2nd Annual Independent Food Festival and Awards:
Most Heavenly Pork Bun: Momofuku berkshire pork bun
There have been a lot of images of heaven through the ages. Light, fluffy, cloud-filled scenes full of rubenesque women with harps. A stern-looking fellow checking off names at the gate. Maybe a hazy light at the end of a tunnel, offering a glimpse of some haloed figures ascending with arms outstreched.
But there's one thing that heaven's always been missing: Pigs. Not flying, sainted pigs, mind you. But fatty, delicious, ready-to-be-eaten pigs. We haven't consulted scripture lately (and if Nirvana is the absence of desire, we'll pass on the absence of a craving for pork, too...) but offhand, there's no recollection of decadent heirloom pork. And as long as gluttony's on the list of sins, we'll be tucked away in the East Village, enjoying our pillowy-soft bun, a couple well-placed slices of cucumber, and that delicious, heavenly Berkshire pork. It's a hell of a bun.
Momofuku Noodle Bar
163 First Avenue (between 10th and 11th)
New York NY 10003
212-475-7899