Taiwan-style Pig Feet (台式滷豬腳, 豬腳麵線)

Here is another Taiwan-style dish.  Don't let the name throw you!  This is quite a delicacy in many ways, the taste, the texture, its use to cook a special birthday meal, ... (#TaiwanDish)

1. Get 2 pig feet from any Chinese market (1-2 lbs).  Ask the butcher in the meat department to cut the feet in half along its length, and then make cross-section cuts every 2-3".  It is also a good idea to use top half of a pork hock (with bone) that has more meat, to be boned after cooking, chilled, sliced and served cold.  Blanch the pieces for 2-3 minutes. Rinse the pieces thoroughly afterwards.  Immerse the pieces in water in a stew pot.  Note- Immerse halfway in water for more chewy result.
   
2.  Add the following into the stew pot: 1 Tbsp of Brown Sugar, 2 Tbsp of Rice Wine, 3 Tbsp of Fried Shallots (油蔥酥, see the left-most item in the picture to the right here, for product package), 3 Tbsp of Soy Sauce, 1 Stalk of Green Onion (cut into 2-3" segments), 4-5 Slices of Ginger, 3-4 Cloves of Garlic (Peel and Crush Slightly, no need to chop), 3 pieces of Star Anise.  Note- use Light Soy Sauce (生抽) for lighter colored result.
3. Bring the stew pot to boil and simmer for 2 hours (with the lid on). Monitor water level (to keep the pieces half-immersed in water), flip the pieces after an hour, if choosing halfway immersion at the beginning.
4. Turn off heat!  Add 1 Tbsp of Black Vinegar (aka Orient Worcestershire Sauce, 烏醋, see the middle item in the picture to the right here, for product package), 2 tsp of white pepper, 1 Tbsp of Dark Rice Wine (紹興酒, see the right-most item in the picture to the right here, for product package). Stir the pot, close the lid, and let the pot sit in residual heat for 30 minutes. Sprinkle cilantro on top (optional) and serve (either hot, or cold the next day). Here is a picture of the finished product.  Note- When served cold, prepare a dipping sauce with 3 Tbsp of meat sauce from the stew pot, 3 Tbsp of Thick Soy Sauce  (醬油膏), and 2-3 cloves of minced garlic.
   
5. (The Noodle for a Birthday, 豬腳麵線)  Cook some Thin noodle, add 2-3 spoonfuls of the sauce from Step 4 into the noodle (filter the sauce first), steam some of your favorite leafy vegetable, and place the pig feet pieces on top.  There you have it, the traditional birthday noodle is served!  If you prefer soupy noodle,  add some of the filtered sauce from Step 4 into boiling water (or chicken broth), season to taste with salt (add 1/4 tsp a time).  Then pour the soup on top of the noodle (please consider steaming the vegetable in the soup pot in this case).