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You know you missed him. Chef Mike, who held the Sunday pig roast at the now defunct Norman’s, is back, and he’s not alone. His Pigskin Sundays at Bin 8945 feature two 75-pound pigs and a caja china roaster.
For $45, you get a four-course meal with amuse, appetizer, and two courses of pig. There’s also a wine pairing for $25.
When hrhboo visited, the amuse was watermelon gazpacho with chive and cucumber, light and refreshing. The appetizer was a riff on a shrimp po’ boy: duck fat fries topped with sautéed shrimp and tangy rémoulade. The fries were the star, fabulously crisp and rich.
Puerco frito, fried bits of pork, was deliciously crispy and elevated by a touch of basil oil. It came with heirloom tomato, guacamole, and a crumble of hard-cooked egg.
The best course of that evening was roasted pork belly on potato purée with truffles and fig. Yes, says SauceSupreme, it’s just as good as it sounds. Meltingly tender pork is perfectly sauced and garnished with a chicharrón chip.
Not included, but a worthwhile addition that’s usually on the tasting menu, is the house special “corn dog,” which has even the staff buzzing. It’s a piece of pork belly wrapped in caul fat, crusted with panko, fried in duck fat, and presented on a stick. It’s paired with smoked beer, an interesting quaff that might remind some of liquid smoke.
For dessert, you get a choice of a sweet or cheeses. Both are excellent.
Bin 8945 [West Hollywood]
8945 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood
310-550-8945
Board Link: Gettin’ Piggy With It at Bin 8945
Sounds amazing, but after a horrid experience with the owner, I would never set foot in Bin 8945 again. Recently went there because I had heard they had great duck fat fries (which they do) -- but David, the owner, pushed hard for the tasting menu. I explained I'd love to try it but had two very severe food allergies (eggs and peanuts). Though he said they'd be no problem to accommodate, it only...+READ
Sounds amazing, but after a horrid experience with the owner, I would never set foot in Bin 8945 again. Recently went there because I had heard they had great duck fat fries (which they do) -- but David, the owner, pushed hard for the tasting menu. I explained I'd love to try it but had two very severe food allergies (eggs and peanuts). Though he said they'd be no problem to accommodate, it only took two courses to get to gnocchi -- which I was pretty sure would have egg. He assured me it didn't, but when I asked a waitress to check with the chef, sure enough, it did. When he came back, he explained he "figured [I] wouldn't be able to taste the egg." Sorry buddy, allergies don't work like that. He offered no apology. Happened again a few courses later. At the end of the meal, I pulled him aside to politely explain how dangerous his conduct was -- a small amount of egg means a 911 call for me, and I had been very clear about that from the outset. He barely spat out an apology, then promptly turned around and started mocking me.
The pork night may well be great, but anyone with any food restrictions should steer clear of this restaurant -- the owner is pretty cavalier with his customers; health.-COLLAPSE