Grand Cochon at the Classic

10 Chefs, 10 Pigs, 1 Crown at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

2012 COCHON 555 US TOUR FINALE
Sunday, June 17, 3:30 p.m.

Hotel Jerome, Main Street

Please call 888.649.5982 for passes or Purchase Tickets Here. The event is open all food enthusiasts wishing to purchase a ticket.

COCHON 555, a national culinary competition promoting heritage breed pigs, announces its finale event, Grand Cochon, at this year’s 30th Annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen. On June 17 in Aspen, Colorado, winners from the 10-city tasting tour will prepare a ‘snout -to-tail’ menu created from heritage breed pigs. Chefs will each prepare dishes from a whole heritage-breed pig in this “head to toe” competition. The winner is determined by 500 guests and a panel of 20 esteemed judges.

The event includes over thirty winning chef dishes from around the country, butcher demos, reserve wines, artisan cocktails, pig infused desserts and the award ceremony. Enjoy the coveted of California's West Sonoma Coast Vintners including Hirsch, Littorai, Lioco, Failla, Fort Ross, Boheme, Peay, Freeman, Miner Vineyards, plus Laurent Perrier, Elk Cove Vineyards, Sokol Blosser, Franciscan, Robert Kacher Selections and SALDO. Libations include beers from Anchor Brew, tastings of Chinaco Tequila, the "Perfect Manhattan" Cochon 555 bar featuring Templeton Rye, Hirsch, Angel's Envy, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Hudson Whiskey's Baby Bourbon and Luxardo. Ole Smokey Moonshine Distillery will be mixing up cocktails with Micheal Martensen, Mixologist of Cedars Social. A special engagement in VIP includes sustainable oysters from Rappahannock Oyster Company, cures from Blackberry Farm and artisan cheeses. Presenting sponsor Le Creuset will have a five ingredient challenge where guests have the opportunity to walk home with cookware. Special thanks to our sponsors, FedEx, Food & Wine Magazine and Cascal.

To start the awards ceremony, we host a 25th anniversary champagne toast to the James Beard Foundation, sponsored by Laurent-Perrier Champagne, now celebrating its 200th year.  Attendees don't forget that everyone votes for the "Best Bite of the Day" before we combine the consumer votes (51%) with the technical score from the local judges (49%) and announce one chef as the 2012 “King or Queen of Porc”. The Grand Prize is an invitation to Blackberry Farm in 2013 for a showcase weekend in addition to a Signature COCHON 555 Cookware set only available from Le Creuset.

Chefs Confirmed for Grand Cochon presented by Grand Cochon
Marc Forgione of Restaurant Marc Forgione (NYC)

Lars Kronmark of the Culinary Institute of America (NAPA)
Kelly English of Restaurant Iris  (MEM)
Naomi Pomeroy of Beast (PDX)
Jamie Bissonette of Coppa (BOS)
Michelle Bernstein of Michy's & Sra. Martinez (MIA)
Scott Drewno of The Source by Wolfgang Puck (DC)
Jason Vincent of Nightwood (CHI)
Ben Ford of Ford's Filling Station (LA)
Chef #10 (SF) tba May 20

Tickets for Grand Cochon, presented by Le Creuset, start at $150 per person for general admission;  $200 for VIP, which includes one hour early access to sample dishes from [6] of the competing chef stations, welcome cocktails from The King's Ginger, artisan cheeses, and Rappahannock Oyster Company serving Stingrays, Olde Salts and Rappahannock Rivers. Enter for a chance to win a year supply of meat and cheese from Cochon 555 and Murray's Cheese. To see upcoming announcements, sponsor additions, and menus from the participating chefs, visit the website, the Facebook page, or look for updates at twitter.com/cochon555.