COCHON US TOUR & GOOSE ISLAND BEER CO. HUMBLY PRESENT COCHON555. Over 11 tons of heritage pork raised by family farms will be served across the country in a nose-to-tail touring culinary competition. In each city, five local 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 expert judges and guests of the event will vote for the city’s “Prince of Porc.” The winner from each city goes on to compete for top honors in the Grand Cochon at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen in June. The winner of the finale receives bragging rights as the “King or Queen of Porc” and a 4-day wine experience to Rioja, Spain’s most prominent wine region.

The weekend is action packed, starting with guest chef dinner on Friday, and on Saturday, Cochon 555 founder Brady Lowe will lead a public seminar with top charcuterists at the Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival at Chicago French Market. Don’t wait to buy tickets to the most epic pork feast to hit Chicago, space is limited and we will sell out early.

This year’s competing chefs include Tim Graham of Travelle, Abraham Conlon of Fat Rice, Giuseppe Tentori of GT Fish & Oyster, Cory Morris of Mercat a la Planxa and Ryan McCaskey of Acadia Restaurant. The five chefs, champions to the pig, will battle it out in a friendly competition by preparing a maximum of six dishes each created from one whole heritage breed pig to win votes from a crowd of hungry gourmands and celebrated judges. In celebration of the tour’s 6th anniversary, Rob Levitt of Butcher & Larder will butcher a pig for the audience, and Patrick Sheerin of Trenchermen will prepare an additional late-night sixth pig in an Asian Speakeasy style before dessert and the awards ceremony.

The 1,200+ pound showcase of heritage pig carved into 30 chef-prepared dishes will also include: The Goose Nest, an area featuring the Vintage Ales of Goose Island Beer Co. paired with Hudson Valley Foie Gras. Live butchering demonstration at the Pop-Up Butcher Shop, benefitting the students of Le Cordon Bleu with the support of Williams-Sonoma. Different ages of Prosciutto di Parma ranging between 14 and 30 months, sliced by a roaming Berkel and by hand off a bone-in leg. The event also features [5] five local barkeeps in the “Punch Kings” Competition presented by Breckenridge Bourbon barkeeps can sign-up here. A welcome cocktail from Four Roses Bourbon. The Bourbon Bar presented by Breadcrumb by Groupon featuring Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Breckenridge Bourbon, Hirsch, Templeton Rye, New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon and Luxardo. Libations include the portfolio of Crispin Ciders, Wines of Rioja, Colene Clemens Vineyards, Jordan Vineyard & Winery, New Holland Artisan Spirits, Barlow Vineyards, Silver Oak & Twomey Cellars, Cochon Rose, Chateau Nomad, and a Mezcal Bar featuring Fidencio and Mezcales de Leyenda. TarTare Bar featuring Creekstone Farms and Chef Rick Gresh of David Burke’s Primehouse. An artisan cheese bar with Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine featuring Rogue Creamery and La Brea Bakery. Swine & Sweets signature dessert course presented by James Beard Award-winning Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

There will be a special Cochon Chef’s Course dinner on Friday night at Sepia. Chef Andrew Zimmerman will welcome five renowned chefs for the dinner including Gerard Craft of Niche (STL), Chris Pandel of The Bristol, Rob Levitt of Butcher + Larder, and Cosmo Goss of Publican Quality Meats. The dinner begins with canapés designed by each of chef,  followed by a sit-down, six-course dinner with beverage pairings. For details visit the Chefs Course website.

The panel led by Brady Lowe at the Pastoral’s Artisan Producer Festival at Chicago French Market will take place on Saturday around 12:30 pm. Artisan producers will discuss traditional versus non-traditional methods of charcuterie, as well preservation of heritage breed pigs. The festival is free to public and includes artisan product sampling. Please click here for more details.

The COCHON 555 event is 100% inclusive and always on Sunday. 
Everyone is invited to visit www.cochon555.com/win and sign up for a chance to win more than $15,000 in prizes from our partners including a VIP trip to the Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival in New York City on May 3rd, a trip to the Aspen Food & Wine Classic to Celebrity Judge at Grand Cochon with Goose Island Beer Co., or a Dream Kitchen from Breville, a La Caja China from Williams-Sonoma, 2 VIP tickets to any Cochon event and a trip to Denver for the Punch Kings finale.