Crubeens

Crubeens, from the Irish 'cruibin' meaning little hoof, are boiled pigs feet that were once a staple of Saturday night pub culture in Ireland. Working men would buy them from a stall outside the pub, eat them with their fingers, and wipe their hands on the sawdust-covered floor. They are rich, gelatinous, and deeply flavored, with meat that falls away from the bone. While they have fallen from fashion, crubeens are experiencing a revival in the hands of adventurous chefs who braise, crumb, and deep-fry them.