Cooking a whole pig (in this case, a 75- to 125-pounder, butterflied and with hair removed) in a backyard pit puts the neighborhood on notice: You’re taking the party to a new level with pig roasting.

Look for a local butcher for the highest-quality pork or check out your local farmers market. If you don’t see a pork vendor at the market, Dave Beran, chef and owner of Pasjoli in Santa Monica, ...

1. Clear an area of level ground of any combustible leaves or sticks. Lay out a two-layer base of blocks as shown. Build a fire inside the pit. After the coals have burned down, divide them into ...