Hogs head cheese is a dish made from boiled scraps of pig, including the feet, and the fat from the cooked meat provides a gelatinous binding. The boiled pig parts are preserved in vinegar and allowed to cool and set in a jelly roll pan, loaf pan, or some other mold. The dish is also known as souse or brawn. Here are some key facts about hogs head cheese:

• It is dairy-free, but emphatically not vegan.
• It is often enjoyed sliced or spread on crackers or bread.
• It can be used as a filling for poboys, with a schmear of tart and grainy Creole mustard.
• It is sometimes cubed and consumed like cheese.
• Some Southerners even enjoy it over grits.
• It is made by boiling a pig head in enough water, minus the brain and eyes, in a giant stockpot. A few pigs feet are added for the natural gelatin, along with any seasonings you like.
• It is a way to make use of every bit of an animal and create tasty meals out of what might be considered the offal or unsavory bits.
• It is a traditional dish that has delighted palates for generations.

Hogs head cheese is not actually cheese, but a spicy appetizer mold made of pork roast that is great served with crackers.