pigs trotters and pork leg bone

Hi,

I am going to take a stab at making Tonkotsu Ramen and the recipe I'm using calls for pigs trotters and pork leg bone. Does anyone have suggestions for the best places to get these? I live in Andersonville and am willing to drive (I actually have to drive to Mitsuwa to get quite a few of the ingredients) but if I can find these closer/cheaper, I'd prefer that option. Thanks in advance!

bjt

I have seen trotters at Harvestime Foods. Don't know if they're a regular item or not, probably worth a call, and also to inquire about a leg bone, which I suspect most butchers could provide with advance notice.

Harvestime Foods
2632 W Lawrence Ave
773-989-4400

Smassey,

Thanks! I was just at Edgewater Foods (owned by the same folks as Harvest Time) and was happy to see that they carry "Patas de Puerco." Unfortunately, they don't carry pork leg bone. I actually had a fun Spanglish conversation with the butcher, "Come se dice" (pointing to my leg) en espanol?" So they don't carry piernas de puerco there and now I am reminded of how to say "leg" in Spanish. I did remember that bones are "huesos." Hmmm, I am thinking I will maybe need to go to an Asian butcher. Which could get downright hysterical since I don't know a lick of Vietnamese, Japanese or Chinese. But I guess I can point to my leg, eh?

bjt

They had split feet ($1.49/lb) and many other parts at Fresh Farms in Niles this evening.
Also seen were tails, jowls, hocks, ears, skins, snouts and whole & half heads.

bjt wrote:I am going to take a stab at making Tonkotsu Ramen and the recipe I'm using calls for pigs trotters and pork leg bone. Does anyone have suggestions for the best places to get these? I live in Andersonville and am willing to drive (I actually have to drive to Mitsuwa to get quite a few of the ingredients) but if I can find these closer/cheaper, I'd prefer that option. Thanks in advance!

If you're feeling frugal you might be able to find some pig leg bones (or similar) in the free bone barrels of Milwaukee Avenue's Polish butchers/delicatessens. All these shops should have pig trotters for sale. A couple of these places are specifically mentioned (and documented with a fine photo: Diggin for some Bones) in the Chicken and Pork Bones for Stock thread. There are other similar places farther north on Milwaukee in Jefferson Park and Niles (eg, Andy's at 5442 N Milwaukee). If you have the time it could be a fun adventure.

If you have trouble finding suitable bones (do they have to be from the leg?), you could buy a picnic shoulder—more or less the front leg of a pig—and have it boned or do it yourself. It's usually an inexpensive cut and as a bonus you'll have some boneless pork for another use.

I would think that any good butcher shop could get you a leg bone if you gave them a call. I know several butcher shops where they cut up their own pigs. I'd recommend just calling and asking.