LA LUCHA (Va Voom!) A little piece of heaven in Lima, Peru.

I confess, I’ve eaten a McRib — back when I was in grade school.  Back when I believed in many things – that McDonalds served food not, by-products; Santa was the harbinger of my Snoopy Snow Cone Machine; life was fair; and sex was only had by porn stars not, parents.  For any of you who are remotely tempted by that corn syrup shellacked, injection molded mystery meat, I implore you to pursue these much better options to satiate your porcine cravings.

Double your pleasure with chicharron con camote on the left and lechon on the right.

1. The Chicharron Sandwich at LA LUCHA:  When I was recently in Lima, Peru my best meal was not from Gaston Acurio (the celebrity chef with a coterie of boutique restaurants ala Wolfgang Puck and Gordon Ramsey) but off-the street and cheap.  LA LUCHA is a sangucheria – a sandwich shop in the same way that In and Out is a burger stand.  Clean, a bit prefab but with a retro charm, LA LUCHA does not disappoint and delivers great, fast service and delicious sandwiches with fresh, simple ingredients.  Located in Miraflores right next to the Park Kennedy, LA LUCHA is all about the meat.  Yes, there’s chicken, turkey, and sausage. But, don’t mess around – get the pork.  You can choose fresh roast lechon (suckling pig) or chicharron (deep fried pork) packed in a crusty bun with your favorite toppings.  I had both kinds but the chicharron – tender, with just the right amount of smoked fat had the edge on the lechon.  Add in a nice slice of camote (sweet potato) and a side of crisp fries dressed with garlic aoli, and your comfort food factor will undoubtedly be cranked up to 11.

Neil “Bigmista” Strawder with his BBQ cred

2. Pulled Pork Sandwich from BIG MISTA’s BBQ:  A family run bbq catering company helmed by Chef Neil ‘Bigmista’, BIG MISTA serves at the Atwater Village and Echo Park Farmer’s Market.  NB: get up early as they are notoriously popular and sell out fast.  Their pulled pork sandwich is a tender, smoky heavenly mess that could channel the inner carnivore in any vegan. Paired with a creamy, sweet pineapple coleslaw and some earthy collard greens, Big Mista’s pulled pork will give you another reason to flip a bitch in that McD’s drive-through and get your bbq on proper.

Now when see peach, I think pork...

3. Pork Belly buns at MOMOFUKU.  Chef David Chang needs no shout out for this hit fusion sandwich that sparked the Momofuku noodle bar craze.  Anyone can slap together some cooked meat, Lee Kum Kee hoisin sauce, and salad fixings into a bun.  But to do it with such quality and simplicity is Chang’s genius.  The bun – cloud-white with a soft, smooth texture is reminiscent of freshly steamed Cantonese-style Peking duck buns.  But the pièce de résistance is the pork belly.  Now, having grown up on some good Shanghainese food, I’ve had all flora and fauna of pork belly.  For those who don’t know, pork belly is to the Shanghainese as pastrami is to Jews from the Lower East Side.   It’s a major food group that is both an earthy staple and indulgent delicacy at once.  And David Chang gets this wonderful irony.  The pork belly is rich, sumptuous and a perfect pairing with the fresh cucumber slices and pungent double drizzle of hoisin and sriracha sauces.  All I got to say is thank god I don’t live in NY or I’d be investing in a lap band.

Credit to blogger Jonas (jonasapproved.com) for having the self control to take this picture

4. Pork Belly Sandwich at FORAGE.  Chef Jason Kim makes farmer’s market dining accessible and soulful at this popular neighborhood joint in Silverlake.  While your vegetarian friends happily wade in the seasonal offerings of heirloom tomatoes, broccoli rabe, etc. you (presuming you are a socially liberal carnivore like me) can cut to the chase and order the ‘P Belly’ sandwich.  Served on a crusty french baguette and, dressed with some greens and aoli the ‘P Belly’ is like a Vietnamese Banh mi on steroids.  It’s richer, crunchier, and yes – fattier but, in absolutely the best and most virtuous way possible.  An optimum pork sandwich experience.

Ok readers, bring your pork sandwich mojo on.  Where else can I get a good pork sandwich (or equally good riff on a carb cradled pork delight)?