h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This sounds totally wonderful. Are there 119 of you who would care to join me in trying it?

I must admit, I am impressed also. This is the only recipe I've ever seen that serves *120* people.

Unfortunately, I'm unlikely to make the experiment since I live in Denver, Colorado, US.

I guess the nearest thing I've come to this is a spit roast pig. Very nice it is too, as long as the motor turning the spit doesn't burn out. It's a lot of work turning the pig for several hours.

In Hawaii we call it Kalua Pig, and if we roast it whole, you split it's gut and put red-hot rocks on the inside to help it cook faster. Even though our neighbors saturate our house with smoke at least twice a year making the delicacy, that's all I ever knew about it, until now!

You mean you weren't invited round

Only once or twice, but the rest of the time it was torture-- it smelled so good that my mouth literally watered all day, and I think the last time they did it I ended up eating three day old leftovers for dinner.

There you go, you can do it yourself now

Can I get an invite when you do though

*does the homeresqe drool*

Ohhhh ohhh that sounds just delicious...

Fantastic article!

There are simpler ways of faking it-- but if I ever go through the trouble, you'll be at the top of the list.

My dad and I did a variation on this theme with banana leaves some years back, got the fire dept out too seems as though a suspicious nieghbor thought we were going to burn his house down. some of the fire men came back after they got off shift though, and would show up
off duty when we did this again!

A technique that I've heard of in passing is to use an old box-spring mattress with the fabric torn/burned off as a grill for the pig, but I don't know how well that would work.

Actually, the only thing I know about it is from the song "Filipino Box-Spring Hog" by Tom Waits. but the above is the only logical conclusion I could draw from the song. =/

I learned to do luau pig from my across-the-street neighbor Pomar, a Hawaiian-Samoan. Po always manages to get his brothers and nephews to always come and help out [read, do the work]. There is a hawaiian word for when the rocks explode from the heat forcing out the moisture. Do you know this word?

Outstanding layout... I will use it on our summer picnic in 2 weeks. We are feeding 150 Harley Davidson bikers. It will be great. I will let everyone know about it. Roast pig for pig bikers. And lots of brew to go with it.

Doing luau pig for 150 Harley riders sounds like a gas. Get a 120 pound hog for this and ask your buddies not to drive *their* hogs over the the pit when they are bringing you beer. Get some river rock from a local sand and gravel supplier and you can use them over and over again. The biggest hassel will be the vegetation to cover the hog with. One year my 'volunteers' didn't get me enough and I raided a local corn patch and used corn leaves. Another time Po and I did a luau for an office party for a bunch of CPA and the gal who was hosting the party bought about 30 heads of cabbage. If you need any technical assistance leave me a post. Pull this off and be prepared for your buddies to expect an annual luau. Good luck

Wasn't this also the traditional way to cook humans in Hawaiia or Samoa? I'm sure I saw a documentary about it somewhere?.

..and how big is a bushel?

Never thought I'd be starting my grocery shopping at the local building supply store, but this has potential! Should I pick up a chainsaw to cut off the head, while I'm there? Think I'll try this one for the next annual Life's a Beach Party.

You might want to consider submitting this recipe to the Louisiana Festivals Cookbook (Acadian House Publishing). We used to do a lot of couchon du lait when I lived there, and were always concerned with keeping the pig moist once the cocktails started flowing. Almost had to have a designated baster... Anyway, problem solved. Thanks

Hey--it occurs to me--this might be a way to rid myself of the peeper...

Humm. Sounds like a fitting name for a boyband.

Not only is the luau pig moist, but--and I've never figgered this out--there is no grease. I have no clue where the grease goes but I will remember to thank the great god peeper for her benevolence at the next luau.

And yes, the chainsaw is sometimes a necessary implement. The garden hosed connected directly to the hot water heater was another improvisation we had to create at this particular luau. Despite very explicit and several-times-confired instructions to the packing house at Smithfield* we arrived to pick up the 120 pound, FROZEN SOLID hog. The chainsaw and the hose was an inspiration that came after the first round of beers while pondering our predicament.
_____
* Those fine smoked hams that are more difficult to consume than just sucking on a packet of salt from MacDonalds or Wendies come from the sleepy hamlet of Smithfield, VA, nestled on the self-polluted banks of the Pagan River.

The hawaiian word for 'exploding volcanic rocks that fling bits of half-cooked pig carcass flaming into the grass, which makes it unedible by most accounts'? Nope, can't say that I do.