Not All Pork Was Born Equal

Last week the Asian market was giving out samples of a food I had always wanted to try. The fact that it was wrapped in seaweed and located in an ASIAN market should have given me the hint that the delicacy wasn’t Mexican. But since it was labeled “pork” and looked the approximate size of a Chipotle burrito, I had associated the food with something as tasty as mouthwatering tamale.

As I approached the sample table, I noticed that the consistency wasn’t quite like the doughy shredded pork I expected. With the seaweed wrapper gone, my dream food looked more like chunks of pale hotdog. Unintimidated, I took a bite. The flavor of marinated cartilage infused with pickled baloney soared through my mouth. DEFINITELY not a tamale.

Trying to appear pleased with my selection, I took a closer look at the ingredients under "Pork" label. “Pig fat, pig hooves, salt and vinegar.” Mmmm. Next time I’ll read the label more closely.