Die 20 teilnehmenden Länder stehen fest – neu dabei sind Tschechien, Estland, Ungarn und Malta – Gewinner bekommt 12 Tausend Euro und darf sich „Bocuse d’Or European Champion“ nennen – Automatisch qulifiziert sind Frankreich, Dänemark, Schweiz, Norwegen und Schweden, aber nicht Deutschland
Lesen Sie die Pressemitteilung vom Bocuce d’or Komitee (in engl. Sprache)
On 5th November 2007, the European Organising Committee of the Bocuse d’Or chaired by Norwegian Chef Eyvind Hellstrøm selected the 20 countries that will participate in the first edition of the Bocuse d’Or Europe cuisine contest, to be held on the 1st and 2nd of July, 2008.
This new contest, created on the model of the Bocuse d’Or, will take place every even year in a European country. In 2008, Stavanger in Norway, will pioneer this new event.
20 countries have been selected out of a total of 25 application files:
BELGIUM
CZECH REPUBLIC (new)
DENMARK
ESTONIA (new)
FINLAND
FRANCE
GERMANY
HUNGARY (new)
ICELAND
ITALY
LUXEMBURG
MALTA (new)
NORWAY
NETHERLANDS
POLAND
RUSSIA
SPAIN
SWEDEN
SWITZERLAND
UNITED KINGDOM
A new title: Bocuse d’Or European Champion
In addition to their passport for the Bocuse d’Or finals, the best chefs at the Bocuse d’Or Europe will be awarded a new prestigious title, that of European Champion. Moreover, the top three candidates will receive:
1st prize : €12 000 together with the European Champion trophy / 2nd prize : €9 000 /
3rd prize : €6 000
A larger Bocuse d’Or community
On July 1st and 2nd in Stavanger, the Bocuse d’Or Europe will have the delicate mission of deciding among the European candidates for the Bocuse d’Or. Like the other continental selection events, this new contest opens the Bocuse d’Or to new nations offering an opportunity to broaden the horizon of the Bocuse d’Or community.
Five nations are have already passed the pre-qualifications thanks to their performance in the Bocuse d’Or 2007 (France, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and Sweden), these will also automatically be admitted to participate in the Bocuse d’Or 2009.
The other nations, comprising both newcomers and „regulars“, will be competing for a place in the 2009 finals to be held in Lyons.
Four new countries will be competing in 2008: Estonia, Hungary, Malta and the Czech Republic.
A prestigious organising committee
Eyvind Hellstrøm, President of the Organising Committee, is an important name of Norwegian gastronomy. „Bagatelle“ – the restaurant he owns in Oslo – is the only in Norway to have acquired two stars in the guide Michelin. Member of Relais & Châteaux, it is the first and only „Relais gourmand“ in Norway.
Régis Marcon, chef and owner of the Auberge du Clos des Cîmes (3 stars) at Saint-Bonnet-le-froid and also of the new gourmet restaurant Chez Régis et Jacques Marcon. Keen on nature and respectful of the products he uses, he is known for his authenticity. Winner of the Bocuse d’Or in 1995, he is the current president of the Bocuse d’Or Winners Academy. This enables him to maintain close relations with Norwegian chefs.
Jean Fleury, Best Tradesman of France, has been a close collaborator of Paul Bocuse for over 20 years. Today he successfully manages the Bocuse Brasseries located in Lyons. In 2005, he contributed to „Brasseries Bocuse: 80 recettes“ a book on the extraordinary adventure of Paul Bocuse’s five Brasserie restaurants, for which the objective is to make gourmet cuisine available to all. His latest project is „Ouest Express“, a Bocuse-style Fast Food that will open in 2008.
Sven-Erik Renaa was Norway’s Bocuse d’Or candidate in 2007 where he won the award for the „Best Fish Dish“. He lives and practices his art in Stavanger. As far back as he can remember, Sven Erik Renaa has always had an interest in cooking. Sven undertook his apprenticeship training at Trondheim before travelling to New York where he discovered unique methods and techniques. Later he returned to Norway in order to become Chef at the „Braseriet Hansken“ and „Oro bar and restaurant“ in Oslo. Today he works for the Gastronomy Institute.