Five talented Nashville chefs will face off at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel on Sunday, March 1 to battle for the title of “Prince or Princess of Pork” as part of the local stop on the national Cochon555 tour. Now in its 13th year, Cochon555 aims to promote heritage breed pigs, whole-animal butchery and cooking and sustainable farming practices by bringing together talented chefs, farmers, brewers, distillers and mixologists for a day of competitive cooking.
Beginning at 5:00 on March 1 (an hour earlier with VIP ticket purchase), guests will enter Loews Vanderbilt to sample dishes created using all parts of the pig by a talented cadre of chefs. Those competing in Nashville are: Chef Julio Hernandez of Nectar: Urban Cantina, Chef Kristin Beringson of Ellington’s, Chef Joey Molteni of Hathorne, Chef Patrick Gossett of Loews Vanderbilt Hotel and Chef Trey Cioccia of Black Rabbit. Each chef will receive a heritage breed pig sustainably sourced from Southern Natural Farms, Pig & Leaf Farm, Taylor Family Farm, J Stockton Farms and Wedge Oak Farm.
Patrons will vote for their favorite dish, and a panel of esteemed judges will pick an overall winner who will win the right to travel to the Grand Cochon competition to be held later this summer. The local Cochon555 event will also showcase an educational whole-animal butchery program organizers call the “Pop-Up Butcher Shop,” where attendees can experience a demonstration by talented meat cutters. They can also take part in a charitable silent auction, featuring gifts from the chefs and sponsors which will benefit the Nashville Food Project.
Other activities that evening include a cocktail and wine competitions which attendees can also take part in as judges. There are two levels of tickets now on sale at the Cochon555 website. General admission is $125 for entry at 5:00, while VIP ticket holders pay $60 more for entrance an hour earlier for the chance to get up close with the chefs as they prepare and plate their entries plus access to two special preview plates. Double up on your Lipitor and make plans to attend Cochon555 on March 1.
