Update: This little piggy went to Harry’s Pizzeria… Winning hog farmer Jim Wood’s Herefords will be front and center on tomorrow night’s Greenhouse Pizzeria menu. Festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. Purchase tickets now while they are still available, by clicking here.
Hipstamatic is even on the Cochon 555 brandwagon. (photo credit: Ellie Sara Groden)
We are SO friggin’ proud of Michael and chef de Cuisine Bradley Herron for their insane judge’s plate and overall creativity of the entire menu and its presentation, including Godzilla pork rinds, tatts, and all, at last night’s Cochon 555 event in Miami. A Hereford-at-hanging-weight-sized congratulations to chef Michelle Bernstein, chef de cuisine Bernice Dearaujo, GM Jorge Anaya-Lopez, and the entire SRA. Martinez team on their victory which we are especially thrilled could be shared with one of our favorite local farmers, Jim Wood and his wife Debbie of Palmetto Creek Farms in Avon Park. They, along with our Texan Ossabaw farmer Felix Florez of Black Hill Meats, donated hogs and were in attendance at the Four Seasons Brickell to celebrate and in doing so, support and promote heritage pork. From the energy in the room and the smiles on people’s faces, the message was received loud, fatty, and clear. Hosted by founder Brady Lowe, Cochon 555 is an annual tour of five cities wherein each compete five chefs using five pigs bred by small, family or local operations, with five wineries and some other really top-notch sponsors of product you want to consume like beers from San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing, Murray’s Cheese, Le Creuset, Rappahannock oysters, and Angel’s Evy (among other) bourbon.
Our judge's pig plate.
From Bradley’s mustard with smoked sausage en croute, to Michael’s BLT which was one of the best ever thanks to our fatty pig, #teamgenuine’s menu was one we and many others will be drooling over for a long time! A sweet assist from Hedy Goldsmith is never to be forgotten, with her Maple Bacon Peacan Pie (with smoked pecans, housemade creme fraiche, candied bacon toffee, and bourbon chocolate sauce!) MGFD line cook Jason Aroyo supported by Alex Griffin professionally led the team of helpers from J&W to crank this baby out efficiently and deliciously. A special shout goes to the incredibly gifted typewriter (a human machine, I kid you not), photographer, and ”Old Pal” pourer Ellie Sara Groden. Check out her (better iPhone) and my (worse BlackBerry) photos of what went down downtown last night here. Hope to see Brady’s crew descend on The City Beautiful next year, and good luck to team Bernstein in Aspen on 6/17. We’ll have our own Animals to contend with at Harry’s!
