FOOD NEWS: James Beard Foundation Award Semi-finalists

The semi-finalists for the James Beard Foundation Awards has been announced. The Pacific Northwest has a good showing in each category. The nominations will be announced on March 21, 2011. Below are the lists of semi-finalists from Seattle and Washington state.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Staple & Fancy Mercantile - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING CHEF
Holly Smith, Cafe Juanita - Kirkland, WA
Jerry Traunfeld, Poppy - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT
Cafe Juanita, Kirkland, WA

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR
Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants (Dahlia Bakery, Dahlia Lounge, Etta's, Lola, Palace Kitchen, Seatown Seabar & Rotisserie, and Serious Pie) - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING SERVICE
Canlis - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING WINE SERVICE
Canlis - Seattle, WA

OUTSTANDING WINE & SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL
Alex Golitzin, Quilceda Creek Vinters - Snohomish, WA

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR
Blaine Wetzel, The Willows Inn - Lummi Island, WA

BEST CHEF IN AMERICA
Chris Ainsworth, Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen - Walla Walla, WA
Seif Chirchi & Rachel Yang, Joule - Seattle, WA
Matt Dillon, Sitka & Spruce - Seattle, WA
Ethan Stowell, Staple & Fancy Mercantile - Seattle, WA

FOOD NEWS: COCHON 555 - 5 Chefs, 5 Pigs, 5 Winemakers

COCHON 555 is a culinary competition and tasting event. The event features 5 chefs, 5 pigs and 5 winemakers. The purpose is to promote sustainable farming of heritage breed pigs. The competition will be visiting ten cities across the country, which offers local farmers the opportunity to connect with like-minded agriculturalists, renowned chefs and the pork-loving public. The goal of COCHON 555 is to help family farms sustain and expand their businesses and to encourage breed diversity. This is the only heritage breed pig culinary competition in the country.

The Seattle COCHON 555 will feature five amazing, local chefs:

John Sundstrom - Lark

Holly Smith - Cafe Juanita

Rachel Yang - Joule/Revel

Ethan Stowel - How to Cook a Wolf

Jason Stratton - Spinasse

The five pigs are still yet to be selected from local farms.

The five Winemakers at Seattle COCHON 555:

Syncline Wine Cellars

Elk Cove Vineyards

K Vinters

Scott Paul Wines

Domaine Serene

The chefs will each prepare a 150-175 pound heritage breed hog from head to toe for this friendly competition. Guests and local judges will determine a winner based on presentation, utilization and overall best flavor.

Seattle COCHON 555 will be held at The Westin Seattle at 1900 5th Avenue on Sunday, February 20, 2011. General admission starts at 5:00pm, VIP admission starts at 3:30pm. You can purchase tickets here.

The other nine locations of COCHON 555 are: New York City, Boston, Napa, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

More info can be found at the COCHON 555 website.