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PIG PARTY! cochon 555, community, Jonathan Sundstrom, Lark, Matt Dillion, party profile, pig roast, sustainable eating, Synapse

Suuuuuuuuueey!

Last weekend Aviva, Cori and a large number of their hungry pals attended a gustatory festivity of epic proportions where the guests pigged out on- what else?- a whole pig. This year marked the 7th Annual Capitol Hill Pig Roast Bacchanalia for Richard, Ben, Martine and Fred , an extravaganza that featured a competitive Twister tournament, one table devoted solely to different types of salads (some with bacon because clearly there was not enough pig already), EIGHT sour cream apple pies all baked by the same person,  and two kegs of home-brewed beer.

That may sound like a gluttonous amount of food. But Aviva swears by the end of the party, which lasted through lunch and dinner, it had all been eaten. Yes. The entire pig was gone.

Snout to tail cooking, a popular practice dating back to times when people had names like Odo and pushed plowshares all day, is making a comeback. We think this is great for a variety of reasons:

• There’s just something about sharing the experience of eating an entire animal that brings people together. Really, that comment wasn’t meant to sound snarky. It’s undeniable that cooking a simple, delicious feast like a pig roast is a great way to bring people together.
• Though a long process that can last 24 hours or more, snout to tail cooking is a smart and conscientious party food that cuts down and waste and ultimately on cost.
• People all over the country are embracing snout to tail cooking for a good cause! Cochon 555, a touring culinary event to foster awareness about the benefits of eating heritage foods, for farmers, chefs, and diners alike. Five chefs prepare five heritage pigs any way they like, and five winemakers provide pairings for each chef. Whoever cooks the tastiest swine wins. The coolest part is the fact that Cochon 555 proceeds go to a charity  of the host city’s choice. Cochon 555 recently came to Seattle in March. Local chefs competed for the crown and raised money for Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance and The Good Farmer Fund.

The summer is a perfect time for a pig roast. So, if you’re thinking about throwing a party…buy a pig and go whole hog.

(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

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