Everything but the Squeal: Eating the Whole Hog in Northern Spain (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: everything but the squeal, ibérico ham, shoulder ham, Doña Marisol, Don Quixote, Three Mountains (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Self-confessed glutton, travel writer and novelist Barlow (Eating Mammals; Intoxicated) doesn't scrimp on either culinary or cultural delights in this charmingly informative and witty narrative. Barlow, a resident of the relatively unknown corner of Spain, sets himself the task of consuming every part of the staple meat of rural Galicia. Traveling with his Spanish wife, a vegetarian, and his infant son, Barlow serves up vivid tales encountered during the year dedicated to his porco-graphical tour. But this tale is more than a culinary treat. Barlow is a companionable guide expounding upon history, traditions and the personalities of Galicia. His writing style is quick, lively and filled with delicious details. He takes readers on a sublime journey of the senses, including three Carnivals, one in Laza, a thousand-year-old event, combining ant throwing and a pig head bacchanal. He explores why the cousin of Fidel Castro lives at the end of a dark muddy lane in a pokey hamlet, and tracks down Antón, the most famous pig in Galicia. And he indulges in a 12-course meal, including ribs, at one of Spain's most lauded restaurants. As the ribs sit in the gentle heat, that glorious, fat-infiltrated meat is slowly transforming into what was for me one of the most spellbinding dishes I have ever eaten. (Nov.)
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From Booklist

Galicia cradles the village of Cervantes, ancestral origin of the family that produced Spain’s greatest novelist, but the creature arguably dearest to natives of Galicia is the pig. This ancient land, now Spain’s northwest quadrant, reveres the pig and makes diligent use of every part of the animal. The hind legs become exceptional cured hams, and lesser parts yield chorizo, liberally seasoned with pungent pimentón. Many of the pig’s best cuts end up in cocida, the local boiled dinner that features fresh pork and smoked sausages in a broth thick with vegetables. Fish figures in Galician cuisine as well, especially their beloved octopus. Married to a Galician, Barlow knows Galicians intimately and finds them warm but contrarian, hesitating ever to answer questions in the affirmative, a custom that drags out every conversation and encounter. Barlow introduces readers to some remarkable contemporary Galicians, including Fidel Castro’s cousin. --Mark Knoblauch

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 1st edition (October 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374150109
• ISBN-13: 978-0374150105
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #197,251 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #34 in	Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Regional & International > European > Spanish
  #92 in	Books > Travel > Europe > Spain

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Barlow's culinary exploration of Northern Spain, January 16, 2009

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

EVERYTHING BUT THE SQUEAL: EATING THE WHOLE HOG IN NORTHERN SPAIN tells of John Barlow's culinary exploration of Northern Spain, where he searches out all the rural corners of the country in search of the best, rarest or most outrageous meals he can find. From an heirloom breed of hog that miraculously recovered from the brink of extinction to a thousand-year ant-throwing festival and making pig-bladder puddings for Carnival, his search for the ultimate pork and its unique Spanish connections makes for a powerful presentation indeed. Any library strong in international culinary explorations or travelogues needs this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quite a squeal, December 12, 2008

By	Vijura "Vijura" (Charleston, SC, USA) - See all my reviews

this is a very amusing and well paced book, part cook book and part travel book and quite good at both.

i originally bought this as a gift but read it myself and then bought 5 more copies to give as presents.

to be highly recommended.

4.0 out of 5 stars A gastro-porcine adventure, August 5, 2009

By	Miran Ali "I don't like anonymous reviewers" (Dhaka, Bangladesh) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A cultural and culinary travelogue of Galicia told by a very humorous writer. Starts off very well, but about two thirds through, the poor fellow seems to lose his steam for more pork and digresses a bit. Apart from that I found it a thoroughly enjoyable and fun read. The exploration of the cultural significance of pork in Galician culture is fascinating. Unfortunately the book's marred by the absence of a map, showing the authors journey. I suppose, like a lot of other people, I know where La Coruna is, but my Galician geography ends there and a map would have been very helpful.