Dining Out Sustainably: Noble Pig

There may not be anything more satisfying or comforting than a truly great sandwich - perfectly toasted bread with moist, perfectly spiced meat and condiments dripping just a bit over the sides.  I have to think John Bates and Brandon Martinez, chefs and co-owners of the Noble Pig, knew that when they opened their artisan sandwich shop in the far Northwest corner of Austin (11815 620 N. Suite 4, Austin, TX 78750).  With all of the ingredients made from scratch, these sandwiches are worth the drive to this small shop tucked away in a strip mall not far from Lakeline Mall.

Bates and Martinez, who met in culinary school, believe that each element of a dish, even the humble sandwich, is important and make all of the ingredients in house including smoking the bacon, making the sausages, pickling the vegetables and baking the bread.  The care and attention is obvious when you bite into the spicy chorizo and egg breakfast sandwich or the three meat extravaganza house namesake, The Noble Pig.

After a little over a year of success with the deli, Noble Pig is opening a charcuterie shop next door on Friday, November 25th.  You can now take home their carefully prepared meats, spreads, pickled items, breads and desserts after you exhaust yourself shopping on Black Friday.  

I attended a media preview last week at which we sampled a few of the delicious pates, terrines, rillettes and meats.  I was given a parting gift of pork rillettes which  I shared with a friend who needed some cheering up.  As it turns out, their rillettes drizzled with Confituras pickled blueberries (didn't have any Noble Pig pickled berries in the pantry) was just the pick me up she needed.

The charcuterie shop will be open from 10 am to 7 pm daily and offer a rotating menu of the following: 

Jarred items-relishes, mustards, jams, pickles, a line of bread puddings
House prepared meats – pates, terrines, sliced tongue, beef and duck pastrami, bacon, ham, smoked pork belly, smoked turkey, roast beef, sausages
Bread - white, wheat, ciabatta and brioche
Sweets - tarts and other seasonal desserts
Grab and go ciabatta sandwiches from the Noble Pig catering menu

You can also learn some of Chef John Bates' secrets at a sandwich themed cooking class at Central Market on Monday, November 28th at 6:30 pm.

Chef Bates will share recipes for some of his favorite sandwiches and condiments, and attendees will take home a jar of their pickled vegetables. The class is $45 and the menu includes: Croque Monsieur, Cuban Sandwich, Sweet & Sour Pickled Veggies and Whole Grain Mustard.

I highly recommend taking some time to embrace the art of the sandwich with the Noble Pig, whether enjoying a dish from the deli, taking home selections from the charcuterie shop or attending the cooking class.  You'll enjoy every throughfully crafted bite.