have to be loaded with heat and certainly not confined to one style, region, or ethnicity.
Bring it!
Pics are welcome!
it broke both of his fishing poles, smashed everything in the boat, and almost sent him overboard, he got it hog-tied, and back into the water. 5 hours later, he towed it back home.
