New Orleans Butcher Crafts Over 2,000 Pounds Of Mouthwatering Meat Weekly

Cochon Butcher is a standout spot in the city's Warehouse District known for its house-made sausages, salami, and other cured meats.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:05am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeated image of a Cajun boudin sausage, conceptually representing the artistry and craftsmanship behind New Orleans' distinctive food culture.Cochon Butcher's house-made cured meats and Cajun specialties are the foundation for many of New Orleans' most iconic dishes.New Orleans Today

Cochon Butcher, a beloved New Orleans butcher shop, crafts over 2,000 pounds of house-made sausages, salami, and other cured meats each week. The shop, opened in 2009 by James Beard Award-winning chef Donald Link and chef partner Stephen Stryjewski, offers a variety of regional Cajun specialties alongside New Orleans classics like muffulettas and fried shrimp.

Why it matters

Cochon Butcher is a prime example of how New Orleans' rich food culture is deeply rooted in the art of butchery and cured meats. The shop's focus on high-quality, handcrafted products highlights the city's dedication to distinctive flavors and long-standing culinary traditions.

The details

At Cochon Butcher, five full-time butchers work to produce over 2,000 pounds of house-made sausages, salami, and other cured meats each week. These products are not only sold directly to customers, but are also used in dishes at other restaurants in the Link Restaurant Group, including the adjacent Cajun-Southern restaurant Cochon. In addition to classic cured meats like mortadella and pastrami, the shop also offers regional Cajun specialties like boudin sausage, tasso (cubed spiced pork), and rillons (caramelized pork belly).

  • Cochon Butcher opened in 2009.

The players

Donald Link

James Beard Award-winning chef and co-founder of Cochon Butcher.

Stephen Stryjewski

Chef and co-founder of Cochon Butcher.

Cochon Butcher

A New Orleans butcher shop known for its house-made sausages, salami, and other cured meats.

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The takeaway

Cochon Butcher's dedication to high-quality, handcrafted cured meats and Cajun specialties exemplifies New Orleans' rich food culture and commitment to distinctive flavors. The shop's success highlights the enduring importance of traditional butchery in a city renowned for its inventive and tradition-steeped cuisine.