E
EatRBBQ
Guest
I do a good deal of pig roasts over the summer season here in Northern IL. Over the winter I found a new alternative supplier for roasting pigs, my local Mexican Grocery at a nearly 50 cents per pound savings from my past sources.
Not being 100% certain of what quality and processing I'd be getting for that savings I decided to buy one for a test cook.
Ordering seemed simple initially, they only need a 3 day notice (as I was originally told). Turned out they don't normally get meat shipments in on Saturdays, so really that means 3 day notice with Monday thru Friday pick-up. It all worked out, the Meat Department made the mistake of allowing me to order for a Saturday pick-up so the location manager made a phone call and my pig was delivered to the store only about 2 hours later than I'd expected.
Quality wise: Excellent. USDA, IL stamps on the pig. Good healthy appearance, fresh, plenty chilled (but nothing frozen).
Eyes were still in the head (my previous suppliers remove them)
Ears were cut off (although included in a baggy in chest cavity)
Tail was cut off and missing.
I'll discuss the presentation issues about the missing tail and cut-off ears and see if they can provide me prettier pigs in the future.
Got the Mistress (MeadowCreek TS250) out of storage. Thanks to my son's post-Thanksgiving assist the Mistress was put away very clean and ready for work!
Managed to revitalize some back-porch space at the new homestead and even got Old #7 gig-ready.
Less typing and more pron!!!
Not being 100% certain of what quality and processing I'd be getting for that savings I decided to buy one for a test cook.
Ordering seemed simple initially, they only need a 3 day notice (as I was originally told). Turned out they don't normally get meat shipments in on Saturdays, so really that means 3 day notice with Monday thru Friday pick-up. It all worked out, the Meat Department made the mistake of allowing me to order for a Saturday pick-up so the location manager made a phone call and my pig was delivered to the store only about 2 hours later than I'd expected.
Quality wise: Excellent. USDA, IL stamps on the pig. Good healthy appearance, fresh, plenty chilled (but nothing frozen).
Eyes were still in the head (my previous suppliers remove them)
Ears were cut off (although included in a baggy in chest cavity)
Tail was cut off and missing.
I'll discuss the presentation issues about the missing tail and cut-off ears and see if they can provide me prettier pigs in the future.
Got the Mistress (MeadowCreek TS250) out of storage. Thanks to my son's post-Thanksgiving assist the Mistress was put away very clean and ready for work!
Managed to revitalize some back-porch space at the new homestead and even got Old #7 gig-ready.
Less typing and more pron!!!
