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The History of Hog Roast and open Fire Cooking
Rotisserie or Hog/Spit roasting is a style of cooking where meat is skewered on a spit - a long solid rod used to hold pigs/lambs/hogs while it is being cooked over a fire in a fireplace. This method is generally used for cooking large joints of meat or entire animals, such as lambs, pigs, hogs, turkeys, goats or historically, entire cattle. The rotation cooks the meat on the spit evenly in its own juices and allows easy access for continuous basting if desired.
In medieval and early modern kitchens, the spit was the preferred way of cooking hogs and lambs in a large household. A servant, preferably a boy, sat near the hog roast turning the metal spit slowly and cooking the roast hog or lamb; he was known as the "spit boy" or "spit jack". More mechanical hog or lamb roast methods were later invented, first moved by dog-powered treadmill, and then by steam power and mechanical clockwork mechanisms. Hog roast Spits are now usually driven by electric motors.
Rotisserie the word comes from French where it first appeared in Paris shops around 1450. Additionally, in restaurants a rotisseur is the chef responsible for spit-roasted pigs and lambs oven roasted meats, grilled and in some cases fried meats such as pork, lamb & wild boar.
For thousands of years one of the biggest problems when feeding a large crowd on high days and holidays was solved by spit-roasting a whole animal, normally a whole hog or lambs and sometimes a whole cow or buffalo, and the operation itself became a focus of the celebration. Today, although whole carcasses are no longer so easy to come by unless you are a professional catering company, a return to informality even in large gatherings has brought about renewed interest in spit-roasting hog and lambs.
In South Africa, people spit roast almost anything. The local people have a passion for spit-roasting, and that passion is spilling into Europe, every summer you can find hog roasts and bbqs in every street, people always comment "How Great was the Hog Roast at the weekend"
Spit-roasting may be done either with the carcass suspended over the coals or now modern machines are Gas fuelled for less smoke on a horizontal spit which revolves to allow the meat to cook evenly and retain the hogs natural juices, or on a cross spit (Butterfly) which is stuck into the ground at an angle of 45 degrees. The latter method, perfected by the Clever South American Argentineans and known as 'asado', requires the hog or lamb be split open and impaled on a metal rod with the crossbar to which the hind legs of the beast are bound with string, this method is slow but ensures your Hog or lamb roast is perfect in every manner.
Hog Roasts or Spit Roasts used to be something of an everyday occurrence during middle ages and the especially in the Tudor courts of Arthur and Henry and decreased in their popularity over the years as we have adopted a more European approach to food, however, Hog Roast and Lamb Roast are popular once more back and people love a good hog roast. It makes sense that adding a hog roast to your menu will bring a different and interesting concept to your event. Hog roasts and bbqs are so popular at wedding s and birthdays and a summer's week doesn't go by without the smell of a delicious hog roast.
We have lots of people suggesting how new hog roasts are but hog roasts have been around longer than we realise, so in essence if you want to taste food that was good enough for the courts of past kings then consider a hog roast or lamb roast for your next party.
Our Hog roast machines are exclusively made in south Africa the home of hog and lamb roasts, bbqs (braais) and we can cook a whole hog in around 6 hours, a spit roast lamb in about 4, we can slow the cooking time down if required to ensure your hog is succulent and the pork or lamb is tender and moist.
A vast majority of people enjoy a good ole hog roast for their wedding as not only does it taste beautiful it also smells fantastic , a whole 55kg hog can feed at least 125 people with homemade apple sauce and freshly baked bread rolls, we have cooked hundreds of hogs and lambs in every manner and style, we can cook hogs for pub parties, on set catereing, hog roasts for Fetes, hog roasts for major events as we have a fully mobile and bright flaming hog roast stall which can cater for 1000 hungry hog eaters a day
Locations - Hog Roast
Hog Roast - BEDFORDSHIRE
Ampthill, Barton Le Clay, Bedford, Bromham, Cople, Cranfield, Dunstable, Flitwick, Houghton Regis, Kempston, Leighton Buzzard, Luton, Milton Keynes, Newport Pagnell, Sandy, Stotfold.
Hog Roast - BERKSHIRE
Thatcham, Tilehurst, Twyford, Windsor, Wokingham. Ascot, Bracknell, Caversham,Sandhurst, Slough, Sunningdale, Sunninghill, Crowthorne, Earley, Englefield Green, Hungerford, Maidenhead, Newbury, Reading, Ruscombe,
Hog Roast - BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Great Missenden, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Marlow, Olney, Prestwood, Princes Risborough, Wendover, Winslow Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St. Peter, Chesham, Gerrards Cross,.
Hog Roast - CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Needingworth, New Wimpole, Newborough, Newton, Northborough, Old Weston, Orton Malborne, Oundle, Outwell, Over, Parnwell, Parson Drove, Peterborough, Pidley, Prickwillow, Rampton, Ramsey, Reach, Sapley, Sawston, Sawtry, Shepreth, Soham, Somersham, Southoe, Spaldwick, St Ives, St Neots , Stapleford, Stilton, Stoke Doyle, Stretham, Sutton, Great Gransden, Thanks for looking, Great Paxton, Great Shelford, Haddenham, Hail Weston, Hardwick, Harlton, Harston, Hartford, Haslingfield, Haverhill, Helpston, Hemingford Abbots, Hemingford Grey, Heydon, Hildersham, Hilton, Hinxton, Histon, Horningsea, Horseheath, Houghton, Huntingdon, Impington, Isleham, Keyston, Kimbolton, Sutton Gault, Swaffham Bulbeck, Swavesey, Abbots Ripton, Abbotsley, Abington, Alconbury, Alconbury Weston, Balsham, Barrington, Barton, Baston, , Fulbourn, Girton, Glinton, Gorefield, Grafham, Grantchester, Great Abington, Great Chishill, Leighton Bromswold, Leverington, Linton, Little Downham, Little Shelford, Littleport, Lolworth, Longstanton, Longueville, Madingley, March, Maxey, Melbourn, Meldreth, Milton, Thorney, Thriplow, Tilbrook, Toft, bington, Bluntisham, Bottisham, Bourn, Brampton, Buckden, Burwell, Cambridge, Catworth, Chatteris, Chesterton, Comberton, Conington, Cottenham, Countywide, Crowland, Doddington, Dry Drayton, Duxford, Duxford Airfield, Earith, Eaton Socon, Ellington, Elm, Elsworth, Eltisley, Ely, Emneth, Eye, Farcet, Fen Ditton, Fen Drayton, Fenstanton, Fordham, FowlmereTrumpington, Tydd St Giles, Tydd St Mary, Upwell, Walpole St Andrew, Warboys, Waterbeach, Welney, Werrington, West Deeping, West Perry, Whittlesey, Wilburton, Willingham, Wimblington, Wisbech, Wisbech St Mary, Wistow, Witcham, Woodhurst, Woodnewton, Wyton, Yarwell, Yaxley
Hog Roast - DEVON
, Braunton, Brixham, Buckfastleigh, Crediton, Dawlish, Exeter, Sidmouth, Tavistock, Tiverton, Torquay, Torrington, Totnes, Exmouth, , Honiton, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, Paignton, Plymouth, Salcombe, Seaton, Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford
Hog Roast - DORSET
Beaminster, Blandford Forum, Blandford St. Mary, Bournemouth, Bridport, Christchurch, Dorchester, Ferndown, Longham, Lyme Regis, Poole, Shaftesbury, Sherborne ,Sturminster Newton, Swanage, Wareham, Weymouth, Wimborne.
Hog Roast - EAST SUSSEX
Alfriston, Battle, Herstmonceux, Hove, Newhaven, Newick, North Chailey, Northiam, Ore, Peacehaven, Polegate, Rotherfield, Rottingdean, Rye, Seaford, St. Leonards on Sea, Steyning, Telescombe, Ticehurst, Uckfield, Wadhurst, Winchelsea, Bexhill-on-Sea, Brighton, Burwash, Chailey, Crowborough, Cuckfield, Ditchling, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Forest Row, Frant, Hailsham, Hampden Park, Hartfield, Hastings, Heathfield,
Hog Roast - ESSEX
High Roding, Hockley, Holland on Sea, Hornchurch, Horndon on the Hill, Horsley Cross, Radwinter, Rainham, Rayleigh, Widdington, Witham, Wivenhoe, Woddford Green, Woodford, Woodford Bridge, Woodford Green, Woodham Mortimer, Woodham Walter, Writtle, Youngs End , North Fambridge, , Old Harlow, Ongar, Orsett, Ovington, Paglesham, Panfield, Pattiswick, Pebmarsh, Pilgrims Hatch, Pitsea, Purfleet, Purleigh, Quendon, Canewdon, Canvey Island, Castle Hedingham, Cattawade, Chafford Hundred, Chappel, Chelmsford, Chigwell, Chingford, Clacton on Sea, Clavering, Coggeshall, Canyouseeme, Colchester, Countywide, Crays Hill, Dagenham, Danbury, Debden, Dedham, Doddinghurst, Dovercourt, Earls Colne, East Hornden, Elm Park, Elmdon, Stansted, Stansted Airport, Stapleford Abbotts, Stock, Takeley, Thaxted, Theydon BoisAbridge, Althorne, Ardleigh, Arkesden, Asheldham, Aveley, Barking, Barling, Basildon, Battlesbridge, Belchamp St Paul, Benfleet, Billericay, Bishops Stortford, Blackmore End, Boreham, Borley, Bradwell-on-Sea, Braintree, Brantham, Brentwood, Brightlingsea, Broxted, Buckhurst Hill, Bulphan, Burnham on Crouch, Ickleton, Ilford, Ingatestone, Ingrave, Kelvedon, Kelvedon Hatch, Laindon, Rettendon, Rickling Green, Rochford, Rochford, Romford, Rowhedge, Roxwell, Roydon, Saffron Walden, Shalford, Shenfield, South Benfleet, South Hanningfield, South Ockendon, South Woodham Ferrers, Southend on Sea, Southminster, St Osyth, Stanford Le Hope, , Thornwood, Thundersley, Tilbury, Tillingham, Tiptree, Tollesbury, Toot Hill, Upminster, Vange, Waltham Abbey, Walton on the Naze, Warley, Weeley, West Thurrock, Westcliff On Sea, Westcliff, Wethersfield, White Notley, White Roding, Wickford, Wickham Bishops, Lamarsh, Langham, Latchingdon, Leigh-on-Sea, , Loughton, Maldon, Manningtree, Margaretting, Marks Tey, Matching Green, Mersea Island, Mistley, Moreton, Mountnessing, Mundon, Navestockside, Copy me, Nazeing, Felsted, Finchingfield, Fingringhoe, Flatford, Fordham, Frinton-On-Sea, Fyfield, Gestingthorpe, Gosfield, Grays, Yeldham, Hadleigh, Halstead, Harlow, Harwich, Hatfield Peverel, Herongate, Heybridge, Heybridge Basin, Elmstead, Elsenham, Epping, Epping Forest, Fairstead, Feering,
Hog Roast - GREATER LONDON
Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, City of London, Cranford, Croydon, Denham, Southwark, Staines, Sunbury-On-Thames, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Twickenham, Uxbridge, Waltham Forest, Wands worth, Whatyoudoin, Wembley, West Drayton, Westminster, Wimbledon
Docklands, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hampton Court, Haringey, Harrow, Harrow Weald, Havering, Hayes, Heathrow, Heathrow Airport, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston-upon-Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames, Ruislip,
Roast - HAMPSHIRE
Aldershot, Alresford, Fordingbridge, Gosport, Hartley Wintney, Havant, Hayling Island, Hook, Kingsclere, Lee-on-the-Solent, Liphook, Liss, , Lymington, Lyndhurst, New Milton, North Baddesley, Ringwood, Old Basing, Petersfield, Portchester, Portsmouth, Ringwood, Romsey, Southampton, next to Alton, Andover, Barton on Sea, Basingstoke, Bordon, Eastleigh, Fareham, Farnborough, Fleet, Southsea, Tadley, Tidworth, Totton, Waterlooville, Whitchurch, just outside Winchester, Yateley.
Hog Roast - HERTFORDSHIRE
Abbots Langley, Baldock, Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertford, Hitchin, Hoddesdon, Knebworth, Letchworth, Potters Bar, Radlett, Redbourn, Rickmansworth, Royston, Sawbridgeworth, South Mimms Berkhamsted, Bishops Stortford, Borehamwood, Bricket Wood, Brookmans Park, Broxbourne, Buntingford, Bushey, Cheshunt, Chorleywood, Cuffley, Enfield, Graveley, , St Albans, Stansted Airport, Stevenage, Walkern, Waltham Cross, Ware, Watford, Watton at Stone, do you know Welwyn Garden City, Wheathampstead.
Hog Roast - MIDDLESEX
Brentford, Eastcote, Edgware, Enfield, Feltham, Greenford , Hanworth, Harefield, Harrow, Hayes, Hounslow, Isleworth, Middlesex , Northwood, Perivale, Ruislip, Ruislip Manor, Shepperton-on-Thames , Southall, Staines , Teddington , Twickenham, Uxbridge, Wembley, West Drayton
Hog Roast - OXFORDSHIRE
Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester, Carterton, Chipping Norton, Didcot, Faringdon, Henley on Thames, Oxford, Thame, Wantage, Witney.
Hog Roast - SURREY
Addlestone, Ashtead, Bagshot, Nr Lightwater , Oxshott, Oxted, Purley, Redhill, Reigate, Surbiton, Tadworth, Thames Ditton, Virginia Water, Walton on Thames Banstead, Byfleet on Sea, Camberley, Chertsey, Chessington, Cobham, Crawley, Croydon, Dorking, Epsom, Esher, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Hook, Horley, Kenley, Leatherhead, , Warlingham, Weybridge, Windlesham, Woking.
Hog Roast - WEST SUSSEX
Arundel, Barnham, Billingshurst, , Lancing, Littlehampton, Robertsbridge, Rusper, Rustington , Selsey, Shoreham by SeaTillington, Walberton, Warnham, West Chiltington, Westergate, Lower Beeding, Lurgashall, Midhurst, Partridge Green, Petworth, Plaistow, Pulborough, Pauls Hill, Worthing, Wothing Bognor Regis, Burgess Hill, , Sompting, South Lancing, Southwater, Steyning, Storrington, Chichester, Chilgrove, Copthorne, Crawley, Cuckfield, East Grinstead, Faygate, Fernhurst, Findon, Fontwell, Ford, Forrest Row, Gatwick, Handcross, Haywards Heath, Hickstead, Horsham, Hove, Keymer, Kirdford