Il Buco's Perfectly Porky Sagra del Maiale

A few weeks ago when we learned that Noho eatery Il Buco would be roasting Ossabaw hogs for its fourth annual "Sagra del Maiale," or outdoor pig roast, we knew there was no way in hell that Gothamist could stay away from the cobblestone block that is Bond Street. The Ossabaw is the very pig that Peter Kaminsky sang the praises of in his book Pig Perfect. And it is indeed quite a special piggy, for it is descended from Spain's legendary black-footed pigs, which are the source of the mindshatteringly luscious Jamon Iberico.

Normally we're more than ready for an afternoon of pig pickin', but last Thursday posed a special challenge. We'd be coming directly from Bouley after a luncheon of buttery French food and red wine. After finishing the last few crumbs of cheese, we quickly decided it would calorically prudent to hoof it over to Il Buco. Upon rounding the corner of Bond Street, a wonderful scent redolent of charcoal, roast pig and garlic was immediately apparent.

Despite the all the porcine aroma floating about there was very little pig left, although there was certainly enough succulent Ossabaw left for us to stuff in our maw. After chatting with Beverley P. Eggleston IV of EcoFriendly Foods we learned that the Ossabaws his company raise are fed a diet of acorns, supplemented with peanuts, rendering their fat high in oleic acid, which is what makes olive oil so healthy. While this was good news for arteries, we were unable to polish off the plate that Chef Ignacio Mattos lovingly assembled for us. Less carnivorous readers may wish to avert their eyes from the next photo, a closeup of what the gal in the background of the photo above is shooting.

The roast Ossabaw itself was moist and delicious and had a wonderful crispy skin thanks to a cooking method known as infernillo, which translates to "little hell." Essentially the pig is slow roasted between two large iron griddles with an intense wood fire above and below. The panzanella was a wonderful bright side for what turned out to be quite a summery afternoon. The housemade sausage was also quite good. As you can see from the above photo, the rest of the patrons that day had little problem polishing off the pig. Guess we'll have to skip the French food before next year's Sagra del Maiale.

Il Buco, 47 Bond St., 212-533-1932

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Joe DiStefano in Food on September 27, 2007 1:41 PM

Comments [rss]

guest

WOW. JUST PLAIN DISGUSTING. WHY GOTHAMIST WHY>?

Nick S

im looking at the pig. and im thinking about what i do to this world.

i'm helping control the pig population.

guest

Ahhhh, everyone's favorite kind of pictures...and just in time for the holidays hehe

guest

In my opinion pictures like these are pro vegetarian. Some defensive meat eaters will say that mutilated charred pigs head looks delicious but most people look at that and want to puke. If people see more pictures like this and see where their food comes from then maybe they will think twice about what they eat.

Veggie rant begins here:

Unless you kill your own meat with your bare hands you are not following nature when you eat a big mac or a steak. look at this pig and think about what you do to this world.

guest

You're making me hate your website more and more by posting disgusting pictures like this. Why do you have to post crap like this? How is it relevant in any way to NYC?

Politburo

Our grocery store society has desensitized many to the fact that yes, meat comes from an animal. Now I am craving lechon..

matty

the eaten pig carcass looks better than the cat vomit tacos he posts on here.

guest

Was this event posted? This is the same thing that happened after that LIC bbq - you post pics of the pig when it's way too late for us to go!

WTF!

janelle

i'm no vegetarian, but that bottom photo grossed me out. (please don't confront me with reasons to quit eating meat, i'm living in denial!)

guest

gross.

guest

I like pork cheeks in my hot dog.

guest

the head is the best part!

(that's what she said)

guest

That may be delicious, but those pictures (like many of the food pics on Gothamist) are not appetizing.

guest

"pork jen chung"...

thats what i ordered at the restaurant last night!

cwbuecheler

"Pictures offend me! I want the world whitewashed and sanitized of all things I find personally upsetting!"

It's just a friggin' pig's head. It's no worse than driving past some roadkill (and it's substantially more delicious).

My question is: who woke up screaming with that thing under the sheets with them, in the early hours of the morning?

guest

i'd love to pork jen chung

upperwestsidegirl

I'm the vegetarian - this is disgusting. I don't know why you guys are obsessed with killing animals this way and then posting photos. ICK.