Tag Archives: pork

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Fourth Annual Cochon 555 Comes to DC

Photo courtesy of bonappetitfoodie
Pork at Cochon
courtesy of bonappetitfoodie

The pork craze on the food scene may have quieted down a little bit, but that probably doesn’t (and shouldn’t) change anyone’s feelings about bacon, pork rinds, pork loin or any other delicious part of the hog. So to get quell your pork cravings, Cochon 555 is making its fourth annual stop in DC on April 22nd at The Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel.

This year’s competing chef lineup includes last year’s DC “prince of porc,” Scott Drewno from The Source by Wolfgang Puck, returning competitor Ed Witt from 701 Restaurant, as well as new competitors Mike Isabella from Graffiato, Wes Morton from Art and Soul, and Nicholas Stefanelli from Bibiana. The way it works is all five chefs prepare dishes using parts of heritage breed pigs from snout to tail, and you, dear attendee, get to feast on all of it. When all is said and done, one of our DC chefs will go on to compete against other chefs from around the country at the Grand Cochon event at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen in June.

Additionally, you’ll get to sample wines from five family wineries, as well as beers from Anchor Brewing and other spirits.   And just in case the dishes from the competition weren’t enough for you, Bourbon Steak’s Adam Sobel will be preparing a whole BBQ hog–you know, just in case you feel peckish. Those of you who enjoy wielding knives and playing Iron Chef in your kitchen when no one’s looking can check out a butchering demo from Wagshal Market’s Pamela Ginsberg.

Tickets can be purchased online for $125 per person or $200 for VIP tickets with early admission at 4 PM and access to “welcome cocktails” and oysters from Rappahannock River Oysters, LLC. The 2012 Cochon 555 in DC starts at 5 PM on Sunday, April 22nd at The Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel.

Food and Drink, Foodie Roundup, The Features
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Predictions for Food Trends in 2012

Photo courtesy of philliefan99
opening wide
courtesy of philliefan99

With 2011 and the year of the burger now behind us, the food team’s mouths are already watering and we’re looking ahead at what 2012 will bring to our plates. Our team, comprised of myself, Tricia and Natalia (our newest addition to the team!) all brainstormed about what we think will be all the rage in the new year when it comes to food.

Find our full list of predictions after the jump.
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Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Cook like a Pro: Learn to Roast a Whole Pig at BLT Steak

Photo courtesy of
‘The main entree – pig’
courtesy of ‘wfyurasko’

It’s not every day that you get to roast an entire pig, and frankly, it seems like a daunting task. But this weekend executive chef Victor Albisu of BLT Steak can break it down for you, as well as show you how to break down the whole hog.

The April 23rd class will run from 12:30 until 3 PM and is $100 per person. The class includes a four-course lunch and cooking demonstration. At the end, you get to feast on lechon asado, whole roasted suckling pig, crispy pig ears and artichokes, a valencia salad with Iberico ham and a chorizo stuffed pork loin. In hog heaven, yet?

To snag a spot, you can make reservations with Erica Frank at 202-689-8989 or email her at erica@bltrestaurants.com. Enjoy the Saturday afternoon literally “pigging out.”

The Daily Feed
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Recapping COCHON 555

Photo courtesy of
‘Pork at Cochon’
courtesy of ‘bonappetitfoodie’

Sunday afternoon the smell of roasting pork bits was wafting through the Newseum as five chefs competed to win at Cochon 555. After rounds of pulled pork, pork rinds, pork infused cocktails, pork belly, pork shoulder, and every other pork concoction and confection you can think of, The Source’s executive chef, Scott Drewno, was crowned the prince of pork. Drewno will go on to compete at Grand Cochon in Aspen this June.

Competing chefs also included Tarver King of Ashby Inn and Restaurant, Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar, Adam Sobel of Bourbon Steak and Bryan Voltaggio of Volt. Additionally, Jason Belleau of Whole Foods Market and Pamela Ginsberg of Wagshal’s Market went head to head in a butchering competition that involved a lot of sawing and slinging of every single piece of the pig.

Five wineries from around the country were represented at Cochon, however, there were plenty of pork-inspired cocktails, including a martini with olives stuffed with pickled pig knuckle from Sobel, bourbon cider with pork pearls from Drewno and a smoked ham cream soda from Voltaggio.

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Food and Drink, Special Events, The DC 100, The Features
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DC Omnivore 100: #19 Steamed Pork Buns

Photo courtesy of
’04 Small Steamed Pork Buns’
courtesy of ‘jasonlam’

It’s time for another item on the DC Omnivore 100 list of the top one hundred foods every good omnivore should try at least once in their lives.

In the spirit of the recent Chinese Lunar New Year and the Year of the Tiger celebrations, let’s explore the sweet, doughy, BBQ-esque goodness of steamed pork buns. In China, these roll sized delights are regularly consumed street cart food and are also a staple of the traditional Chinese family gathering of dim sum.

The bun’s exterior and its steaming bamboo container might have you thinking that this is just another dumpling. And while you’d be right, this is a dumpling, the steamed pork bun offers a sticky, rich, doughy and savory experience that starkly differs from the clean and fresh taste of shumai and the nutty flavorings of potstickers. Continue reading →