Presented by Cochon555 US Tour
Five renowned Minneapolis chefs battled it out in a friendly competition for a cause at
Cochon555 last weekend, celebrating heritage breed pigs and the family farms
dedicated to their sustainable upbringing.
The competing chefs and their teams worked
tirelessly to prepare 30-plus dishes for the judges and a room full of more than 500 guests cheering
them on.
This year’s competing chefs included Timothy Fischer of Loews Minneapolis Cosmos
Restaurant, Scott K. Pampuch of 4 Bells, Jose Alarcon of Popol Vuh, Yia Vang of Union
Kitchen MN and Matéo Mackbee of Model Citizen the Restaurant.
He and his stellar team presented an inspired winning menu including: Bacon and Egg,
Pierogi Rib, Church Basement Sandwich, Smoked Brawn, Porchetta Pitivier and Apple
Mille Feuille. The winning plate showcased one whole pig: Gloucester Old Spot raised
by Spring Wolf Farms
.
Additionally, the event also featured five of the city’s hottest barkeeps and Punch King’s
chosen spirit: El Tesoro™ Blanco Tequila was the spotlight ingredient steeped with
tradition.
Wayne “Bueno” Roemhildt’s punch “Spring Fling” combined El Tesoro™
Blanco Tequila, Björk Birch Liqueur, The Perfect Purée Yuzu Luxe Sour, Rhubarb
Consommé and Brut Sparkling Wine.
Cochon555 also celebrated wine five noteable sommeliers competing in Somm
Smackdown, in which they each selected their favorite wine to pair with dishes
presented by the five competing chefs.
Nico Giraud of Lynhall took the trophy with his
selection, Emile Beyer, 2016 Riesling “Eichberg, Alsace Grand Cru Vineyard” from
Alsace, France.
Overall, Cochon555 and their partners helped raise more than $2,215 for Piggy Bank, a
charitable foundation and start-up farm in Missouri that serves as a kickstarter for
emerging family farms, as well as a safety net for farms in the wake of a disaster (flood,
fire and disease).
“The national competition gets more intense and dynamic every year, and the
performance of chefs, sommeliers, and barkeeps in Minneapolis shows precisely why
the city is synonymous with landscaping a responsible culinary excellence in this
country,” Cochon555 founder Brady Lowe said of the event.
“We can’t wait to have
Minneapolis’ finest in September for Grand Cochon where we will crown the King or
Queen of Pork.”
If you love chef competitions and must-do culinary experiences, endless wines and
spirits, making charitable donations and noshing on 30-plus chef-crafted dishes, then
don’t miss when this tour comes to your city. Up next are Miami on May 19 and LA on June 2.
Buy tickets to the nation’s most talked about culinary event and follow @Cochon555 on
Instagram to keep up with all of the excitement happening across the country.