Upcoming Pig Festival at Il Buco on Bond Street

The fifth annual Sagra del Maiale, an outdoor Pig roast and festival, will be held at Il Buco on Monday, September 22. Commemorating the Fall equinox, this festive celebration take places on Bond Street outside Il Buco from 1 to 6 pm. At six o'clock, the festival moves inside, and will continue until midnight. Il Buco will be taking reservations after 8:30pm for the dinner portion of the event. Executive Chef Ignacio Mattos will offer all items from the daytime pig roast, along with a special à la carte menu. It is worth reminding readers that the sight of a whole roast pig in NoHo is most unusual. The event's casual and festive setting has a terrific neighborhood spirit, where neighbors and strangers commingle together, and eat, drink and enjoy the outdoors—as they would in Italy. Many of Il Buco's local farm producers will be at the event.

Now, about that pig: the chef will roast a 200-pound Ossabaw infernillo-style (literally: "little hell"), meaning slow roasting between two large iron griddles with an intense wood fire above and below. This method ensures moist, succulent pork. While most of Il Buco's products are local, the Ossabaw swine is a direct descendent of the Pata Negra (black-footed pig) beloved for its flavorful meat. This particular Ossabaw hails from the open woods of North Carolina, where it feeds on acorns and peanuts, both extremely high in oleic acid, those same fats that make olive oil so healthy.

The afternoon menu is as follows:

• Whole Infernillo Slow-Roasted North Carolina Farmers Cross-Ossabaw Heritage Pig
• Flying Pigs Farm Porchetta Panini on Ciabatta with Blueberry Balsamic Mostarda
• House-made Flying Pigs Farm Pig, Apple and Peperoncino Sausage
• Farmer's Market Panzanella
• Julie's Wild Arugula with Lemon, Red Onion and Pecorino
• Apple Ricotta Fritters with Saba
• House-made Lemonade and Iced Tea
• Tickets will be available on-site for $20 per plate including house-made Lemonade and Iced Tea.
• Alcoholic beverages including wines, Prosecco, Lambrusco, and Wolffer Estates Apple Wine at $10 per glass, and beer for $6.

Select menu items (in addition to the above) from 6pm to midnight:

• House-made imported olives marinated in wild fennel flowers and fresh rosemary
• Salumi, jamon Serrano, house-made coppa and lardo
• Assorted Cheeses
• Polenta with roasted squash, mascarpone, marjoram and parmesan
• Pasta con salsa de noci (walnut pesto)
• Panna cotta
• Seasonal Fruit Tart
• Menu pricing will be a la carte

Tags:   bond street, Ignacio Mattos, il buco, Ossabaw, sagra del maiale

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Posted on 9/12/2008 ( Permanent Link )
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