Fergus Henderson cooks a pig's head

Tim Hayward takes a trip to Smithfield market, meets Fergus Henderson, shaves a pig's head and cooks it alligator style

[@nwalsh1]

he has had Parkinson's since 1996, and has still managed to become one of the most successful chefs in the world.

[@nickowns666]

no, it was in his words "around 98"

[@LucaK]

Parkinsons? More like cocaineinsons with a dash of heavy alcoholism

[@vaginalexplorer69]

​​@@LucaKare u a delivery girl from the red light? U sound like a b*tch with experience.

[@lexo30]

I've never yet cooked a pig's head, but I have done Fergus Henderson's recipe for confit pig's cheek, and it is absolutely delicious. You salt a couple of pig's cheeks (huge slabs of skin, fat and flesh) overnight, then you cook them gently in goose or duck or pork fat for a few hours until they're tender. Then you let them cool in the fat, and when you finally want to eat them, you extract them and roast them and serve them with a sharp salad. It's incredible. He is a genius.

[@4JJA14]

fergus is a legend

[@dblyoi]

just reading some comments.. does anybody realize that fergus henderson is one of if not the most influential chef in the world??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[@TomClementsUK]

Innards and extremities need to be celebrated again in Britain. Fergus is a genius for reviving this tradition.

[@hunclemike]

I'm a Yank......did this fellow name the pig's head after Gordon Ramsay by chance? I don't know the dynamic betwixt Ramsay and the food critics....

[@ctchickenmom]

I don't think they gave the chef a microphone. It was difficult to hear him and I missed most of the conversation. Its too bad they didn't compensate for this when they made the video.

[@SethHesio]

@NilDesperandum777 I think it's common among chefs. Yes the food was wonderful. Was eating in the bar section of St.John. Had eel salad, lambs tongue, welsh rarebit, pheasant broth and amazing amazing bread. Everything they do there is wonderful, but you wouldn't believe the quality of the bread.

[@dollars2bemade]

Good recipe. So good I am going to try it. To the people bashing his disability.. Karma is a MFer. Find some dignity. Compliments Chef.

[@NilDesperandum777]

@SethHesio I wonder if that's common amongst those with Parkinson's? Was the food everything it's been cracked up to be?

[@PSUK]

FH, a proper dude.

[@NilDesperandum777]

@SethHesio I'll have to check out, St.John Bread and Wine. Restaurants are a much much tougher go than most people think, that's for sure. I'm from Canada but my family is from, and most still live in, Scotland and England. Baking is interesting as well. The name escapes me, but I was watching a piece on a New York baker. Much more nuance to the craft than I had suspected. He came across almost as a molecular baker, though I'm sure he wouldnt identify as such.

[@bitcoincryptofreedom3652]

Who killed Charlie? and where's his glasses?

[@its3Dinmymind]

Tim Hayword is a crazy mofo.

[@JM-ll2vv]

Hes great

[@jinxUKBK]

Don't do alcohol kids

[@MQ-xv2su]

The chef was on something aside from his cooking?

[@MarkSkids]

Parkinson's disease.

[@marksmith7977]

1rst let's have a 🍺

[@chefjasonperu]

Is he drunk

[@no_one01-5]

Jason Peru He has Parkinson's disease. He is on strong meds.

[@chefjasonperu]

no one oh okay. Thanks

[@fernandoalemus]

that guy is drunk

[@JM-ll2vv]

No, he has Parkinson's disease

[@MOOSEDOWNUNDER]

to find out that he has that dreaded illness and still manages to touch peoples hearts and stomachs is amazing. What an awesome example of stiff upper lip. genius.

[@fiatvoluntastua9183]

“I’m organic! Stand back!.” Fergus is my kind of people.

[@j03franks]

if i was a dead animal i'd want fergus to cook my head

[@audiolabguy]

I was fortunate enough to have spent the 3 days of last week dining at the St. John and can only describe it as an outlook-altering experience.

[@darrenburns123]

AH i never knew that , makes sense now, i never ever thought he was drunk, i just thought he was very ecentric, (can't spell) but this man is a legend, love his whole thoughts on food.

[@EarlRausch]

What a wonderful video ! To me it's all about respect for the animal from when it;s born to when it is harvested. I will be butchering a pig this fall and will most definite cook the head "Alligator style". I am in the USA but I love the way that the British cook ! Black pudding yummmm.. :)

[@MartinHarte]

Not enough people know of Fergus. Top chefs obviously do. I've eaten at his restaurant and it was slightly pricy as it's 1 star. but I also at at a restaurant costing 90 quid to feed the same three people.

[@johnkaveski7953]

i would eat every bit of that

[@CHIKINWING]

I just got a stiffy to try that! good food doesn't need to be expensive.

[@barronredneck]

Now that's the coolest presentation yet.

[@SethHesio]

@NilDesperandum777 I live in the UK, just outside of London, most of family originally come from Scotland though. We might be from the same clan? lol. I have to say baking is one of the most interesting and rewarding things I've ever done, it's a wonderful thing to do, and it's interesting how much there is to it. A good piece of bread is a good thing. I've not heard of molecular gastronomy in baking, it makes sense though. Do visit St.John asap. Also gotta say Canada is number one on my list.

[@Thorralf83]

0:40 "So we've got our pig. This is Gordon!" and /watch?v=rEBwjdZ8zeY (3:25) Finally, after all culinary-involved people on the britsh isles decided to name their animals by Ramsay, I'm so sure that they meant him, Gordon Ramsay must be very beloved and popular there ;-D

[@EarlRausch]

@BarFAN21 haha I hear ya brother. I did cook the head and it was soo good. Have a good holiday !

[@dblyoi]

you realize he has parkinsons yes?

[@NewlandArcher85]

Nature's ice lolly, indeed.

[@adalee8065]

Head cheese YUM👌👌👌😗😗😗

[@NilDesperandum777]

@SethHesio Very well could be. If your family's name is found in Clan Chattan then that's a start. My fiancee has been growing more and more interested -- as time and energy permit -- into baking. She's gotten really good. I've become more interested in it the more she's produced, lol. But certainly as an "aspiring foodie"? baking (The French obsession with it, German baked goods,etc...) it's become a source of interest to me.I'll do my best re:St.John, and Canada...O' Canada...it is amazing.

[@Paramedicguy]

didnt even realise he had parkinsons till i wathced this, at 32 same age as me, scary!!! To be honest the fact that they ignore the effects of the disease as if there is nothing wrong simply makes it MORE obvious that there is something wrong.

[@whatsgoingonyall]

it looks so fuglyy!! but in a way it resembles humans face

[@NilDesperandum777]

It's surprising, that anyone watching Fergus here, could think, that this vanguard chef - of a world class restaurant in London - runs as large, lively and dangerous a kitchen as St. John's obviously requires, while drunk...There's the numerous references to his disease here, and then there's a set of knowledge that should have armed a passerby to the disease, given the obscurity of the topic...To any and all: Idiocy isn't cool. Never has been. Never will be. Post with respect in mind.

[@lexo30]

@PoppyMonsterMunch - I don't think that the brains are part of the dish.

[@Andy-uf8jq]

Seeing him on the newest action bronson video is tragic, hes so still and quiet, a real shadow of his former self

[@mjmelia2002]

Do you eat the brain as well?

[@sickintheguts2985]

My kind of Chef.

[@rugged23WC]

Genius!

[@SethHesio]

@NilDesperandum777 There are two restaurants, the original St.John and St.John Bread and Wine. I've eaten at both, and the bread they make is just sensational. I'm a keen baker but I can't do what they do. I haven't had the bone marrow, parsley and toast ... yet. It wasn't on the menu the time I went. I'm having it next time I go. Restaurants are one of the toughest businesses to run successfully, it is a complete lifestyle choice if you go into it.. Are you from UK or abroad?

[@ItsSomeDeadGuy]

I really hope you realize that he has Parkinson's.

[@NilDesperandum777]

@SethHesio Bread made on location? Sounds great. I just find it antithetical, mostly given the habits my Father (A butcher, and chef in his own right.) and my Grandfather (Chef of his own restaurant.) instilled in me. Tough business no doubt, made exponentially more challenging given Henderson's disability. Had you known of Bourdain's "last meal" preference on the menu at the time? I think that would be a must for me to try, if one day I actually make it there ;)

[@yugenaware]

Pork is never bland if you know how to cook!!! This guy is a typical numb nut who thinks he know about food, on the other hand Fergus... you are a legend

[@fennavitch]

@tishdeveling @lexo30 yeah, he's weird because he EATS PIG BRAINS!!!!

[@SethHesio]

@NilDesperandum777 True, but he is a heavy drinker too. When I ate there he came to the bar and drank a few glasses of spirits, this was in the afternoon. His illness, parkinsons, is a tragic one though. Hope he's on the mend.

[@lexo30]

@fennavitch - Fergus Henderson seems weird in this video because he has Parkinson's Disease, which makes him slur his words and also makes his arms and legs jerk in a funny way. But he's since had treatment for it and apparently he now looks much less like he's been drinking all day.

[@doktorphilth]

mmmmmmmmm, pigs head is good eatin'. (so is pig heart, well hell any heart of any animal really, well seasoned, served like a steak with palenta and green beans or chunked and served in the style of a taco or burrito)

[@ANTHONY-ry1oc]

🤢 🤢 🤮

[@turboboy1983]

Yeah, he's drunk as shit.

[@derekpugh5457]

turboboy1983 he has Parkinson's disease

[@9kevkav]

Gobshite

[@JM-ll2vv]

Delete this, it's embarrassing

[@fennavitch]

that bloke is SO weird!

[@mrdowjones6986]

A truly brilliant man & gentleman

[@chefluke]

Alcoholic.

[@joshsimpson9676]

Parkinson's Disease