Chef Ray Garcia Wins Grand Cochon Title

Creekstone Farms was the official spotlight sponsor of the Beef TarTar Bar at each of the 10 cities on the 2014 Cochon Tour. In addition to bringing the beef in each of the 10 tour cities, Creekstone also served up Beef TarTar at the Grand Cochon event held during  the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen on June, 22.

The winner of the finale receives bragging rights as the “King or Queen of Porc” and a 4-day wine experience to Rioja, Spain’s most prominent wine region. The event included more than 30 chef dishes, butcher demos, reserve wines, craft brews, mixologists, artisan cocktails, mezcals, tar tare bar, and an award ceremony. The winning chef was chosen by the audience and a panel of 20 expert judges. 

This year, Chef Ray Garcia of Fig restaurant in Santa Monica was the big prize and was corwned the "King of Porc". His “Tacos el Ray” menu featured behuaraches (with shoulder, legs, fatback, serrano, green garlic and huitlacoche), chilaquiles (belly, head, blood, organs, tortilla, egg, jalapeño) and coctel (loin, heart, cueritos, tomato sauce, Saltines). 

Garcia had some tough competition from nine chefs from nine cities: Seamus Mullen of Tertulia (New York), José Mendin of Pubbelly (Miami), Dustin Valette of Dry Creek Kitchen (Napa), Jennifer Jasinski of Rioja (Denver), Erik Bruner-Yang of Maketto (Washington, D.C.), Mary Dumont of Harvest (Boston), Tim Graham of Travelle (Chicago), Richie Nakano of Hapa Ramen (San Francisco) and Douglas Rodriguez of STARR Restaurants (Philadelphia).

To learn more about the Grand Cochon event, please visit the official website at http://cochon555.com/2014-tour/grand-cochon/.