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New Award-Winning Chefs Added to All-Star Cochon Lineup at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and Cochon have announced the addition of three rising star chefs to the stellar culinary lineup of chefs and butchers at the inaugural All-Star Cochon on July 24. Alex Seidel of Fruition (Denver), winner of this year’s Denver Cochon 555, Jamie Bissonette of Coppa (Boston), winner of 2011 People’s Best New Chef, and Stephanie Izard of The Girl & The Goat (Chicago), winner of Top Chef (2008), round out the elite team.

Previously announced participating chefs and butchers also include Joshua Applestone of Fleisher’s Meats (NY), Mary Dumont of Harvest (Boston), the 2011 “King & Queen of Porc” Duskie Estes & John Stewart of Zazu (Sonoma), Ryan Farr of 4505 Meats (SF), Devin Knell of French Laundry (Napa), Mark Ladner of Del Posto (NYC), Amelia Posada and Erika Nakamura of Lindy & Grundy (LA), Michael Sullivan of Blackberry Farm (Walland, TN), John Sundstrom of Lark (Seattle), Andy Ricker of Pok Pok (Portland), Jeremy Fox (Napa) and the 2010 “King of Porc” David Varley of Michael Mina (San Francisco).

Chefs from The Cosmopolitan’s restaurant collection also will participate including Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, China Poblano, Comme Ça, D.O.C.G, Estiatorio Milos, Holstein’s, Jaleo, STK, Scarpetta, and Wicked Spoon and others will also participate.

An exclusive package for two is now available for those looking for a unique epicurean and luxury resort experience. To reserve the package, which includes a one-night stay (July 24) in a City Room or Terrace One Bedroom and VIP tickets to All-Star Cochon featuring a private reserve wine tasting, artisan cheeses, oysters and caviar, please visit www.cochon555.com or www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com. Guests will be treated to a variety of beverage options such as select hand-crafted ales and lagers from Deschutes Brewery to varietals from wineries including Davis Family Vineyards, Domaine Serene, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Gruet, Elk Cove Vineyards and Sokol Blosser. Other specialty cocktails will be crafted from brands including Belvedere, Maker’s Mark, Domaine de Canton and Casa Noble Tequila. Coca-Cola’s Glacéau Smartwater also will be available. Special engagements include a tasting of Domaine Serene reserve wines paired with the coveted Spanish pork, Fermin Iberico de Bellota, Imported by Wagshal’s and an interactive experience with Le Creuset.

All-Star Cochon is a new pork-filled Las Vegas event and is the latest event to be added in the three-year-old Cochon 555 competition series, celebrating heritage breed pigs. The chefs and butchers, who include past winners and fan favorites, will prepare a ‘snout-to-tail’ menu from 14 different heritage breed pigs for this ultimate pork tasting. The celebration of family-farms will feature pig every way (from savory to sweet) and guests will be treated to butchery demonstrations (whole muscle vs trim), cured meats, reserve wine tasting, craft brews and specially paired artisan cocktails. This marks the inception of Cochon in Las Vegas. The 2011 series ends its season when a group of these chefs travel to Napa on August 13 for Cochon Heritage Fire at Charles Krug, a tribute event to butchery, fire roasted whole animals (lamb, beef, pork, goat and rabbit), and family owned wineries at the majestic, Charles Krug.