Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Live-blogging the pig ear salad, pt. 1

The listeners have landed.

I don't want to repulse anyone, so if you're not interested in seeing the package above unwrapped, skip the rest of this post. 

As promised, the pig ears -- to be used in David Tanis' pig ear salad from Platter of Figs -- were waiting at Mill Valley Market's butcher counter.

Punk butcher: This is so cool, I'm so glad you ordered these. I'm going to take the extras to use in my blood sausage. You cook 'em for a long time and they turn all creamy 
and gelatinous.

African-American butcher: Are you going to fry 'em?

Me: No, braise them and make a salad.

African-American butcher: Anything with the pig is good.

Older butcher: It's funny, I've never, ever seen one of those before.

Me: It is my goal in life to bring interesting new experiences to everyone I meet.

You got me. I didn't really say that. I just took the pig ears, got some olive oil and lentils, paid the cashier, and drove home. 

You've been warned, squeamish ones. Here are the listeners: 

They look much ickier in the photo than they do in life. I have since salted them heavily and put them in a bowl, where they will sit for the next several hours. 


2 comments:

  1. 'listeners'. i love that. did you come up with that or is that a common usage that i just don't know? and you had me for a minute thereon the fake comment from you in response to your butchers. i read it three times thinking, really? she said THAT? then i read the next sentence. good foolin! and gross listeners! and it's a sign of owen's particular and lovely character that he will probably forgive you tomorrow already for that trespass. bacon salad?? that is just wrong. i would take a least a week, maybe even a year.

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