Grand Cochon Returns to Colorado Along with Heritage Fire

For those crestfallen pig lovers still mourning over the loss of the toothsome tastes of Cochon 555 that came and went this March, there are good news: Grand Cochon is just around the corner and it comes with a bonus multi-event festival named Heritage Fire. The two day outdoor food and wine festival will take place in Snowmass on Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. The festivities coincide with the  Aspen FOOD and WINE Classic.

On Friday, June 19, Heritage Fire will showcase more than 45 chefs and butchers from Colorado who will cook alongside a number of top chefs from all over the country. Some 3,000 lbs. of heritage breed animals, including dry-aged beef from Creekstone Farms, whole pigs, lambs, goat, lobster, rabbit, squab, duck, and chicken will be prepared in the name of celebrating breed diversity and family farming.

The meaty celebration does not stop there. Guests will enjoy butcher demonstrations, animal theater cooking, specialty cocktail pairings, and pop-up demos from Darren Brass and Jose Santiago of Miami Ink tattooing heritage breed hams. The 10 barkeep finalists from Punch King's Last Call presented by Breckenridge Bourbon will also be recreating their award winning Breckenridge Bourbon Punch for a chance to win the national title.

Grand Cochon, the finale of the sixth national tour of Cochon 555, will take place on Saturday, June 20. Ten chefs, the winners of the local competitions hosted this year, will battle it out for the title of King or Queen of Porc. They include Denver's winner Matt Vawter of Mercantile Dining & Provision, Walter Manzke of Republique in Los Angeles, and Francis Derby of the Cannibal in New York City.

General admissions tickets for Grand Cochon can be purchased online for $155.96 or $208 for VIP. To attend Friday's festivities only, guests can purchase tickets for $105.95. Two-day discount passes for both events cost $220.