Suckling pig wanted

[temkins]

I am looking for a place in Chicago that will sell a cooked suckling pig for a dinner party.

[JungMann]

Unimart on Peterson will do suckling pigs as will some of the Puerto Rican restaurants around Western in Humboldt Park. I've also had luck with smaller pigs from a Vietnamese restaurant on Argyle whose name escapes me.

[Roger Spark]

Lalich will roast pig, lamb or goat. They charge by the pound.

I don't think you will find a true "suckling" pig, unless you know a farmer. Baby pigs are slightly larger and have been weaned. It has something to do with some FDA regulation concerning antibiotics (at least that is how it was explained to me).

Lalich Delicatessens
4208 W Lawrence Ave,
Chicago, IL 60630
[phone]

[Eldon Kreider]

Try a minimum interval after a vaccination. In any case most pigs are weaned so early these days that a true suckling pig would be tiny.

[leek]

Domestic pigs are weaned somewhere in the 3 to 4 week range. Average weaning weight for piglets is right around 16 lbs. Baby pigs are vaccinated when they are approximately 10 days old or 3-4 pounds. Once vaccinated, then it is 42 days before they can be slaughtered for human consumption. The pigs are approximately 40 pounds weight or 32 pounds dressed after 42 days. Pigs no smaller than 25-30 pounds are generally available. See http://mark.asci.ncsu.edu/HealthyHogs... for a 1997 discussion of the veterinary take on pig weaning (with particular attention to variability in pig weight)

[evalafemme]

Mercat a la Planxa will serve you a whole one and carve it table side. Perhaps they will sell it to go. Worth a shot 'cause its delicious!

[ms. chow]

Try Sun Wah BBQ in Uptown. I have gotten a whole pig there, although not exactly suckling, more like teenager. (ok PETA, don't come after me). There are probably places in Chinatown or Pilsen that will sell it as well.

[citywayne]

Down the street from Sun Wah, on the same side of the street (past the L station, about 1 1/2 blocks) is another BBQ place that has suckling pig. You will need to give them a few days notice (where-ever you go). We got one for our daughters engagement and I think it costed less then $100 (around 80 maybe). You can also get it at the various BBQ places in Chinatown too.

[Eaterlover]

Does Sun Wah's pig come a la carte or do you have to order it in advance? All the pictures from LTHforum's last outing there (http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic....) is hankering me to do the same (i.e. organize a small group for the proverbial "pig" out).

[citywayne]

you can get roasted pig any day by the pound. They cut off whatever weight you ask for. If you are early, you can get whatever part you want, given that your order is reasonable size. No advance order is required. However, you won't get suckling pig all the time., it will be a big pig (over 100 pounder). Every so often, I see them cutting up a suckling pig by the pound too, but it goes fast. If you want a whole suckling pig then you will have to advance order it (days).