Food Holidays: December 18th, 2022

Welcome to our series featuring Food Holidays: December 18th, 2022. Did you know today is not only National “I Love Honey Day but  National Roast Suckling Pig Day*. Which of these Holidays would you like to celebrate and why?

I wouldn’t be surprised if David didn’t say he would celebrate both Holidays. Why I only want to celebrate Honey. Bring on the Croissants. As for Charlie I bet you a a dollar he would want to sit both Holidays out although if Charlie had to choose I bet you a bottom dollar he would pick trying Honey.

National “I Love Honey” Day

A Honey Wine was developed, and largely consumed by many. Honey’s given name was Mead.

Honey was so in demand in the Eleventh Century that it was a stipulation for German peasants to offer their feudal Lords payment in Honey and Beeswax.

If you are one of the people who have allergies you should take a teaspoon a day of a Honey made from the region where you reside. Honey will aid in developing resistance to Pollen thereby reducing your Allergies.

If you have chapped lips? Apply Honey to coat your lips.

 National Roast Suckling Pig Day*

Thanks to National Roast Suckling Pig Day, , you don’t have to wait until Christmas to Pig out on a decadent feast. Suckling Pigs are considered a delicacy because their Meat is more tender, juicier, and gelatinous due to the higher levels of collagen than adult Pigs. The reason for this is they’re between the ages of two and six weeks and have not yet been weaned off their mother’s milk, hence the name “suckling”.

If you can bring it over your heart to put a whole baby Pig, from nose to tail, in your oven or on your grill, it makes for a sumptuous meal that can feed 20 adults. Gather your family and get roasting preferably 5 hours before you plan to dish up the Pig.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL ROAST SUCKLING PIG DAY

No one is sure why or when National Roast Suckling Pig Day came about. It’s no surprise that there’s a day dedicated to Roast Suckling Pig Day. We’ve all probably seen similar pictures in children’s storybooks and cartoons of a Pig on a large dish with an Apple in its mouth in the center of a table surrounded by Medieval festivities. Pigs and people have come a long way together in history. Pigs are one of the very first Animals to have been domesticated by humans.

Suckling Pigs are known to have been the centerpiece of feasts and banquets in various cuisines and are a traditional dish in several Countries, including China, Spain, the U.S., and the Philippines. Some of the earliest references to the suckling Pig appear in ancient texts dating back to the Sixth Century, such as in the Salian Law:

“If someone has stolen a Suckling Pig and this is proven against him, the guilty party will be sentenced to 120 Denarii which adds up to three Solidi which is Latin coins.” Clearly, people had already quite valued their Piggy property in those days.

However, Spain is generally recognized as the true Country of origin for the tradition of roasting a suckling Pig, which they call Cochinillo Asado. The most well-known Spanish region for this dish is Castile and, more specifically, the City of Segovia.

It is said to have been brought to Spain by the Roman invasion of what was then called Hispania in 218 B.C. There was an upsurge in the popularity of the dish in the 1930s, when the owner of a Segovian Tavern began cutting the roast suckling Pig with the edge of a plate, to demonstrate the tenderness of the Meat, and add some showmanship to the way the dish was presented to its diners. This sparked a new trend, which continues to be performed in various Spanish restaurants to this day.

The delicacy is such a significant part of Spain that it’s even been alluded to by various literary greats. Miguel de Cervantes, in his novel “Don Quixote”, wrote that Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza come across a Wedding in the Castilian Countryside where they’re met with the sight of several suckling Pigs roasting over a fire. Ernest Hemingway also famously enjoyed this dish and mentions his favorite Spanish restaurant, renowned for its roast suckling Pig, in “The Sun Also Rises”.

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL ROAST SUCKLING PIG DAY

1. Today you should roast your own suckling Pig, which isn’t your typical after-work slapdash dinner. If you want a well-cooked Piglet that’s tender on the inside and crispy on the outside, it will need to roast for about 1.5 hours. However, if you follow the traditional Spanish recipe, the preparation is pretty straightforward: simply season the Pig with Garlic, a generous amount of Salt, and Thyme. Pair the Pig with a good red wine and Buen Provecho!
2. If you don’t have the time or energy to cook the Pig yourself. Then you should treat yourself to the full experience at a restaurant that might do it even better. Although many restaurants in Spain and China specialize in authentic Roast Suckling Pig, you can also experience Roast Suckling Pig in your home-town. Various eateries around the U.S. serve this dish on National Roast Suckling Pig Day.
3. Aside from roasting a suckling Pig yourself, you could also make a whole do of it and invite over all your family for a big meal like that needs to be shared, after all. Make the meal a Medieval- or Spanish-themed dress-up party. Set a long table with silver goblets and crockery, and don’t forget to add the final touch before placing your centerpiece dish on the table: an Apple in the mouth of your roasted Pig.

5 FACTS ABOUT NATIONAL ROAST SUCKLING PIG

1. According to the Guinness World Records, Casa Botin, which reportedly serves the best Cochinillo Asado is the oldest restaurant in the world.
2. The Meat of a suckling Pig contains 40% less fat than an adult Pig, so it won’t boost your cholesterol levels.
3. In China, a whole roast Pig is a symbol of wealth and prosperity, the Roasted Pig is often served at Weddings or other special occasions.
4. Casa Botin was frequented by famous American novelist, Ernest Hemingway, who took a particular liking to Roast Suckling Pig and regularly indulged in the delicacy at a table in a corner beside the kitchen.
5. Nowadays, in some traditional Spanish restaurants, in addition to cutting your roast suckling Pig with the edge of a plate, the Chef ceremoniously holds up the plate and dramatically smashes the dish on the floor.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL ROAST SUCKLING PIG DAY

1. China, Spain, and the U.S. aren’t the only Countries that have adopted Roasted Suckling Pig into their cuisine. Other places like Porto Rico, Hawaii, Cuba, and the Philippines also love Roasted Suckling Pig. Although Roasted Suckling Pig is practically universal, Roasted Suckling Pig is cooked in many different ways unique to each culture.
2. The Meat is more gelatinous, it can help strengthen your bones and the high collagen levels are good for your skin. Not to mention the 40% lower fat percentage than adult Pigs!
3. Don’t we all love a Meal that can be dished up in generous portions, and still allows for second helpings? If you’re only feeding a family of four, there will most probably be leftovers that can be enjoyed for a week.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates