A Guide to Cochon 555 in Miami, FL

In an effort to promote local family farming, Cochon555 will host its own culinary competition. Five notable chefs will be given one week to prepare a 200-pound pig and create six dishes to present to a panel of culinary experts and celebrity judges. Competitors will garner points based on the following categories: utilization, technique, and overall flavor. The winner of the competition will be crowned Miami’s Prince or Princess of Pork.

The event is dedicated to supporting family farmers and to educate buyers on the importance of getting behind the farm-to-table movement. With its culinary tour, those behind Cochon555 aim to educate the public on the importance of shopping for honest food from real farmers in an effort to positively influence the food system. The event’s funds will go towards their project, Piggy Bank, a farm in Missouri that serves as an example for new family farms and helps those victims of natural disasters such as fire, flood, and disease.

Attendees can enjoy a kaleidoscope of dishes, many with raised heritage breed pork as the central focus, as well as endless drinks from local bars in the area. Participating wineries include Silver Oak Cellars, Pax Wine Cellars, and Sandhi Wines. A signature cheese bar will be on site for dairy lovers as well as a tartare bar and wine pairing section. Another competition, the Somm Smackdown, will challenge participating sommeliers to a wine and pig pairing.

Cochon 555 will take place at 1 Hotel South Beach (2341 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach) on June 10 from 5 – 7:30 p.m. General admission begins at 5 p.m. for $130. VIP Access grants participants an extra experience that includes two preview dishes, as well as drinks from professional bartenders and specialty cocktails from Punch Kings. The VIP event will start at 4 p.m, passes are $200. Charitable donations for Piggy Bank are welcome.