Cochon 555 Trots in National Competition to LA, March 11

(Gerry Furth-Sides) Cochon555, the premium food, wine and spirit celebration and live-event series, returns to LA on Sunday, March 11, 2018, at the Viceroy Hotel, Santa Monica.  It is the comprehensive celebration of the pig!  We have been honored guests the past two years. For more information, visitwww.cochon555.com or follow @cochon555 on Twitter and Instagram.

For more details on the actual party, please see:  //localfoodeater.com/this-whole-piggy-starred-in-a-wow-charity-competition-party/

Over one hundred prominent chefs, farmers, sommeliers, distillers, brewers, and barkeeps work together seamlessly to create the best of the best and most exuberant stand-up party. It is an astonishing ” all-inclusive bacchanal celebration of tasty heritage breed pork.”

The name translates to Five chefs.  Five pigs.  Five winemakers.  Five Somms and five barkeeps — all for one charity, read the promotion. And so importantly: The creators of the series aim to engender discussion and action – to buy, cook, shop and donate in the name of safe, honest, and delicious food.

Tickets for general admission start at $130; VIP tickets (early admission + exclusive access to cocktail competition and allocated wines and spirits) are $200.

It adds up to each guests enjoying five total “pork plates” and a number of “extras” which in past years included La Brea Bakery baked goods and pastries and desserts from the Four Seasons Beverly Regent pastry chefs.  It is a great introduction to the culinary skills of five of LA’s finest chefs, or a reintroduction to them in a new way.

 

The competition part of the day is so much fun and informative because Cochon555 is a culinary competition promoting local family farming and whole pig cookery through the eyes of five notable chefs. Each tasked with the goal to win votes from notable judges, chefs have one week to prepare a 200-pound pig and present a “Judge’s Plate” scored on utilization; technique; and overall flavor.

The winner of the regional competition is announced as “the Prince or Princess of Pork” and earns an amazing 4-day wine and gastronomy experience in Rioja, Spain’s most prominent wine region. They also advance to the national finale, Grand Cochon, where the  ‘Best 3 Bites’ from all Cochon555 regional events will be presented in a head-to-tail, winner-takes-all showdown for the crown.

And “at the end of the day,” at each Cochon 555 events, entire pigs are up for sale.  This part of the fundraiser, along with ticket sales, benefits Cochon555’s sister charity, Piggy Bank.  Piggy Bank is a start-up farm in Missouri that serves as a Kickstarter for new family farms and a safety net for those in the wake of a disaster (flood, fire, and disease).

The takeaway and the mission of Cochon555 is to provide education to chefs and consumers and to create experiences that guests can sink their teeth into honest food from real farmers. Through education, the Cochon555’s goal is to raise the bar on building a sustainable and profitable relationship for brands and chefs participating in culinary festivals.

  

Where:           Viceroy Santa Monica 1819 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

When:              Sunday, March 11, 2018

Time:               4 p.m. for VIP entry, 5 p.m. for General Admission

 

For more information and to make a reservation, please visit www.viceroyhotelandresorts/en/santamonica or call (800) 622-8711.

 For more information or to donate, visitwww.piggy-bank.org or follow @PiggyBankOrg on Twitter. Watch the video//j.mp/PIGGY_BANK.