On May 29 through June 2 Zingerman’s will celebrate 10 years of Camp Bacon, its annual celebration of bacon at Cornman Farms, 8540 Island Lake Rd. in Dexter.
Zingerman's co-founder Ari Weinzweig says the event is perfect for anyone who loves learning, eating bacon, and supporting a good cause. Funds raised from the event will go to support the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA) and Washtenaw 4-H.
After 10 years, Camp Bacon has not waned in attracting bacon enthusiasts of all ages and walks of life from all over the world.
"Like anything good, it's evolved and improved and it's also gotten bigger," Weinzweig says. "We now have probably 15 different events that are part of it."
He says the 10th anniversary itinerary is jam-packed and boasts something for everyone. The Main Event on May 31 is an all-day symposium with expert speakers sharing knowledge of all things pork – farming, culture, chefs, curing, and cooking. Bacon-tasting will be going on all day and there'll be a Hungarian bacon roast over an open fire for lunch.
Camp Bacon will also feature guest speakers, including bacon-maker Allan Benton and SFA director John T. Edge. Edge, whom Weinzweig describes as "justifiably famous nationwide," will speak at Camp Bacon’s film festival on the first day of the summit. He is a contributor to the New York Times and author of the acclaimed The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South.
Other highlights include a grilled and smoked cheese tasting, classes at Zingerman's Creamery and Bakehouse, and a street fair, which Weinzweig says will be particularly fun for kids.
Weinzweig notes that only 100 tickets to The Main Event are available and recommends that bacon-lovers buy their tickets early before they sell out. For attendees of any Camp Bacon event, his advice is simple.
"Eat a lot of bacon. Make some new friends," Weinzweig says. "Learn as much as you can."
Jaishree Drepaul-Bruder is a freelance writer and editor currently based in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at jaishreeedit@gmail.com.
Photos courtesy of Zingerman's.
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