Post Pig Butchering Class

***Next class May 30th and June 7th, RSVP here!***

Below is a email from one of the students that participated in last weekends Butcher class and it’s a awesome testimonial.  Thanks to everyone that participated, I had a blast and make sure you check out all of Lydia’s pictures.  Thank you La Cocina for such a awesome venue, Lydia for the great review, Isabel Pazos of El Buen Comer and Grocery eats for all the killer posts!  Stay tuned… a plethora of classes soon to come, sausage, goat, rabbits, salami, torchon, turduckens and many more.  Here is a link to another great post, thanks. Ryan

 

I took the whole pig butchering class from Ryan Farr on Sunday. Holy fucking shit was it amazing. Best $75 bucks I’ve spent in a long time. Ryan Farr gave a demo breaking down the entire pig by hand with a little ass knife proving it ain’t the size of the knife but how you wield that fucker. He broke it into big ass primals and then gave everyone their own chunk of the beast. I was given the pork shoulder with the entire front leg attached. I got to break out the picnic part of the shoulder and then separate the butt of the shoulder from the shank. Then the moment, I paid $75  for came. I got to saw the through thefucking shank and separate the foot with a hacksaw. At the exact same time, dude next to me was going full sav removing the facefrom the pig’s head. Fucking gnarly but awesome. There were only about 12 of us so we all got a chance to attack large chunks and do some finer trimming and portioning. I took home about 10# of meat. I’ve got that foot and shank in a cure right now and I’ll be brining my pork belly for bacon tomorrow.

The homie Unagi just bought a gangster ass smoker so I’m gonna hook up with dude and get my smoke on once the cure and brine comes off these pig parts in about 5 days.

Farr is super fucking cool and is going to be doing more classes this summer. So if you want to boss the fuck up and learn how to make salami, sausages or butcher a whole lamb in the coming months holler at a player. I’m officially up on game. I’m committed to Rick Ross Magnificent this shit.

If you aren’t a pussy here’s a gallery –http://gallery.me.com/lpopovich/100026

Plans for Easter?

Wondering what you are doing for Easter?  

Join yours truly and Taylor of Fatted Calf at Bloodhound for a rabbit feast.  $30 per plate, each plate will include a rabbit sausage, grilled rabbit and Taylor’s smoked ham, beans, salad, bacon chocolate peanut butter brownies and a beer.  There will also be plenty of Chicharrones and other fun treats.  We’re starting at 2 pm and will be grilling till 7 pm, RSVP at info@bloodhoundsf.com.  We’re real excited and hope you can make it, look forward to seeing you then. 

Thanks, Ryan Farr  

Join us in Berkeley for The Art of the Butcher

Hosted in collaboration with Meatpaper

Thursday, March 5

Reception at 6:45 pm.  Lecture starts by 7:30 pm sharp.

105 North Gate Hall, UC Berkeley Campus [directions]

No tickets necessary!  Suggested $10 donation at the door.  No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

With panelists Ryan Farr (Ivy Elegance, CHEFS Program), Nate Appleman (A16, SPQR, Urbino), Melanie Eisemann (Avedano’s), David Budworth (Marina Meats, Avedano’s),  Mark Pasternak (Devil’s Gulch Ranch), and Marissa Guggiana (Sonoma Direct, Secret Eating Society, Meatpaper) as moderator.

Our panel will discuss how butchering whole animals delivered from local slaughterhouses stands in stark contrast to the plastic-wrapped grocery store steak.  They will talk about the retail component of the local meat system and how this changes the relationship of chefs, home cooks, and diners with meat.

The discussion will be followed by a demonstration by Chef Ryan Farr on how a whole carcass is broken down into cuts of meat.  Meat CSA shares will be available the night of the panel. SOLD OUT! Rancher Mark Pasternak will be available to coordinate more CSA shares of his delicious, Marin County-raised pork.

Contact SAFE for more information.

 On behalf of all of us at the C.H.E.F.S. program I would like to thank Sasha Wizansky of Meatpaper and Mark Pasternak of Devils Gulch for there gracious donation of the pig that we butchered at the issue #6 party.  Since the live butchery demo at Acme Chophouse, the students and I have completely made hot dogs, consomme, rolled face, rendered lard and bacon.  We currently are curing curried copa.  In the future the step by step process with the finished product will be posted when complete.  

Thank you again to everyone at Meatpaper, the volunteers, all the meat loving guests and the chefs that killed it that night.

Chef Thom Fox (Acme Chophouse)
Chef Staffan Terje (Perbacco)
Chef Leif Hedendal
Sam White & Chris Kronner & Friends (OPENrestaurant)

Be there or be square!

Amuse Cochon Napa                       
“Five Chefs, Five Pigs, Five Winemakers”
November 2nd, 2008

WHAT: A group of top Bay Area chefs will each prepare a heritage breed hog from head to toe for this competition. Guests and professional judges will determine a winner based on creativity, classic preparation and overall best flavor. The winner will be crowned the “Prince of Pork”. In addition, five selected family-owned winemakers will showcase their wines. 
 
WHO: A Taste Network Event featuring:
Chris Consentino, Incanto  www.offalgood.com Watch on Iron Chef this Sunday the 26th!
Allan Benton, Benton Smoky Mountain Country Hams www.bentonshams.com
Peter Pahk, Silverado Resort www.silveradoresort.com
Taylor Boetticher, Fatted Calf Charcuterie www.fattedcalf.com
Ryan Farr, Orson www.bestbyfarr.wordpress.com
Wineries: Palmaz Vineyards, Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyard, Hill Family Estate, Saddleback Cellars, and Thomas Michael Cellars.

THE JUDGES
Chef Rob Lam of Butterfly SF
Chef Jesse Wall of Bounty Hunter Provisions
Jan Krupp of Krupp Brothers Estate | Veraison | Black Bart 
Dave Mclean of Magnolia Brew Pub
Kylan Hoover “Entre-pig-nuer” Red Mountain Farms
Tim Borman City of Napa Fire Chief
Todd Anderson of Conn Valley Vineyards
Bob Hurley of Hurley’s Restaurant & Bar 
Jill Techel City of Napa Mayor
Lynn Giacomini Stray of Point Reyes “Original Blue”
Tom Stafford of Black River Caviar 
Sam Mogannam of Bi-Rite Market
Sheamus Feeley of Rutherford Grill
Nick Heinrich of Triple S Ranch, Calistoga 
Pam Simpson of Chase Family Cellars
Jan Newberry of San Francisco Magazine
Dick Steltzner of Steltzner Vineyards
Scott Boggs of Hudson Ranch 
Erin Sullivan of ACME Fine Wines
Mystery Judge to be announced…

WHEN: Sunday, November 2nd, 4:00 p.m. 

 

WHERE: Silverado Resort 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, California  94558  

WHY: A portion of the proceeds will benefit the City of Napa Fire Explorers program, a vocational firefighter training program for Napa County youth.

HOW: The cost is $100 per person and is open to the public. For tickets or more info visit www.amusecochon.com. Advance ticket purchase required. $20 discount for member of Slow Food and Industry.