With an all-star cast of chefs who specialize in whole animal cooking paired with farmers responsibly raising delicious heritage breed pigs, Cochon555 returns to Miami on Sunday, May 19th. This year’s competing chefs include Jorgie Ramos of BARLEY; Karla Hoyos of The Bazaar by Jose Andres; Daniel Bouza of PokéBao; Fernando Desa of Goya; and Jimmy Lebron of 27 Restaurant & Bar.

One week before the event, each chef will receive a 200-pound heritage breed pig sustainably sourced from a family farm to start preparing their six pork dishes for the event. To win the friendly competition for a cause, the chef’s menu must woo 14 celebrity judges with their “Judge’s Plate” scored on utilization, technique, overall flavor, and be voted “Best Bite of the Day” by guests. The winning “Prince or Princess of Pork” in Miami will advance to the national finale, Grand Cochon, a head-to-tail, winner-take-all showdown for the ultimate crown in Chicago on September 15, 2019.

Each event also features an educational whole animal butchery program called the Pop-Up Butcher Shop and a charitable Silent Auction. This year’s headlining all-star butcher will be Andres Barrientos of Miami Smokers. Additionally, running in tandem are two satellite beverage competitions to complement the whole-animal tilt; Punch Kings presented by El Tesoro Tequila, a whole bottle, large-format spirit competition featuring five top barkeeps in a hand-crafted punch challenge and Somm Smackdown, a face-off of five top sommeliers pairing the best wine with heritage pig.

The whole event is in support of Piggy Bank, a start-up farm in Missouri that serves as a kickstarter for new family farms and a safety net for those in the wake of disaster (flood, fire and disease). At its core, Cochon555 aims to create moments of inspiration, and to engender discussion and action – to buy, to cook, shop and donate in the name of safe, honest, and delicious food. For an in-depth look at the Cochon555 movement and to purchase tickets, visit https://cochon555.com/us-tour/2019-miami/