Gert purchased a Berkshire pig and created seven courses.
The oldest known breed of pig, Berkshire has an illustrious history. Cromwell's soldiers discovered black pigs with white spots on their legs, ears and snouts in the 1640s in the shire of Berk. Word of the juicy, tender meat spread with Cromwell's returning troops and, for years after, England's royal family kept a large herd and dined on Berkshire pork. A royal gift to Japan introduced the pigs there, where they were known as Kurobata. The American Berkshire Association, established in 1875, ensures hogs raised here are purebred.
While you won't find it in the average grocery store, Berkshire pork is being raised at small farms on the Cape and Islands, including Miss Scarlett's Blue Ribbon Farm in Yarmouthport. In October, chef Matt Jennings joined American Seasons chef-owner Michael LaScola on Nantucket for a Hogtoberfest weekend of cooking an entire Berkshire pig. Jennings is a two-time winner at Cochon 555, a competition that champions family farms raising heritage breed pigs for chefs.
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Gert Rausch prepares German Spaetzle for Cape Cod Times food editor, Gwenn Friss. If you'd like to learn how to make this wonderful German style pasta the recipe is here.
Best Sandwich Award
Gert Rausch's haunted Cape Cod saltbox
Gert 's cottages & New England lamdscaping
More back yard at Gert's
