Templeton Rye, the famed small-batch distillery out of Templeton, Iowa, has chosen 25 of the top chefs around the country, including Ironside Fish & Oyster’s Executive Chef Jason McLeod, to showcase their 25 heritage breed Duroc pigs. Dubbed the Heritage Pork Project, the process began earlier this year when Templeton arranged for 25 Duroc piglets to be raised on a farm near the distillery and fed a specially designed diet that includes spent grain mash from the production of Templeton’s rye whiskey in hopes it will affect the pig’s flavor. On Monday, Oct 6, and Tuesday, Oct. 7, Ironside Fish & Oyster in Little Italy will showcase their prized pig through an elaborate, multi-course family-style menu featuring creations from Executive Chef/Partner Jason McLeod and Chef de Cuisine JoJo Ruiz. From snout-to-tail Ironside’s team will utilize all parts of the pig and plan to complement the dishes with desserts, special breads, and signature cocktails made with Templeton Rye.
More or less an experiment, Templeton’s Heritage Pork Project has garnered immediate interest from top-tier media outlets nationwide, highly acclaimed chefs and pork-loving foodies alike. The distillery received hundreds upon hundreds of order requests from four different countries for the 25 pigs. Templeton President Scott Bush sorted through the inquiries and chose recipients one-by-one. Ironside’s Chef Jason McLeod is the only chef in San Diego who will receive one of the 25 pigs.
Sample menu items for Ironside's dinners include Crispy Head Cheese with Spiced Chutney; Pork Liver Pâté de Campagne; Pork, Fennel, Apple Sausage; Pork Schnitzel with Mushroom Sauce; Templeton Rye & Maple Glazed Pork Belly with Sweet Potato and Persimmons; Squid Stuffed with Braised Pork Shoulder, Peppers and Tomatoes and more.
This rare and exclusive dinner is priced at $80 per person. Seating is limited to 25 attendees each night. Purchase tickets for the Monday, October 6 dinner here, and for the Tuesday, October 7 dinner here.
Ironside Fish & Oyster is located at 1654 India St. in Little Italy. For more information, call (619) 269-3033 or visit ironsidefishandoyster.com.
