Start loading up on salads now, because this weekend, the epic annual pig-party Cochon 555 is coming to town with all of its whole-hog glory. The 10-city pork extravaganza is kicking off at the Lighthouse in Chelsea Piers this Sunday, and lo, there shall be swine.
The event pairs five chefs—in this case, Marc Forgione of Restaurant Marc Forgione, Bobby Hellen of Resto & The Cannibal, Ralf Kuettel of Trestle on Tenth, Shaunna Sargent of Betto, and Damon Wise of The Monkey Bar—with five sustainably farmed heritage pigs, with a challenge to cook the entire animal (snout-to-tail) for a huge swarm of people. The nationwide tour is set up competition-style, with 150 chefs eventually winnowing down to 10, who will compete at the Food & Wine Classic in Colorado in June. Ostensibly, the event is designed to teach more people about heritage breeds, though you'd be forgiven if you forget to take notes on your grease-stained butcher paper pad.
Tickets aren't exactly cheap ($125), but there will be a veritable moat of booze, 20 different pork dishes, a live butchering demo, various cured pork products, and the Prince or Princess of Porc (actual title) will be bestowed with a crown of guanciale (okay, we made that last part up, but still). Find out more and get your tickets, right this way.
