Pork Belly Delight!

I think I have proclaimed my love for pork pretty frequently on my blog. And one of my favorite ways to eat pork is in the form of pork belly or as us Cubans or Hispanics like to call it, "chicharron." Basically it's crispy pork skin and some really juicy fat in between. Some of my fondest memories with my dad are of him bringing me, when I got out of school, a white paper bag that had been stained with grease and inside were 10 pieces of chicharron so I could snack on. Evidently, I was not a carrot snacker. I was in the snack big leagues. I loved that a bag of chicharron only costed $1! If you're not a fan of animal fat, then this dish would not excite your taste buds. So pass that plate over to me!

Anytime I go check out a new restaurant and I see pork belly on the menu, I am automatically tempted to order it. And such was the case when this weekend I finally went to Joseph Leonard in the West Village. Joseph Leonard has been on my foodie radar since the moment it opened its doors and I got a notice from Urban Daddy. Everything from the ambiance and decor to the traditionally American inspired menu, was right up my alley. I went with Javy, my best friend since 2000, and he always marvels at the way I consume pork fat.

I had browsed the menu at home ( I often do that before going out to eat so I can mentally savor all the dishes and torture myself just a little bit) and when I saw the pork belly dish, I knew I was game. Even though I had already had a breakfast consisting of eggs, I'm pregnant so technically I can double dip on breakfast. At least in my book. So I ordered the crispy pork belly which came garnished and supplemented with corn cake, chimichurri sauce, and two fried eggs- a $15 dish.

It was scrumptious! Javy took a bite of it and agreed! The skin was perfectly fried to a healthy medium brown shade and the fat part was chewy and dripping with flavor without being watery. I hate watery or slimy fat. I like sturdy fat. The chimichurri sauce on the eggs and corn cake gave the dish an unexpected tangy flavor that lingered in your mouth in every bite. It was definitely different. I was extremely satisfied with my selection and it made my brunch experience at Joseph Leonard a positive one. I expect to be back to taste some of their entrees and appetizers that I've seen on their menu.

So if you're feeling daring and willing to take a risk and dig in to a dish you normally would steer away from, take a subway trip to this west village joint and accept the pork belly challenge! It is definitely worth it.

Here's to you. Here's to me.

Kata