Pigs' Feet Recipe

Why It WorksUsing split pig's feet makes for more manageable serving pieces—perfect for eating with your fingers.Braising the feet in a combination of kecap manis, sriracha, and water seasons them while rendering fat and tenderizing connective tissue.Finishing the braised feet on the grill gets the skin nice and crispy. I'm back at Fleisher's, the butcher shop where I've been apprenticing in Kingston, NY. Last week was out of the ordinary in a couple of ways. When I first arrived on a Tuesday there were a handful of good-looking, muscular men cutting beef around the main table, and no women in sight. Why so good-looking and so muscular? It must be the organic, grass-fed meat they're eating all the time. The women at Fleisher's are outnumbered to begin with, but it takes a completely male staff to make a female seem out of place. Once I put on a metal guard, a mesh apron that covers your entire front side, I felt more at ease. The din of a butcher shop is soothing to the soul, and it's...