The Mile High City has new royalty in the kingdom of swine: Chef-restaurateur Troy Guard has been crowned this year’s Prince of Porc in the Denver leg of the Cochon555 festival.
is a traveling event that raises funds and awareness for the preservation of heritage hog breeds.
Along with Guard, contestants at the epic pork feast included Nelson Perkins of Colt & Gray, Franco Ruiz of Fruition Restaurant, Robert Andreozzi of and Paul C. Reilly of .
The chefs prepared dishes in a nose-to-tail showcase for pork-loving diners, using heritage pigs from family farms.
Guard won the event with a Meishan breed of pig raised by Jersey Girl Milk Shares. Originating in China, the breed produces a darker meat with an intense flavor.
Among his winning dishes were chicharron canoli, a pig head pastrami a roast pork congee using smoked pork belly, and a crispy shank and offal taco.
Guard will compete in Aspen-Snowmass on June 18 in the Cochon555 finale, a winner-take-all event featuring 10 champion chefs from 10 cities.
Proceeds from the contest, formally dubbed the Cochon555 U.S. Tour and Taste Network, benefit the . Launched in 2015, Piggy Bank’s mission is to create a breeding sactuary for heritage pigs that offers free genetics and business plans to up-and-coming family farms.
The Denver event raised more than $5,800 for the Piggy Bank.
William Porter: 303-954-1877, wporter@denverpost.com or @williamporterdp
