Loco For Lechon

When in Puerto Rico, you must eat lechon (whole, spit-roasted pig).  When in Puerto Rico, you must eat lechon in Guavate.  The entire town is dedicated to the art of perfecting the pig.  The street is lined with dozens of lechoneras.  Skip the ones close to the highway.  Venture up the mountain until you reach El Rancho Original.  It will be well worth the adventure.


While technically not BBQ, lechon is the best BBQ I've ever had.  Several things are different from traditional BBQ.  First, it is roasted on a spit over an open fire.  It is not smoked.  This leads to the second wonderful difference.  The skin is rendered into thin, crisp shards.  Imagine Peking Duck, but pig flavored.  Third, only salt and pepper are used and only on the inside.  Lastly, there is no sauce.  It is not necessary.  They do offer house made hot sauce, but I declined.


If I were a pig, this is how I'd want to go.  

Tech Notes:
Kodak Gold 400 shot with my Olympus Epic...before it died.  Processed and scanned by Walgreens.