Pinoy gatherings are never complete without the lechon or roast pig. Usually served with a special liver sauce, the lechon is what Filipinos look forward to during fiestas, birthdays, christenings, reunions, Christmas and New Year’s parties, weddings, and graduations.

Reporter Jean Stevens for the Herald News finds out where to get lechon in North Jersey.

King Grill and Deli hardly seemed like a place to find lechon, the prized Filipino whole roasted pig.

The Passaic Street shop appeared to be just a standard deli during a recent afternoon visit, with bagged potato chips, glass cases of meats and baked goods and a small soda case. Keen eyes might spot a clue otherwise: several shelves lined with Filipino corn chips and rice noodles. Even keener ears might catch another: Behind the counter, Filipina cook Lita Cortez wisecracked and barked orders in English and Tagalog.

But the lechon remained a mystery until employee Jose Vasquez led the way to the back of the shop through a small industrial kitchen and into a stockroom–the deli’s Filipino catering headquarters, called Mr. Chin’s Bakeshop. Vasquez stopped at a wall of stainless steel ovens and opened one of their doors. Inside, a 3-foot-long, partially cooked pig stretched out over empty aluminum cans on a pan, its gooey-yellow eyes peering blindly.

Read the full-length article here.

Senor Enrique’s post, “On Buying a Lechon,” is a relevant read.

Photo by Flipped Out/Ken Ilio
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