WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S FIRST GLOBAL BBQ TASTING!!! Similar to Cochon 555, Heritage BBQ presented by Goose Island Beer Co. is an all-inclusive event, a stand-up tasting where five notable chefs will each be given a 200 pound heritage breed pig to create six dishes for a crowd of pork-loving enthusiasts. A panel of 20 respected judges will vote for the city’s “BBQ King.” The events raise awareness for responsible family farms, culinary schools, local food producers, craft brewers, great winemakers, and prestigious distillers wanting to celebrate with an amazing food event during National Bourbon Month. The cause is local, the flavors are global, the talent is unbridled…

THIS YEAR’S COMPETING CHEFS include Daniel Olivella of Barlata, Ned Elliott of Foreign & Domestic, Dustin Harvey and Paul Qui of East Side King, Justin Yu of Oxheart (Houston), and Mat Clouser & Zack Northcutt of Swift’s Attic. Each chef will be given a 200 pound heritage breed pig to create six dishes for a crowd of pork-loving enthusiasts. Host Executive Chef Thomas Riordan of W Austin will lead the panel of 20 respected judges in selecting Austin’s “BBQ King.”

In addition to the five-chef competition, the event will feature a lineup of notable Texas chefs participating in our “BBQ Traditions” series, where each chef prepares one dish from their favorite global BBQ culture. This year will kick off in a Texas-style BBQ with Felix Flores of Black Hill Meats and Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ, presented by Anakota Wines. Additionally, Heritage BBQ partner Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to sponsor Houston chef Ronnie Killen of Killen’s BBQ, who will prepare Texas-style beef ribs. Additional Houston chefs include Phillipe Gaston of Kata Robata, who will provide Japanese BBQ bites, and Jordan Asher of Dosi Restaurant + Soju Bar, who will cook up Korean-style. Guests will also enjoy Satay from James Zoller of TRACE, an Argentinian dish from Josh Jones of Salt & Time, a take on Lexington BBQ from Harold Marmulstein of Salty Sow and “Welcome Ribs” from Shane Stiles of Stiles Switch provided by Berkwood Berkshire Farms.

Guests will learn about global BBQ-styles such as Braai from Africa, Char Siu from China, Lechonera from Puerto Rico, Churrasco from Brazil or Barbacoa from Mexico, as well as regional American BBQ styles in an edible education on the finest social tradition in human history. The Heritage BBQ tour motivates grilling communities worldwide to support local food producers, and to break ground on a new hyper-local, globally-themed BBQ culture. To access an online directory of BBQ Traditions from around the world, click here.

“THIS IS THE NEW Q that celebrates hundreds of grilling – and smoking -traditions from around the world. We are on a mission to redefine BBQ as social eating, the act of gathering around fire, making friends and eating responsibly-raised animals. Together we work around the clock to preserve timeless family traditions from all over the globe. The bottom line is to host an event that develops the conversation of local food and heritage pigs, thus creating long-term growth, jobs on farms and better food choices for the future,” explains Brady Lowe, founder of Cochon 555. “We are passionate about promoting food sources that support a more natural, sustainable food system, and for the first time we are excited to announce Goose Island Beer Co. as a presenting sponsor of the Heritage BBQ series.”

ABOUT HERITAGE BBQ
Started in 2012 in an effort to bridge the gap between family farms and all categories of BBQ restaurants, Heritage BBQ by Cochon 555, is the first national BBQ competition dedicated to supporting a new direction for heritage breed pigs by expanding the conversation to a global economy. Created by Cochon 555 Founder Brady Lowe, Heritage BBQ engages existing BBQ restaurants in the local and sustainable food conversation taking place nationwide while simultaneously breaking ground on a new hyper-local, globally-themed, farm-supporting BBQ.

ABOUT COCHON 555 & THE US TOUR

Created in 2009 by Taste Network’s Brady Lowe in response to the lack of consumer education around heritage breeds. The tour is a national event series that takes place in 20 major markets annually. In addition to Cochon 555, the brand offers an extended family of events each year with national followings including Heritage Fire, EPIC Cochon, All-Star Cochon and Cochon Island. Since launching, the tour now serves over 10,000 guests annually and works with over 1,500 pioneers all supporting a better food system and continues to create an impact on local agriculture by amplifying the conversation of heritage breed pigs through consumption.