A pig that looks like a sheep!? Its tender texture rivals that of beef.

▲Slow-cooked Mangalica pork at low temperature, served with tuna sauce and tender leaf salad, showcasing the chef’s unique plating aesthetics.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

You may have heard of the Spanish Iberico pig lately, but what about Hungary’s national treasure—the Mangalica pig? The newly renovated Westin Fuhang Palace’s Yili Italian Restaurant made its grand debut in April with a fresh new look, and has specially introduced the Mangalica pig, known as Hungary’s national treasure. Chef Huang Jen-ren of Yili Italian Restaurant says the Mangalica pig has a tender texture that rivals beef.

Nicknamed the “sheep pig,” the Mangalica (Mangalica) is an original pig breed from Hungary, evolved from wild boars. Its most distinctive feature is its curly fur all over its body, which at first glance looks very much like a sheep—hence it's also called the sheep pig. It is Hungary’s national treasure pig. The Mangalica pig has abundant and evenly distributed fat, giving it a texture very similar to beef. Chef Huang says this Mangalica pig is quite valuable—just 1 kg of small loin costs NT$1,500, while 1 kg of larger loin used for charcoal grilling costs over NT$1,700.


▲The Mangalica pig (Mangalica) looks very much like a sheep.Photo credit: taken from Wikipedia

At Yili Italian Restaurant, besides steaks, the Mangalica pork is also paired with tender leafy vegetable salad and tuna sauce, creating a dish with multi-layered flavors. In particular, the Mangalica pork in this dish is cooked at a low temperature of 48°C, which not only sterilizes the meat but also helps preserve its tenderness.

Since the reopening in April following renovation, the Westin Fuhang Palace’s Yili Italian Restaurant has not only introduced the Mangalica pig, but also added many new dishes, such as a French white asparagus set meal. In addition, ordering any main course (rice, noodles, pizza) allows you to upgrade to a set meal for an additional charge: upgrading for NT$380 includes dessert, salad, and a drink; upgrading for NT$580 adds an extra small portion of noodles and rice each.



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