March 25, 2018, Sunday - Cochon555 - Epic Culinary Competition at Loews Minneapolis

Time: 5 PM - 8 PM

Location:  Loews Minneapolis Hotel, 601 1st Avenue N

Cochon555 - Epic Culinary Competition at Loews Minneapolis

With an all-star cast of chefs who specialize in whole animal cooking paired with farmers responsibly raising delicious heritage breed pigs, Cochon555 returns to Minneapolis on March 25. The all-inclusive feast hosted by the beautiful Loews Minneapolis Hotel will feature a hundred-plus prominent chefs, farmers, sommeliers, distillers, brewers and barkeeps all working in concert to create luxurious moments that educate the palate. 

Cochon555 is proud to announce this year’s group of cutting-edge chefs from across the city, each cooking one whole heritage breed pig raised by a family farm. The competing chefs include Host Chef Tim Fischer of Loews Minneapolis Hotel, Daniel del Prado of Martina, Karyn Ann Tomlinson ofCorner Table, Russell Klein of Meritage, and Remy Pettus of BARDO. One week before the event, each chef receives a 200-pound heritage breed pig sustainably sourced from Hidden Stream Farm, Lucky George Farm, Spring Wolf Farms, YKer Acres, and Kerns Farm, respectively, to create a maximum of 6 dishes for competition. With dozens of bites from iconic local chefs, boutique distillers, and artisan winemakers, the event is akin to an epic tasting menu of heritage breed pork with endless beverage pairings enjoyed standing up.

To win the friendly competition for a cause, a chef’s menu must woo twenty celebrity judges with their “Judge’s Plate” scored on utilization; technique; and overall flavor and be voted “best bite of the day” by guests. The winning “Prince or Princess of Pork” in Minneapolis will advance to the national finale, Grand Cochon, a head-to-tail, winner-takes-all showdown for the crown in Chicago on September 30. Additionally, running in tandem are two satellite beverage competitions to complement the whole-animal tilt; Punch Kings, a whole bottle, large-format spirit competition featuring five top barkeeps in a hand-crafted punch challenge and Somm Smackdown, a face-off of five top sommeliers pairing the best wine with heritage pig.

Placing the spotlight on “knowing where your food comes from," each event features an educational whole animal butchery program called the Pop-Up Butcher Shop and Silent Auction to benefit charity. This year’s headlining all-star butcher is Scott Pampuch of Fulton Brewing. Together with gifts from chefs, sponsors and John Boos & Co., they will raise money to benefit 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). As an accelerator, Piggy Bank supplies piglets to small farms in exchange for business plans that are posted online in the name of transparent “open-source agriculture.”

At any given event, over a hundred-plus cooks, chefs, restaurant and bar owners, renowned sommeliers and barkeeps, can be found working in concert to create luxurious moments. We work with every type of restaurant and bar imaginable – from farm-to-table to Michelin star - and all participating chefs share one core value: they source products responsibly. If you like tasty pig, our goal is to buy the "best breeds" from farmers doing it the "right way". Your support benefits our foundation project, 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 (fire, flood, and disease). 

SIGNATURE FOOD EXPERIENCE: Over 1500 Pounds of Heritage Pig, 5 Chefs Cooking Whole Hog, Cocina De La Familia aka Asador de Pastor pop-up, Starter Bar with Cures, Pates and Foie, Signature Cheese Bar, Luxe Butter Bar, Tartare Bar w. Antica Wines, Royal Oak "Dirty Steaks" Tasting, Swine & Sweets w. Perfect Puree, and Mike's Pie Pop-Up Pie Shop.

ELEVATED DRINK: Buffalo Trace Welcome Lounge, Five Winemaker’s Table, Somm Smackdown (VIP only), Punch Kings (VIP only), The Manhattan Project, Smoked Old Fashioned, Antica Wines and Tartare Bar, Angostura Original Bitter's Bar, Heritage Rum Cart, Wines of Germany Culinary Pop-Up, Tiki Bar, Italian Wine Showcase, Arrangement of Dry Sparkling Sodas, Topo Chico Secret of Mexico, Hand-Crafted Beer & Cider.

VIP FOOD - An extra hour of extravagance without waiting in line. Chefs will serve a preview of two dishes during the first hour.

VIP BEVERAGE - The first hour includes five barkeeps in bourbon punch competition called Punch Kings and guests enjoy reserve and allocated wines and spirits.