Film lovers have the Academy Awards, music lovers have the Grammys, and those of us obsessed with swine have Cochon 555, which FINALLY comes to Los Angeles this Sunday!
Cochon 555′s Mission Statement:
“Cochon 555 is a one-of-a-kind traveling culinary competition and tasting event–five chefs, five pigs, five wine makers–to promote sustainable farming of heritage breed pigs. Each stop along the ten-city tour offers hard-working local farmers the opportunity to connect with like-minded agriculturalists, renowned chefs and the pork-loving public. Our goal is to help family farms sustain and expand their businesses and to encourage breed diversity. Cochon 555 is the only heritage breed pig culinary competition in the country.” more about Cochon 555
Cochon 555 – Los Angeles, May 1, 2010
The Five Chefs:
Octavio Becerra – Palate Food & Wine
Chad Colby – Mozza
Tim Goodell – Public Kitchen & Bar
Ben Ford – Ford’s Filling Station
Joshua Whigham – The Bazaar
The Five Pigs:
Spotted Poland – Hopkins Hog Farmvia Tender Belly
Hampshire – Hopkins Hog Farmvia Tender Belly
Berkshire – ReRide Ranch
Hereford – Hopkins Hog Farmvia Tender Belly
Red Wattle – Walnut Keep Farm & Vineyard
The Five Wines:
The Scholium Project
Alysian
Arnot-Roberts
Copain Wines
Red Car Wine
An added bonus… My friends at Lindy & Grundy will be doing a butchering demo in the VIP lounge! (more info below)
Photos – Cochon 555 Napa 2010
Last year my good friend Charles Thompson and I trekked to Napa for a pork showdown with five of the areas most acclaimed chefs including: Christopher Kostow (Meadowood of Napa Valley), Devin Knell (French Laundry) the WINNER, Peter Pahk (Silverado Resort), Dennis Lee (Namu Restaurant SF) and John Stewart & Duskie Estes (Zazu Restaurant).
Charles is friends with John and Duskie (who actually won the Napa event this year), so although we tried each of the chef’s offerings, we kept returning to the Zazu table where I happily tried delicious pig heart for the first time.
Bacon centerpieces at the VIP pre-party… And yes… we ate them!
Chicks with meat cruised the VIP pre-party
More chicks with meat!
Crispy Pig Skin of course!
Pork Fries by Chef Chris Kostow (Meadowood)
Pork Sausage by Chef Chris Kostow (Meadowood)
Pig Heart in Lettuce Cup by Zazu (Duskie Estes and John Stewart)
Cotecchino & Black Lentils by Zazu (Duskie Estes and John Stewart)
Corn Dogs w Guinness Mustard by Zazu (Duskie Estes and John Stewart)
Pork Cheek Sliders with Johnny’s Kimchi by Zazu (Duskie Estes and John Stewart)
Bites from the French Laundry including Pate on Pistachio
Cheeses
French Laundry’s Ham Hock
Porked Out!
Many more photos here, including PIG butchering (not for the squeamish!)
