Foodies unite for the COCHON555 return to Los Angeles on March 11th at the Viceroy Santa Monica. The Culinary conception has Five Chefs, Five Pigs, Five Winemakers, Five Somms, Five Barkeeps … all for ONE charity – Piggy Bank!
“The tour is about uplifting small, family farmers through epic culinary moments,” said founder Brady Lowe. “We create and restore connections between the farmer and chef who want to raise, source and serve food raised with purpose and passion. Together, through eating, we become stewards of the good food movement, motivate change and influence our food system from pasture to plate.”
Cochon555 is back on the road and it’s heading to the Viceroy Santa Monica that will be hosting this culinary delight on Sunday, March 11, 2018 with over a hundred prominent chefs, farmers, sommeliers, distillers, brewers and barkeeps celebrating heritage breed pork and local family farming. It’s whole pig cookery with no waste and chefs using their ability to transform dishes that will have you saying ‘souie’ in a bite size taste. Every chef has a 200 pound pig to make a dish to impress the judges and guests at the event and the winner will compete for the regional grand prize to be crowned the ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ of Pork and four day wine & gastronomy in Rioja, Spain. All of the winners will meet at the National Cochon where the best ‘Three Bites’ will compete ‘head to tail’ to be crowned King or Queen for 2018!
Tickets for general admission start at $130; VIP tickets (early admission + exclusive access to cocktail competition and allocated wines and spirits) are $200.
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
The ultimate aim 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. Every event is a fundraiser for Cochon555’s sister charity, Piggy Bank, 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).
Dishes for the competition are just the beginning — all in, we’re talking about 1,500 pounds of responsibly raised heritage breed pork – guests will also enjoy innovative preparations and cocktails from some of the most critically-acclaimed kitchens and bars in Los Angeles. The Welcome Lounge ushers guests in to the Buffalo Trace Punch Bar and our Signature Starter Bar and Cheese Experience spotlighting Cello, La Quercia, Cypress Grove and a local cheesemonger. Sip sparklers from Dry Soda and Topo Chico and experience craft cocktails including the Manhattan Project featuring premium bourbons from Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, and Breckenridge topped with Luxardo cherries. Learn about pairings at the TarTare Bar aligned to the wines of Antica Napa Valley, Rosé from Whispering Angel paired with organic pâtés and mousses from Les Trois Petits Cochons, a “Taste the City” culinary spotlight featuring the racy portfolio of Wines of Germany and an array of wines grouped under the “5 Winemakers” banner will feature Silver Oak; Pax Wine Cellars; Twomey Cellars and more. Cochon555 will debut a new experience called Trompo “Hora de Familia” in celebration of its first Global Cochon555 event in Mexico City later this year. Guests wanting a sweet bite will enjoy the Pop-Up Pie Shop presented by Mike’s Pies and Swine and Sweets, an innovative spin on dessert spotlighting notable pastry chefs working with Perfect Puree of Napa Valley.
Additionally, running in tandem with tour are a pair of internal competitions – Punch Kings, a whole-bottle punch bowl competition featuring Breckenridge Bourbon and five of the market’s top barkeeps, and Somm Smackdown, a face-off of the nation’s top sommeliers pairing the best wine with heritage pig. A portion of all event proceeds will also benefit the Piggy Bank initiative to support local farms.
About the Cochon555 US Tour
The Cochon555 US Tour executes a yearly host of authentic, hyper-local food events focused on raising awareness for heritage breed pigs through an innovative nose-to-tail pig cooking competition. This epic pork feast visits 15 major cities in North America annually. The tour is comprised of an array of live expressions and cultivates a long-term impact for heritage species. Both educational and inspirational messages are circulated among 16,000 guests; 2,200+ chefs; 150+ family farms; and culinary schools each year. Since 2009, 108,000+ consumers have experienced heritage pork for the first time, more than $1,100,000 has been donated to charities, and over $1,200,000 has been paid directly to our farmers. For more information, visit www.cochon555.com or follow @cochon555 on Twitter and Instagram.
About Piggy Bank
Launched in 2015, Piggy Bank is creating a farming sanctuary for heritage breed pigs, many of which are endangered. Piggy Bank will provide genetics and access to shared business plans for raising heritage pigs to emerging family farms. Piggy Bank aims to change the future of food by creating a community in which small farmers can learn about safer, more responsible practices and share genetics, livestock, and the very information needed to thrive as small businesses. Piggy Bank is building a model of socially responsible agricultural transparency. Piggy Bank proudly operates as a project of the Trust for Conservation Innovation, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization which accelerates impact for initiatives focused on protecting and fostering a healthy, sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. For more information or to donate, visit www.piggy-bank.org or follow @PiggyBankOrg on Twitter.
About Viceroy Santa Monica
Located on iconic Ocean Avenue, Viceroy Santa Monica embodies luxury California living at its finest. The property boasts 162 meticulously appointed guestrooms originally designed by internationally acclaimed designer Kelly Wearstler. Expansive executive suites updated by Dawson Design Associates offer sweeping ocean views. Enhanced by unique décor elements that blend hints of British colonial and lavish Regency style with modern materials and a bold color palette, as well as first-class amenities and unparalleled guest service, Viceroy Santa Monica provides visitors with a refined beachside experience unlike any other. On-site amenities include access to two plunge pools surrounded by chic cabanas offering privacy in style; CAST Lounge, an upscale and stylish nightlife destination with curated specialty cocktails in the hotel lobby; and a one-of-a-kind dining experience at CAST Restaurant, an acclaimed restaurant with a locally influenced menu utilizing seasonal and authentic flavors with distinct Los Angeles flare. If you would like to check out Viceroy Santa Monica on social media please use the relevant handles here: @viceroysm (Instagram), @ViceroySM (Twitter). For more information and to make a reservation, please visit www.viceroyhotelandresorts/en/santamonica or call (800) 622-8711.
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