Blogtown, PDX

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Food Today’s Lunch: A Pork Log

Posted by Wm. Steven Humphrey on Wed, Mar 26 at 1:39 PM

Today, I had a pork log for lunch.

scaled.pork%20log%21.JPG

I kind of didn’t mean to buy it. I was at a Vietnamese grocery store purchasing a bahn mi sandwich, and the pork log was right next to them. I didn’t know it was a pork log—I didn’t know what it was. So when I asked the counter lady, “Is this a sandwich?” She said something like, “Puk lug.” I said, “Excuse me?”

“PUK… LUG.”

Somewhere in the back of my head I was thinking, “Did she say ‘pork log’?” Then I thought, “Noooo. Couldn’t be. It’s in with the sandwiches.” So I pointed at it again, and asked the lady, “Is there pork inside of it?” She looked at me like I was slightly nuts, and said, “Uhhh… yeah.” SO I BOUGHT IT!

Anyway, it weighs about five pounds, and I carried back to the office in my arms, stroking it like a cat. Even when I was unwrapping it, I was still 94% sure it was a sandwich. Then I bit into it.

scaled.bite%20pork%20log.JPG

“HEY… THAT’S A PORK LOG!” I yelled. And… it was kind of delicious. And although I could only eat two bites because it was so incredibly rich, I decided to put it in the office refrigerator, so I can slice it up for sandwiches… every day for the next 27 years.

scaled.pork%20log%20fridge.JPG

Did you have a pork log for lunch today?

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Comments

No, I have yet to get my daily pork log requirement in yet.

I can't believe I just typed that.

Posted by Kiala | March 26, 2008 2:05 PM

Hmmm. I would have thought you'd be posting sticky notes around the office DEMANDING that people touch your pork log. Ka-zing!

Posted by he he he | March 26, 2008 2:20 PM

I have a leftover one in my freezer. Maybe I'll have it for dinner.

What you have there is no ordinary pork log, however. It's a "cha chien", a deep fried pork log.

I suggest you slice it up, place in a toasted french baguette with cucumber, cilantro, jalapenos, pickled carrots and radish, and sprinkle liberally with Maggi seasoning and you're set.

Posted by The Guilty Carnivore | March 26, 2008 2:34 PM

"Cha Chien?" I'd call that, "Cha CHING!" Thanks for the advice!
yer pal,
Humpy-doodle-dandy

Posted by Wm. Steven Humphrey | March 26, 2008 2:45 PM

i prefer my pork log with baked apples, red onions and gorgonzola on baguette.

Posted by miguelaron | March 26, 2008 2:50 PM

Is the fact that word "chien" translates to "dog" in French just a coincidence?

Posted by El Seven | March 26, 2008 3:05 PM

DOG LOG!!

Posted by Wm. Steven Humphrey | March 26, 2008 3:10 PM

i always chop those up and put them on my bahn mi sandwich! haven't bit into one by itself, though...

Posted by ben | March 26, 2008 3:19 PM

"DOG LOG!" A phrase once yelled at early 1990 Phish shows.

http://www.strangedesign.org/lyrics/details.php?artistID=2&albumID=14&lyricsID=163

"Dog log is here
I knew if she was near it was still steamin'"

Posted by Phishy Phisherton | March 26, 2008 3:24 PM

p-penis?

Posted by T-Rex | March 26, 2008 3:49 PM

Whereabouts is this store? I can't believe I've lived this long and NOT tried a pork log. Then again, maybe it's because I haven't tried a pork log that I've lived this long. Still...I'm willing to try one.

Posted by Foil | March 26, 2008 3:57 PM

Please forgive the butchering of their name, but I believe it's Thanh Thao, which is roughly located around 65th and Sandy.

Posted by Wm. Steven Humphrey | March 26, 2008 4:11 PM

What we really need is a bacon log.

Posted by indy | March 26, 2008 6:34 PM

8am: Bacon arrives at work.

9:15am: Bacon pushes button.

Noon: Bacon break!

3pm: Bacon dicks around the internet.

3:15pm: Bacon break!

5pm: Bacon goes home.

Posted by Kiala | March 26, 2008 8:12 PM

Oh, Oh, this so reminds me of my first visit to Portland when my (now ex) husband and I came here to check it out to decide whether to move here.

We went to lunch at Fong Chong in Chinatown and one of the waitresses wheeled by with the dim sum cart. Well, I'd never had it, so I was wondering what some of the stuff was made with because I sometimes have trouble digesting too much wheat. So I tried to ask if the buns, and whatever, were made with wheat flour (as opposed, perhaps, to rice flour) and she apparently just had no idea what I was asking, so all she would answer is, "It beef, it pok, it good!" I'd ask about another item and she'd say again, "It beef, it pok, it good!" I finally gave up, and just ordered off the menu.

It was fucking hilarious and me and the ex still joke about it.

Posted by Jan | March 26, 2008 8:26 PM