Right at the beginning of the year I remember reading a (Daily Mail, guilty pleasure!) piece about a pulled pork shop that had had to change its slogan due to avoid offending people of the nearby Cathedral. I must’ve been tired or hungry when reading it, as I was completely oblivious to the fact that this shop was in fact due to open in Canterbury. I’m actually pretty distraught as it opened close to exam season (no chance of getting into town then!) and this year, when I’m out on placement as of July and won’t be in Canterbury *sob* until September 2015. Or rather, I hadn’t planned to be, but I think visits to friends and a certain Pork Shop may now be on the agenda…
Pork & Co really one have one regular thing on their menu, and that’s their Pork Cobs (or Rolls, Buns etc, I’m from Leicestershire and they are cobs!). They are pretty pricey, but the £5 includes a meat stuffed, gravy soaked, apple butter spread cob, and a topping of your choice (I recommend black pudding). Don’t quote me, but I think a slab of crackling is also included, but this may count as your topping! They do occasionally offer another choice – Beef Brisket. At £6 for a Brisket Cob with slaw, its even pricey, but this is definitely my favorite. I also struggle to finish it, so it’s well worth those pennies! Both meats are tender, incredibly flavourful, and just wonderful.
I highly recommend the hot sauces too! Espeically with the scotch eggs…
Also available are a variety of sausage rolls and pork pies. I have to say I am particularly taken with the sausage rolls, they are rich, meaty and the pastry doesn’t fall apart and get everywhere (I’m looking at you, Greggs!). The fennel flavor is subtle, but they are really delicious. I’m not sure I can think of an excuse to visit Canterbury soon, but I sure am trying!
Of course, any Pork shop isn’t worth it’s crackling if they didn’t sell pork scratchings. Now I have two little secrets to tell you;
- I went into Pork & Co around an hour after my last exam, devoured a Brisket Cob, and bought five bags of pork scratchings. The guys in the shop laughed. It was pretty embarrassing. But…
- I don’t actually like pork scratchings!
Something about the texture just don’t get on with me, but my parents and boyfriend love them, so every time I’ve visited the shop I’ve bulk-bought scratchings. Nearly caused an issue traveling home, as bags in St Pancras were being randomly checked by sniffer dogs… If you’re a scratching fan, I’d highly recommend these. I really wish I liked them!
I highly recommend Pork & Co if you’re ever in Canterbury – it’s truly a hidden gem! Please note that all of the photos in this post were taken from their Twitter feed, I’ve tried to use only ones they have posted by if I have inadvertently stolen anyone’s please contact me and I will remove it or credit/link the rightful owner!
Back to the pork…it’s delicious! Moist, meaty, and incredibly messy to eat (don’t wear white, you have been warned…). One of the best things about it is that all the pigs are raised by the people behind Pork & Co themselves – whilst I don’t particularly enjoy looking at the pictures of the pigs (I find them really, really cute!) its lovely to know they are having a brilliant quality of life, and I think that really shows in the quality of the meat. Let me know if you visit Pork & Co!
Have you found any ‘hidden gem’ eateries nearby?
Right at the beginning of the year I remember reading a (Daily Mail, guilty pleasure!) piece about a pulled pork shop that had had to change its slogan due to avoid offending people of the nearby Cathedral. I must’ve been tired or hungry when reading it, as I was completely oblivious to the fact that this shop was in fact due to open in Canterbury. I’m actually pretty distraught as it opened close to exam season (no chance of getting into town then!) and this year, when I’m out on placement as of July and won’t be in Canterbury *sob* until September 2015. Or rather, I hadn’t planned to be, but I think visits to friends and a certain Pork Shop may now be on the agenda…
