The Super Bowl and certain pork byproducts share a common ancestor – the pigskin. The first known footballs date back to 16th century Scotland and were comprised of pig bladders ensconced in deer leather. Pigskin eventually became the material of discerning footballers until a few centuries later when cowhide and polyurethane finally tackled football fabrication. However, they’re not as edible as “the other white meat,” or rather, the skin that covers it before being deep fried in peanut oil (and no matter what branding message the National Pork Board pays to play in its half-time commercials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture insists that pork is not a white meat).
In parts of the states pork rinds are known onomatopoeically as “cracklings.” In Newfoundland, they’re “scrunchions” and inexplicably in Quebec, pork rinds are referred to as “oreilles de Christ” or, literally, “ears of Christ.” This adds a whole new dimension to notions of transubstantiation (a fancy way of saying “metaphysical cannibalism”). The whole “Eat of my body drink of my blood” thing is a lot more enticing if oreilles de Christ were served instead of communion wafers. Church attendance would soar. And so would cholesterol. So, what blood/wine do you pair with them?
Ray Isle, Food & Wine’s executive wine editor. suggests a medium-bodied red.
“You need some tannins for the fat, but salt accentuates tannins, so you don’t want anything too intense. How about a Zinfandel. Cline’s 2009 California Zinfandel ($12) offers a lot of flavor for a fair price.”
Speaking of churchy things, the Public Religion Research Institute reported this week that about 3-in-10 Americans, believe that “God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event.” And we wonder why the Super Bowl is a Sunday. Go Niners!
Kudos to Wikipedia upon which I leaned heavily for this bit.
6 replies on “Pork Rinds. The other Pigskin.”
Chicharrones, Ay caramba!
Many people never stop to ponder the true value of a pig’s skin. Let’s do that. The following headline ran about five years ago.
Former Rural Va. Mayor Pleads Guilty to 243 Felonies for Buying Votes With Beer, Pork Rinds
Published December 01, 2006
Associated Press
The former mayor of a tiny coal town who prosecutors say masterminded a scheme to buy votes with beer, cigarettes and even pork rinds, pleaded guilty Thursday to 243 felonies, including vote-rigging and corruption.
The Wise County Circuit Judge made a former Appalachia mayor plead individually to each of the charges against him, which included stealing election records, forging ballots, hindering the rights of citizens to vote freely, voting more than once in an election and violating absentee voting procedures.
Apparently, the attraction for the participants was free home delivery of beer and chicharrones in exchange for their absentee ballots.
I suppose that’s one way to avoid a shopping trip.
Carol – This is hilarious, thanks for sharing! Beer, cigarettes, pork rinds and Appalachia – I can practically hear the dueling banjos! DH
Chicharrones, Ay caramba!
Many people never stop to ponder the true value of a pig’s skin. Let’s do that. The following headline ran about five years ago.
Former Rural Va. Mayor Pleads Guilty to 243 Felonies for Buying Votes With Beer, Pork Rinds
Published December 01, 2006
Associated Press
The former mayor of a tiny coal town who prosecutors say masterminded a scheme to buy votes with beer, cigarettes and even pork rinds, pleaded guilty Thursday to 243 felonies, including vote-rigging and corruption.
The Wise County Circuit Judge made a former Appalachia mayor plead individually to each of the charges against him, which included stealing election records, forging ballots, hindering the rights of citizens to vote freely, voting more than once in an election and violating absentee voting procedures.
Apparently, the attraction for the participants was free home delivery of beer and chicharrones in exchange for their absentee ballots.
I suppose that’s one way to avoid a shopping trip.
Carol – This is hilarious, thanks for sharing! Beer, cigarettes, pork rinds and Appalachia – I can practically hear the dueling banjos! DH
Chicharrones, Ay caramba!
Many people never stop to ponder the true value of a pig’s skin. Let’s do that. The following headline ran about five years ago.
Former Rural Va. Mayor Pleads Guilty to 243 Felonies for Buying Votes With Beer, Pork Rinds
Published December 01, 2006
Associated Press
The former mayor of a tiny coal town who prosecutors say masterminded a scheme to buy votes with beer, cigarettes and even pork rinds, pleaded guilty Thursday to 243 felonies, including vote-rigging and corruption.
The Wise County Circuit Judge made a former Appalachia mayor plead individually to each of the charges against him, which included stealing election records, forging ballots, hindering the rights of citizens to vote freely, voting more than once in an election and violating absentee voting procedures.
Apparently, the attraction for the participants was free home delivery of beer and chicharrones in exchange for their absentee ballots.
I suppose that’s one way to avoid a shopping trip.
Carol ? This is hilarious, thanks for sharing! Beer, cigarettes, pork rinds and Appalachia ? I can practically hear the dueling banjos! DH