La Porka Nostra whole hog barbecue pit with glowing embers and open fire smoke
5th-Gen Cuban Lechon Asado & Smoked Whole Hog - South Florida

LA PORKANOSTRA

We don't just feed your guests.
We give your event a story.

8Grand Championships
25+Awards & Titles
50K+Guests Fed

Pitmaster Ray Esperon carries five generations of Cuban Smoked Whole Hog craft to your table - 8 Grand Championships and 25+ awards across the competition circuit, available right here in South Florida.

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As Seen At
Heritage Fire Tour - Austin, TX
Heritage Fire Tour - Miami, FL
NBBQA Open Fire Championship - Nashville, TN
FatOx Fest - Cave Creek, AZ
Open Fire Meat Up - Hondo, TX
Memphis in May - Memphis, TN
Catalina Island Food Festival - CA
Smoke in the Valley - Edmonton, Canada
FIP Peru - Lima, Peru
Heritage Fire Tour - Austin, TX
Heritage Fire Tour - Miami, FL
NBBQA Open Fire Championship - Nashville, TN
FatOx Fest - Cave Creek, AZ
Open Fire Meat Up - Hondo, TX
Memphis in May - Memphis, TN
Catalina Island Food Festival - CA
Smoke in the Valley - Edmonton, Canada
FIP Peru - Lima, Peru
The Legacy
Five Generations Deep

WHERE FAMILY
TRADITION MEETS
CHAMPIONSHIP FIRE

"My great-great-grandfather roasted the first lechón for the village. I roast it for the world."

Ray Esperon didn't choose the pit — the pit chose him. Born into a Cuban family where whole-hog roasting wasn't a hobby but a cultural birthright, Ray grew up learning the craft from hands that had tended fire for generations. From the Cuban Style Hog in his grandfather's backyard to competing on the international circuit, every decision was guided by the same principle: honor the pig, honor the tradition.

Today, La Porka Nostra carries that legacy into every event, every competition, and every roast. The technique is 5th-generation Cuban. The fire is open-pit, low-and-slow. The result is the most celebrated whole-hog team in South Florida.

Open-Fire Pit Master
People's Choice Winner
International Circuit
5th Generation Cuban

Ray Esperon

5th Generation Pitmaster · Founder

Ray Esperon 5th generation Cuban pitmaster founder of La Porka Nostra

5TH

Generation

Traditional Cuban lechon whole roasted pig with crispy golden crackling skin on charcoal embers
La Porka Nostra BBQ competition trophies and championship fire-lit grilling station

5th

Generation Family Tradition

15+

Years on the Competition Circuit

50+

Events Roasted Annually

12+

Championship Titles Won

Our Craft

WHAT WE DO

5 Signature Services
Whole-Hog Pig Roasts
Signature

Whole-Hog Pig Roasts

01

Traditional Cuban lechón-style whole-hog roasting with 5th-generation technique. Slow-cooked over open fire for 8–12 hours, seasoned with mojo and spice.

Competition BBQ
Championship

Competition BBQ

02

Regional and international competition circuit veterans. We bring the same championship-level craft and presentation to every judging table we enter.

Open-Fire & Smoked Meats
Open Fire

Open-Fire & Smoked Meats

03

Beyond the hog - whole smoked brisket, ribs, and heritage cuts cooked on custom open-fire rigs. Bold smoke rings, bark-perfect finishes.

Private Events & Catering
Events

Private Events & Catering

04

Weddings, quinceañeras, corporate gatherings, and celebrations of every kind. We transform any venue into an unforgettable culinary theater.

People's Choice Award
Award Winner

People's Choice Award

05

Multiple People's Choice Award winner at regional festivals and competitions. Real votes from real BBQ fans - the crowd always comes back for seconds.

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Championships & Recognition

THE WINNINGEST PIG ROAST TEAM
IN SOUTH FLORIDA

From local festivals to the international circuit, La Porka Nostra has spent over 8 years collecting hardware and earning the respect of judges, pitmasters, and fans alike.

ICS Pig Roast

South Florida

1st Place Best Presentation
1st Place Best Skin
2nd Overall

South Beach Wine and Food - Tyler Florence, Masters of Fire

Miami Beach, FL

Grand Champion

Pig Roast Bowl - Military Edition

South Florida

1st Place Best Skin

ICS Pig Roast

South Florida

Grand Champion

Heritage Fire Tour

Austin, TX

Runner Up

Feast of the Beast with Hate Mondays

South Florida

1st Place People's Choice

Sarah Othon Pig Roast Challenge

South Florida

Grand Champion

ICS Pig Roast

South Florida

Grand Champion

ICS Pig Roast

South Florida

1st Place People's Choice

Pig Roast Bowl

South Florida

1st Place People's Choice
Grand Champion

PBA Pig Roast Competition

South Florida

3rd Place Overall

O.L.L. PigNic Challenge

South Florida

1st Place Best Skin

ICS Pig Roast

South Florida

1st Place Judges
2nd Place People's Choice

Tinez Farms Pig Roast Competition

South Florida

1st Place People's Choice

PBA Pig Roast Competition

South Florida

1st Place Best Presentation
Grand Champion

ICS Pig Roast

South Florida

1st Place Judges

MOC Pig Roast Competition

Ocala, FL

1st Place Best Skin
1st Place Presentation
1st Place Best Taste
Grand Champion

MOC Pig Roast Competition

Ocala, FL

1st Place Best Skin
1st Place Presentation
2nd Place Best Taste
Grand Champion

25+

Awards & Titles

18+

Competitions Entered

8

Grand Championships

50K+

Guests Fed

NOTABLE EVENTS

Heritage Fire Tour - Austin, Texas
Heritage Fire Tour - Miami, Florida
NBBQA Open Fire Championship - Nashville, Tennessee
FatOx Fest - Cave Creek, Arizona
Open Fire Meat Up - Hondo, Texas (2023–2026)
Open Fire Meat Up / Memphis in May - Memphis, Tennessee
Catalina Island Food Festival - Catalina Island, California
Smoke in the Valley - Edmonton, Canada
FIP Peru - Festival Internacional de Parrillas - Lima, Peru
"

We don't just roast pigs.
We create experiences, celebrate culture,
and deliver unforgettable flavor.

La Porka Nostra · Est. South Florida

BOOK YOUR EXPERIENCE
Event crowd
Fire and embers
Plated BBQ
Carving the hog
Competition night

What Your Guests Actually Witness

THE WHOLE HOG
EXPERIENCE

Five distinct moments at every La Porka Nostra event. Each one more shareable than the last.

The Arrival
The Arrival
01 / 05

Before the first guest arrives, the fire is already alive.

Ray and his team pull up hours before your event starts. The Smoked Cuban Whole Hog is set. Hardwood charcoal is lit. The hog - seasoned overnight in mojo criollo - goes in. The smoke is your first signal that something serious is happening.

Your guests will smell it before they see it.

1 of 5

Ready to give your event a story?

Every booking gets the full five-stage experience. No exceptions.

BOOK THE EXPERIENCE

In Motion

THE SHOWCASE

See the fire, hear the sizzle

Real moments from real events. No filters, no staging - just the raw energy of live-fire Cuban BBQ.

The Fire Pit

Flames dancing under the stars as the hog turns slow over glowing embers.

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The Fire Pit

Flames dancing under the stars as the hog turns slow over glowing embers.

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Slicing the Roast

Precision cuts revealing juicy, tender meat fresh off the pit.

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Slicing the Roast

Precision cuts revealing juicy, tender meat fresh off the pit.

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Whole Hog Glory

The centerpiece of every event - a whole roasted pig in all its glory.

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Whole Hog Glory

The centerpiece of every event - a whole roasted pig in all its glory.

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Event Atmosphere

Crowds, music, and the unmistakable aroma of Cuban craft BBQ in the air.

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Event Atmosphere

Crowds, music, and the unmistakable aroma of Cuban craft BBQ in the air.

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Common Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know about booking, pricing, guest counts, and the whole-hog experience in South Florida.

We recommend booking at least 4–6 weeks in advance for most events, and 8–12 weeks for peak season dates (holiday weekends, wedding season, and major South Florida festivals). Whole-hog roasts require early coordination due to sourcing, equipment transport, and fire-pit prep. For last-minute events, reach out - if we have availability, we'll make it work.

Our whole-hog roasts start at 50 guests and scale comfortably up to 500+. For events under 50, we offer a premium quarter-hog or family-style BBQ package. For large-scale festivals, corporate galas, and stadium events over 500 guests, we deploy multiple pits and an extended team. No event is too big or too small for championship-level craft.

Pricing depends on guest count, event type, travel distance from our base in South Florida, and service level (drop-off vs. full tableside carving experience). Our whole-hog packages typically start around $18–$25 per person for standard events, with premium packages available for weddings, corporate events, and competition-style presentations. Contact us for a custom quote - we respond within 24 hours.

We are based in South Florida and serve all of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties - including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Hialeah, Homestead, Boca Raton, and surrounding areas. For destination events across Florida and the Southeast, we travel with our mobile Cuban Lechon Asado rigs. Travel fees apply for events outside South Florida.

Absolutely. Weddings and quinceañeras are among our most requested event types. We adapt our whole-hog presentation to match the tone of your celebration - from formal plated service to a dramatic live carve reveal. Our team coordinates with your venue, event planner, and catering team to ensure the roast becomes a centerpiece of the night, not a logistical headache.

Yes - that is the entire point. We do not have a "show" recipe and an "event" recipe. The same mojo criollo, the same fire management, the same scoring technique that wins People's Choice trophies at sanctioned KCBS events is what your guests will taste at your party. That is why we are the most dominant whole-hog team in South Florida.

While whole-hog lechón is our signature, we also offer open-fire smoked brisket, heritage pork ribs, smoked chicken, and custom meat selections. These can be booked as add-ons to a whole-hog package or as standalone catering options. Every cut is prepared with the same 5th-generation Cuban craft and competition-level discipline.

We bring everything - the Roasted Pork roasting apparatus, charcoal, firewood, serving equipment, carving stations, and trained pit crew. All we need from your venue is a flat outdoor surface (at least 10x10 feet), access to power for lighting if needed, and a water source for cleanup. We handle setup, cooking, service, and full breakdown.

Still have a question? We respond within 24 hours.

ASK US DIRECTLY
Book Your Event

LET'S ROAST
TOGETHER

Whether it's an intimate backyard gathering, a grand wedding reception, or a championship cookoff - La Porka Nostra delivers the full Cuban BBQ experience. Fill out the form and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Location

South Florida, FL (Available Statewide)

Phone

+1 (786) 555-PORK

Email

ray@laporkanostra.com

BOOKING INQUIRY

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