Today in Food Pr0n: Rob Levitt Butchers A Pig

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Aug 19, 2010 6:40PM

The Chicagoist food and drink team finds butchering pretty damn fascinating and it's a long range goal here to eventually match knives with Rob Levitt of mado. The self-taught butcher's frequent classes at his Wicker Park restaurant are highly anticipated and frequently are packed.

Levitt is one of 20 finalists for Protein University's "Who's Your Butcher" contest. Protein University is created by Taste Network, the same folks behind Cochon 555, and is dedicated to showcasing the art of the butcher.

As you can see from Levitt's 10-minute video of him breaking down a whole pig, the term artistry does apply here, along with a lot of sweat equity and sawing through bone. Levitt's video is among 20 videos up for voting on the website, along with local butcher Kari Underly, who breaks down a whole side of beef in her 4-minute clip. The chef with the winning video will be recognized on Protein University's champions wall, which is a little bit bare currently. Voting runs through Saturday.