I did give them ample time to take back my #28 spot in Times U.K. 50 Best Food Blogs, just in case someone over there made an error in their research. I’m sure by now it’s official, because today, they’ve just published a feature on me
If you read the interview, you’ll find out some juicy facts about me. Yes, my husband really does go hunting for wild boar with his friend, Shawn. They are considered vermin and very destructive to the land…which means to property owners, “the more you hunt, the less I have to trap.” The area by my home is infested with wild boar.
And while hunting sounds really macho and stuff, I do live in Florida and so the hunting involves golf carts:
Now, that’s how to hunt in style…golf carts. I will spare you the photo of the kill, covered up by Pumba, especially because I know them nosy PETA folks will have a cow…pig…shitfit about it.
When I said “infestation” I really meant it. These are shots just recently taken with the motion-activated-night-camera that his friend, Shawn set up.
A family of black wild boars and a family of mutts.
Do you know why there are so many wild boars?
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Of course we eat the meat! Wild boar is the best meat, and with an overnight soak in lemon-vinegar-ice-water, the gamey-ness is gone. We take it to a local butcher, Palmetto Meat Shop who has just celebrated 28 years in business. it’s a family run joint and we love them.
A few days later, we pick up 2 big boxes of wild boar country ribs, cutlets, chops, tenderloin, brats and Italian sausage.
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6:13pm I was thinking more and more about what the Times wrote in their lead in to my interview. “Jaden Hair enthuses about how blogging won her a TV career, ‘pimping’ her kids in food videos and Gucci steaks” Love how “pimping my kids” is the scandalous tease for the lead-in.
6:19pm I forgot to tell you that those big boxes of meat only lasted us for 2 weeks. No, we didn’t eat all of it…I was bragging so much to my friends about the wild boar that huzb shot that I kept giving it away. Our freezer was down to 3 packs of brats…so huzb went hunting again and got another wild boar. Now our freezer is jam-packed again. Still wishing he’d go cow-hunting…I’m kinda over the pork thingy.
6:31pm Speaking of pimping my kids out, I just heard from Daytime that they want the boys in TWO SEGMENTS this month. Which means, my goal of retiring next year is becoming reality! Now I need to teach them how to blog.
7:01pm The photo of humping wild boars….I’m sure the Times editors are now regretting this.
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
That looks amazing! Hope you will be posting a recipe or two. We are lucky to have a butcher near us, family run and knows their stuff. BTW can your husband come about an hour north and get the coyotes that are eating small pets in our area?? Seriously, coyotes!! Yikes.
Long time reader, first time commenter (I think?).
Good for you – you deserve it. You’ve got a great self-effacing approach to writing that makes your stuff consistently fun to read. And your recipes are great too. Keep it coming, and I’m looking forward to buying your book.
Congratulations! This is so exciting.
Congrats on your recognition!
Awesome! You deserve it!
lol @ Pumba.
I see you’re doing a class at Rolling Pin again. So excited!
hmmm… i just so happen to have one of them vermin on ice in my garage. For the last few days our evenings have gone like this:
Me: Shawn? Shawn?? SHAWN!!!!
Shawn (playing games on computer) What!?
Me: What are you going to do with that damn pig.
Shawn: I dunno.
LOL! take it to a butcher! make tons and tons of sausage ~jaden
So, if you don’t mind sharing, how much lemon/vinegar do you add to the water for this overnight soak? I think our little pumba is going to take a bath tonight.
You totally deserve it! Can’t wait to pop on over and read the article. I’ve loved the ones they’ve done on Matt and David. I think it is great that your husband hunts wild boar- your boys will have a fun time growing up with a Dad like that around!
Wait, J……your comment lead in has always told US “Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic.” BUT YOU post pictures of piggies porking??? yeah, SUUUUURRREEE they were “just playing football” and the one in back is the quarterback
I was coming over here to tell you that your gucci steak was actually getting a bit of attention over at the National BBQ News forum today (seriously it was mentioned and a bunch of us are trying it tonight/tomorrow) but I guess that pales in comparison to your Top 50, ha ha. Congrats on the publicity!
Thanks your pimpin RM, my dearest sis, from your very “first” and “oldest” blog sis.
kisses to you! ~jaden
Congrats! What an accomplishment for you.
well deserved, way to go!
Hunting in golf carts?!! I love it! I would imagine you might get a little sick of the boar meat after a while, but I have heard that they are extremely destructive animals so I imagine you would rather have it in your freezer than on your property!
yeah I’m trying to convince him alligator hunting is good too – the alligator tenderloin is fab! ~jaden
“Pimping” and “humping” in the same post? You are going to get soooo many Google hits on this post.
Congrats on making the list! No surprise, though. You are awesome.
Hey congrats! You deserve it. My hubby used to go wild boar hunting in California. Maybe he should get together with your hubby and learn the Florida places to go – I do miss that fab meat we used to get after the hunt.
You definitely deserve it, how awesome! An international celebrity! I love this story about the wild boar and find the night camera photos fascinating. I recently got 1/6 of a runty pig which just left me craving more… You got a lotta meat there Jaden!
1/6 of a pig!? that’s like 2 sausage links!
~jaden
Yay, congratulations! You totally deserve it
I was wondering about the lemon juice, vinegar, water soak for the wild boar. Do you know if that works with other meat as well to remove the gamey-ness, say like venison?
Yes! 1 quart vinegar, 6 lemons, lots of ice and water in a massive cooler. This cooler was twice the size of normal big coolers though. ~jaden
Congarats, you international culinary maven!
ma • ven
–noun
an expert or connoisseur.
Jaden,
Congrats and you truly deserve it!!
Cheers,
Great wishes from us o you Jaden, you deserved it as you work really hard on your food blog and pure dedication, just like work on a dough till it become perfect.
hahahaha we too enjoy indulginh into having wild boar! you coming up with some interesting recipe on wild boar meat?
Congratulations Jaden! Great interview, so fun to read!
Great interview & congrats! But really…..the picture of Pumba & Scott has us rolling, hurting, from all the laughing.
I see Scott & Pumba, singing this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBK0i83ip78
I saw this! Congrats! And the Bahamas sound wonderful…
Congrats!! You deserve it
Those little boars look soo cute, great pics 
Heartiest congratulations!!!
Congratulations Jaden! You’ve done a fabulous job of elevating Asian cuisine with your beautiful photos, writing and your unique sense of humor.
Well, I’m not surprised Ms. Jaden. Of course you’re in the top 50, er top 28
Are they in order?? I like to think so.
Wild boar, huh? Ick. I suppose if you have to clear them out, you might as well eat them.
Looking forward to meeting you at IFBC!
Congrats.I love your story and how it all came together for you. You can always send some of that pork my way.
This is so very exciting! I am so happy for you. You work really hard and it is paying off.
Congrats
zesty
Jaden-
Hold the presses…
OK, now it’s official…
INTERNATIONAL Super Star.
Congratulations – this is HUGE.
awwww…shucks…thanx!!! ~jaden
Recognition from across the pond–how fab!! Can’t wait to for your cookbook! It’s comign out about the same time as mine …
Hey Pat! Can’t wait to see yours too! ~jaden
Your boys might end up like the Deen boys (as in Paula) with a show and cookbooks of their own. Can they type? They can even start a blog… he he…
“Of course we eat the meat! Wild boar is the best meat…”
Can`t agree more.
And Rufus knows what`s he doing http://pie.im/37f8