SLOW-ROASTED PORCHETTA Does anyone else feel like porchetta—the Italian slowroasted, fennel-scented, juicy pork surrounded with crisp, crackling skin—is appearing everywhere these days? Not that I’m complaining As far as I’m concerned, the more slow-cooked pork in my life, the better Indeed, my goal is to get a porchetta on every table in America this year (and perhaps some beyond our borders as well) I’m counting on you all to help me achieve my vision of a United States of Porkdom Here are a few reasons why you should consider topping your dinner table with a porchetta roast: • It’s delicious It’s easily more delicious than turkey, pretty much definitely more delicious than prime rib, and arguably better than leg of lamb • It looks awesome Other roasts can be imposing in the center of the table, but none are as geometrically perfect, as easy to carve, and as breathtakingly covered in crackly skin Because I’m the husband of a well-proportioned mathematician, geometric symmetry is something I think about quite often and find aesthetically pleasing In this case, it makes for easy, even cooking No awkward thin regions that overcook or thick regions that stay raw in the center • It helps avoid fights Holidays can be a bit trying for the whole family, especially when you’re fighting over dark meat or light meat or who gets to gnaw on the rib bones With porchetta, every single slice is exactly the same—by which I mean perfect • It’s forgiving Accidentally overcook red meat or poultry, and it’ll be so dry you might as well serve the gravysoaked contents of your paper recycling bin to your guests Overcook porchetta and wait, that’s right, you pretty much can’t overcook porchetta Leave it in the oven for an extra hour or two? No worries, it’ll still taste fantastic • It’s inexpensive Pork belly might cost you about $10 per pound—at a fancy butcher More likely you’ll find it for $4 to $5 a pound, at least a quarter the cost of a wellmarbled prime rib Want to serve aged prime rib? You must have some deep, deep pockets • Leftover-porchetta sandwiches are freakin’ awesome That’s all there is to say about that one Not convinced yet? Read on, my friend WHAT IS PORCHETTA? ...With porchetta, every single slice is exactly the same—by which I mean perfect • It’s forgiving Accidentally overcook red meat or poultry, and it’ll be so dry you might as well serve the gravysoaked contents of... least a quarter the cost of a wellmarbled prime rib Want to serve aged prime rib? You must have some deep, deep pockets • Leftover-porchetta sandwiches are freakin’ awesome That’s all there is to say about that one... Overcook porchetta and wait, that’s right, you pretty much can’t overcook porchetta Leave it in the oven for an extra hour or two? No worries, it’ll still taste fantastic • It’s inexpensive Pork belly might cost you about $10 per