Photos: Pigging Out at Cochon 555

Chochon 555, the annual touring swine soiree, came to town on Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton downtown, where five chefs competed for top boasting rights. Each of the chefs was assigned a heritage breed and the rest was up to them to come up with a series of small plates to...

By Westword Staff

March 10, 2015

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Chochon 555, the annual touring swine soiree, came to town on Sunday at the Ritz-Carlton downtown, where five chefs competed for top boasting rights. Each of the chefs was assigned a heritage breed and the rest was up to them to come up with a series of small plates to wow the judges. The competitors were Matt Vawter of Mercantile Dining & Provision with a Cone Ranch Berkshire, Kelly Whitaker of Basta and Cart-Driver with a Heritage Belle Farms Hereford, Chris Thompson of the Nickel with a McDonald Family Farm Duroc, John Little of Harman's Eat & Drink with a Rock Bottom Ranch Large Black, and Rich Byers of the Corner Office with a Cone Ranch Old Spot.

In the end, chef Matt Vawter walked away with the prize and will move on to the Grand Cochon in Aspen on June 21, where he'll compete agains the winners of Cochon 555 events held in several other cities. Photographer Brandon Marshall was there to capture the pig-out, which included butchering demonstrations from Kate Kavanaugh and Josh Curtiss of Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe, cocktails poured by bartenders from Ste. Ellie, Green Russell and Mercantile, and a cheese bar presented by Boulder's Cured.

For more photos, see our complete slideshow.

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