Simon Hulstone, head chef at the Michelin-starred Elephant in Torquay, Devon, will today compete in the Bocuse d'Or, the most high profile international culinary competition held in Lyon, France.
Hulstone, who is representing the UK for the second time in the biennial contest, will be up against 23 other countries - each competing for the prestigious title and €20,000 (£16,700) in prize money.
Hulstone will be working today together with Team UK commis chef Jordan Bailey, sous chef at the Elephant, and a commis supplied by the competition's organisers, and looked on by team manager Nick Vadis, UK executive chef at Compass Group.
The team will work solidly for five-and-a-half hours preparing, cooking and serving to the international judging panel two silver flats, one based on Scottish seafood including monkfish, crab and langoustine and the other on Scottish lamb, each with three garnishes.
The teams' two elaborate presentations must serve 14 people. No ingredients may be pre-cut, although teams are allowed to pre-peel garlic, portion oil, salt, flour and other ingredients, and bring stocks made in advance.
The judging panel will include high profile chefs such as Thomas Keller, representing the USA, Norwegian chef Gier Skeie, who won the Bocuse d’Or in 2009, and Academy of Culinary Arts president Brian Turner for the UK.
A group of more than 150 British supporters will be in the crowd at Lyon to cheer for Hulstone, who is hoping to finish in the top three at the Bocuse d’Or world final. He placed in fourth position and won best meat dish at the European final of the competition, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, last June.
Simon Hulstone: cooking for his country at Bocuse d'Or >>
Simon Hulstone's route to the world final of Bocuse d'Or >>
Hospitality 2011 to screen Bocuse d'Or live >>
Michelin-starred Simon Hulstone to cook for the UK in the 2011 Bocuse d’Or >>
By Kerstin Kuhn
E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kuhn here.
If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk
Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next restaurant job here with Caterersearch.com jobs
| | Newsletters
For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail newsletters. | | |