He will represent the Magic City at Grand Cochon in Chicago on September 15

With an afternoon that included nearly 600 people, The Biltmore Hotel {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 855.454.0196}, 1,500 pounds of heritage breed pork raised on family farms, five competing chefs, a mixology competition, music by DJ Zima, and a sommelier “Somm Smackdown,” it’s safe to say that this year’s Cochon555 Miami was a success.

The main part of the event was the culinary competition, where contestants presented 30+ dishes (six from each chef), all made with one key ingredient: heritage breed pig. The five competing chefs were: Jorgie Ramos of BARLEY, Karla Hoyos of The Bazaar by Jose Andrés, Fernando Desa of Goya, Daniel Bouza of PokéBao, and Jimmy Lebron of 27 Restaurant & Bar. Using a Duroc/Berkshire/Chester White Cross Pig from Miami Purveyors, Chef Jorgie Ramos was named the “Prince of Pork.” His dishes? A mouthwatering menu that included Head & Trotters Croquetas with caramelized onions and brain soubise; Abuelas Empanada Gallega with chorizo, green peas, onion, relish, and patatas sofrito; Masa De Puerco with pineapple escabeche, avocado, red onion, Serrano peppers, and herbs; Butifarra Tortellini with sofrito fumet, sweet plantains, chorizo, yuca mofongo, and greens; La Caja China with frijoles negro, smoked manteca, and herbed yogurt; and Natilla Cubana with salted pork caramel, whipped pork lard merengue, and sugared chicharron.

Cochon555 also hosted two beverage competitions this year: Punch Kings presented by El Tesoro Tequila and the Somm Smackdown presented by Wines of Bordeaux and Germany. The first, a spirit competition that challenged five top barkeeps to make a whole-bottle punch for a panel of six notable judges, crowned Arleen Delima of Repour the winner. Her drink, “¡No pare, sigue, sigue!”, combined a whole bottle of El Tesoro™ Blanco Tequila with a pineapple shrub-tepache mix, fresh lemon juice, agave syrup and Xocolatl Mole Bitters. The Somm Smackdown presented by Wines of Bordeaux and Germany invited five top Miami sommeliers to select a favorite wine to pair with the dishes the competing chefs created. The competition was fierce—it involved Kirsta Grauberger of FallBall Group, Joseph Gewarges of Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Jen Schmitt of Zuma, Jacqueline Coleman of Biscayne Times and Let’s Eat Magazine, and Daniel Toral of 50 Eggs Hospitality Inc. Toral took home the trophy with his Kiralyudvar, 2016 Sparkling Furmint from Tokaji, Hungary and his Enderle & Mall, 2016 “Liaison” Pinot Noir from Baden, Germany.

Between the competing chefs, local Miami vendors, sweet surprises, and more, guests of Cochon555 had 40+ dishes to try, all paired with endless wines and handcrafted cocktails. Cochon555 Founder Brady Lowe bestowed the regional title to Chef Ramos—who will represent Miami at the national finale, Grand Cochon, on September 15, 2019 in Chicago.

Happy dining!

By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor