Hog & Chill: For the love of pork

With the advent of several city-based frozen food chains such as Big Joe’s and government-owned outlets like the MPI (Meat Products of India), finding the processed meat of one’s choice has never really been a task in Kochi. However, we’re venturing beyond the cold storage pickups this week as we catch up with two entrepreneurs who are all set to provide us with refreshingly unique options. Read on.

Pit perfect
A serving of smoked baby back ribs is still a distant dream for many connoisseurs of carnivorous fare in the city. But, at Ranch’s Ribs & Chops, a pork-specific barbeque service launched by chef O K Sanjit, it gets awfully close to the real deal. “We offer both home deliveries and live barbeque counters, where the meat is marinated for over 24 hours,” shares the self-taught pitmaster, adding that, their cooking process could take anywhere between eight to 12 hours. Prepared in deep charcoal pits, the variants made available include spare ribs, chops, and skewers. Minimum order from `500. Details: 7025030333    

 

Bacon bound
Handcrafted with locally-sourced meat and spices, Dragon Joe’s bacon, salami, and sausage segments are produced for the discerning gourmand. T M Joseph aka Dragon Jose’s has a long-standing affair with cured meats, as he previously owned the original Golden Dragon in Kochi. His homegrown brand offers products such as pancetta-style rolled bacon (made in small batches only). `150 onwards. Details: 9895766644