a pig's tale, from farm to plate

Bob Perkoski Thursday, October 27, 2011

Cleveland chefs are at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement, a culinary approach that puts ingredient quality above all else. So when Chris Hodgson of Dim and Den Sum wanted some pork, he put in an order for a pig and waited – and waited -- until it was ready for "harvest."

In this captivating photo essay, Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski documents that pig's tale. It begins in April, when a 50-pound Berkshire piglet was delivered to Dan Morgan's Stay Farm in Ashland. Living on a diet of all-organic feed, including apples, acorns and molasses, the pig swelled in weight to over 250 pounds in six months, at which time it was sent to a local butcher for processing.

Upon delivery, Chris Hodgson and Brian Goodman, chef of Greenhouse Tavern, split the hog and reduced it to usable bits -- roughly 180 pounds in all. Hodgson and Dim and Den Sum chef Scott Hess braised some pork butt with coriander, paprika and Korean chili until it was tender. They served it -- and many like it -- in a bun with smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Sriracha to scores of hungry, happy food fans.


Photos: Bob Perkoski
Music: Kevin McLeod
Bob Perkoski
Bob Perkoski

About the Author: Bob Perkoski

Bob is managing photographer with FreshWater as well as a Cleveland freelance photographer. His photographic approach is rooted in the art of storytelling. Whether freezing the energy of an event, encapsulating the magic of a performance, or astutely anticipating the decisive moments, his work displays an innate ability to distill the essence of any scene or subject into a single frame or series of work. In addition, Bob is the official photographer for LAND studio and Holden Forest and Gardens and has worked with various Cleveland organizations. In 2019 he published a book of his photos Rust Belt Burlesque. He's had work published in other books like LGBTQ Cleveland by Ken Schneck, Rust Belt Chic: The Cleveland Anthology, Rust Belt Chic: The Pittsburgh Anthology and Moon Cleveland by Douglas Trattner. Previously he was co-founder/art director for Balanced Living Magazine. You can view his versatile portfolio of work, which includes news coverage, portraiture, architectural and fine art at Perkoski Photography. Originally from Conneaut, Ohio, Perkoski now lives close to the city in Parma. He has been Fresh Water's managing photographer since the publication's September 2010 inception.

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