La Papillote 1-20-12

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Volume 32, No.6

THE

NEWSPAPER

OF

THE

Since 1987, The Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest has been an example of culinary excellence within our industry and for those who enjoy its’ exquisite fruits. Intended to serve not only as a way to foster international camaradarie among chefs, but as a public outreach showing the exceptional amount of passion, precision and hard work behind kitchen doors, Bocuse d’Or has become the premiere culinary competition in the world. This culinary ambassadorship allows people a rare voyeuristic opportunity to experience the inner workings of creating fine food in a preFood Network world. Even today where foodies have access to a variety of shows that portray almost every aspect of the culinary industry, real-life high-caliber competitions give much needed perspective to the television’s glamorous sheen. The ability to witness the amount of talent gathered at such an event is humbling and inspiring to aspiring chefs and zealous followers of the craft. In creating the competition, Chef Paul Bocuse set a demanding bar of perfection against which dedicated chefs strive to measure themselves. For many, winning the slot to compete for their country is the first step of their budding careers towards esteemed chefdom. Bocuse d’Or is held once every two years, allowing time for each country to select their competitor and prepare for the challenge ahead. France hosts the competition, quite appropriately, in the city of Lyon, which is home to Chef Bocuse’s three Michelin star restaurant Auberge du Pont de Collognes. Although an arena fit to accommodate thousands of cheering spectators is the setting for the competition, the entrance of Bocuse’s restaurant displays plaques for each competition, listing the top three teams (an honor which every team burns to earn). The contest itself has a rigorous nature; it’s an all day event testing the skills, creativity and endurance of the chefs involved. Over a five-and-a- half hour period, each team, consisting of a chef and their commis, must prepare two platter presentations. This includes one meat and one seafood dish, each with three garnishes. Once these are displayed to the judges, teams quickly plate individual servings of their dishes for additional judging. Each competitor’s work is subjected to criteria including flavors, presentation, techniques used and efficiency in the kitchen. The panel consists of twenty-four esteemed chef-judges, each hailing from a country involved in the competition. Therefore, each of the twenty-four countries present are represented by a team and a judge. In 2009, Thomas Keller was invited to represent the United States as a judge, which was fitting, due to his position as the President of the Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation. 0Acting on the advice of Chef Bocuse, Daniel Boulud collaborated with Chef Keller and Jerome Bocuse (Paul Bocuse’s son and graduate of the CIA), to form a support system for USA Bocuse d’Or competitors. Following in his father’s footsteps, Jerome Bocuse’s involvement with Bocuse d’Or planning since the early 1990’s made him an obvious choice for Vice-President of the foundation. Boulud resides as the Chairman at CULINARY CULTURE

CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA SINCE 1 9 7 9

Chef Daniel Boulud and CIA President Tim Ryan at Bocuse d’Or in 2010. Photo By: bocusedorusa.org

the head of this star-studded Board of Directors. In addition to organizing the USA qualifying competition, which determines which chef and commis team will attend the world contest in Lyon, the Bocuse d’Or USA foundation provides training for the winning team leading up to the event. America’s chances of placing in Lyon improved with this change. Timothy Hollingsworth of The French Laundry received a ranking of six out of twenty-four in 2009. This was the highest rank earned by an American chef. Not coincidentally, Hollingsworth was the first chef in America’s twenty years of competition who received the support of the newly established foundation. In 2010, Bocuse d’Or USA selected The Culinary Institute of America as the site of the qualifying competition. Students were given a rare opportunity to observe our country’s top chefs in action, a long day that resulted in the triumph of James Kent, a Johnson and Wale’s graduate and Sous Chef at Danny Meyer’s Eleven Madison Park. Kent continued on to Lyon in 2011, placing tenth for the USA. As America’s chefs evolve, a Bocuse d’Or medal may be soon attainable with the continued support of the USA Foundation. A Bocuse d’Or win is a difficult task. In the past twelve competitions only four countries have placed first: France six times, Norway four times (including 2009), then Luxembourg and Sweden with one victory each. 0With such a prestigious history, it is no wonder that The Culinary Institute of America is proud to announce that it will be hosting the Bocuse d’Or USA Team’s competition for the final competitors. The competitor who wins will join the competitors of 23 other countries in Lyon, France for the Bocuse d’Or. There will be two competitors selected to represent the USA Team.

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When one studies tea, they begin to unearth all of these simple truths.

Sources: -www.boocusedor.com/press/press -www.bocusdorusa.org -www.ciachef.edu

FOOD & BEVERAGE

As soon as I entered La Cuisine in Paris and saw how the chefs worked, I knew this was serious business. ON CAMPUS

0First, on Saturday January 28th, 2012 from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM, the Commis (which means young Chef) competition will be taking place in the Student Recreation Center Gym. At 5:00 PM later that day, the Commis Awards Ceremony will take place in the Student Recreation Center Gym. During that ceremony, one person under the age of 22 will be selected to accompany the main candidate in Lyon, France. This event is open to the public, with seating on a first come, first serve basis. 0The following day, Sunday January 29th, 2012, the final competition to select the USA Team’s candidate will be in the Student Recreation Center Gym from 8:00 AM to 2:45 PM. All four of the competitors are extremely successful chefs. Chef Bill Bradley is a restauranteur and Instructor at Le Cordon Bleu College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Chef Danny Cerqueda is a Chef at Carolina Country Club in Raleigh, North Carolina. Chef Jeffrey Lizotte is the Chef de Cuisine at Restaurant ON20 in Hartford, Connecticut. Lastly, Certified Master Chef Richard Rosendale is a restauranteur and Executive Chef at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Awards Ceremony will follow at 4:30 PM, also in the Student Recreation Center Gym. Students may come to this ceremony, but as with the previous day, seating is on a first come, first serve basis. To top off the many wonderful events taking place that weekend, at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sunday evening there will be an Awards Celebration Dinner in Farquharson Hall. However, tickets are required to attend the dinner. Overall, these four competitors, along with their commis, will compete at once in their own kitchen setting. Within the five and a half hour period, each chef will produce their food, present it to the judges and plate it for evaluation. Out of these four chefs, one will be chosen as the USA competitor for the worldwide Lyon Bocuse competition next year! 0Not only are there competitions and ceremonies occurring during this exciting weekend, but on Saturday there will be book signings in the Student Recreation Center Hallway. Chris Hastings will be there at 10:00 AM, followed by both Thomas Keller and Barbara Lynch at 11:00 AM and at 12:00 PM, Grant Achatz. After the ceremony, at 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM, Daniel Boulud will be signing books in the same place. If planning to attend a book signing, it is recommended to be there early, as lines are predicted to form quickly for such notable guests. 0As a student at The Culinary Institute of America, the weekend of January 28th-29th, 2012 presents itself with a unique opportunity. Come out to support Bocuse d’Or USA Team and take advantage of this once in a lifetime experience.

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Trying to avert my eyes from the slabs of delicious cake, ¼ lb cookies, and 2-inch- thick brownies... CENTER SPREAD

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