Cochon 555 is the only heritage breed pig culinary competition in the U.S.

The touring event was created by Brady Lowe in response to the lack of consumer education around heritage breeds. In its third year, the tour brings together chefs, farmers, winemakers and food consumers at one tasting event. Since its inception in 2009, Cochon 555 has been produced by Lowe’s Taste Network. The event has donated over $30,000 to charity, and put over $75,000 in incremental revenue in the hands of farms.

Cities in 2011 have already included New York (January 23, 2011), Boston (January 30, 2011), and Seattle (February 20, 2011). Besides the Napa event this coming Sunday, on March 6, you can also attend the event in any of these other locations: DC, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Aspen. For more details about the events, visit Cochon 555, or follow @cochon555 on twitter.

The Third Annual Culinary Competition and Tasting Event comes to Napa on March 6, 2011, at 5:00 p.m.

3:30 p.m. ~ VIP opening
5:00 p.m. ~ general admission

More dates and locations:

Washington DC ~ March 13
Chicago ~ March 20
Denver ~ April 3
Los Angeles ~ May 1
New Orleans ~ May 28
San Francisco ~ June 5

The traveling culinary competition and tasting event features five chefs, five pigs, and five winemakers, to promote sustainable farming of heritage breed pigs. This Napa event is going to challenges five local chefs to prepare a menu created from heritage breed pigs, nose to tail, for an audience of pork-loving epicureans and local judges.

Just make sure that if you’re going to be attending this event, don’t have a scheduled cholesterol blood test for the next day, boys and girls.

This year’s Napa Cochon 555 will be held at the historic Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Guests will be able to sample pork dishes paired with wines from five different small wineries, including Pey-Marin Vineyards, Ladera Vineyards, Scholium Project, Domaine Serene, and K Vintners. In addition, attendees will vote for the “Prince or Princess of Porc.” The winning chefs will compete against other regional winners at the finale Grand Cochon, during the FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen, June 19, 2011. (I love Aspen’s food and wine event!)

The 2011 Napa competing chefs include Duskie Estes and John Stewart of Zazu, Dave Cruz of Ad Hoc, Curtis Di Fede and Tyler Rodde of Oenotri, Brandon Sharp of Solbar, and Charlie Parker of Plum.

TICKETS: General admission tickets start at $125.00 per person, and are available at www.cochon555.com. VIP tickets for $175 include a private tasting of select wines by Domaine Serene, Larkin, Zacherle, Cimmarossa, Chase, Signorello and more. Plus start the celebration early with artisan cheeses from Cheese Plus and a sustainable oyster station from Hog Island Oyster Company.