Cochon 555 Returns To Chicago Sunday
By Chuck Sudo in Food on Apr 26, 2012 3:20PM
Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist
Cochon 555, the national touring competition where competing chefs are given an heritage pig and told to use it to make as many dishes as they can, returns to the Four Seasons Hotel Sunday with a loaded lineup of local chefs vying for the title of Chicago's "Prince of Porc." The winner will compete in Cochon's national finals at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, Colo. in June.
The competing chefs include Girl & the Goat's Stephanie Izard, Mexique's Carlos Gaytan, Danny Grant of Ria and Balsan, Nightwood's Jason Vincent and Mike Sheerin of Three Floyds Brewpub and the upcoming Trenchermen. Each of these chefs knows how to break down a pig and make heavenly dishes with it. (I can still taste some of the dishes Izard made for an underground dinner at Girl & the Goat using a Kilgus Farms pig last month.) Cochon 555 is a judged competition with both local food notables and attendees voting for the "Prince of Porc." Given Izard's name recognition, this could be Izard's to lose.
The dishes will be paired with copious amounts of alcohol. Wines will be provided by Chase Cellars, Elk Cove, Buty, Yorba Wines and Scholium Project. The evening will also include wines from SALDO, Cornerstone Cellars and a blind tasting contest from Robert Kacher Selections. If that wasn't enough, beers from Anchor Brew, tastings of Chinaco Tequila, Three Floyds and the "Perfect Manhattan" Cochon 555 bar with Daniel Hyatt of Alembic SF featuring Templeton Rye, Hirsch, Angel's Envy, Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Hudson Whiskey's Baby Bourbon and Luxardo will be available. The Butcher and Larder's Rob Levitt will do a butchering demo, one guest will take home cookware through an interactive tasting contest with Andrew Zimmerman of Sepia and Le Creuset, and in a preview of Cochon’s new Labor Day event, Kevin Hickey of recently opened Allium at the Four Seasons Chicago serves a Heritage BBQ whole hog family meal.
Tickets to Cochon 555 aren't cheap but, given the sheer volume of food and drink to be had, are likely priced in line with similar events. General admission tickets start at $175 and can be purchased here.