I went to the downtown Portland outpost of Lardo and had a very porky lunch. It’s a sandwich shop where you order at the counter and get a number. They also have a long beer list. I had the porchetta sandwich ($12) and a side of crispy pigs ears ($5).
Porchetta Sandwich ($12)
gremolata, caper mayo, arugula, parmesan
Very good sandwich. Porchetta is sliced medium with the crispy skin on the edge. Then I believe it is fried again as the tops and bottoms were crispy. Porky goodness. The top of the sandwich is topped with the pesto-like gremolata and arugula and the mayo was on the bottom side. Good ciabatta like bread that was soft and airy, with a little chew on the crust. Good ratio of filling to bread as well.
Crispy Pig’s Ears ($5)
fennel salt, Bee Local Hot Honey
The crispy pig’s ears were fantastic. Crispy outside and soft and a little gelatinous inside. Sprinkled with fennel salt. They were cooked with some deep fried sage and rosemary leaves that added some fragrance. Came with a little container of honey to dip in, which complemented it really well. I think they benefit from being eaten fresh out of the kitchen. They lost some of their crunchiness after sitting awhile.
