Regis Marcon: Bocuse d'Or plans to promote countries with powerful culinary identity

AGERPRES special correspondent Oana Ghita reports: Bocuse d'Or International Organisation Committee President Regis Marcon told AGERPRES that this competition, taking place over January 27 - 28, in Lyon, has the purpose of promoting the countries with a powerful culinary identity.

Photo credit: (c) Cristian NISTOR / AGERPRES PHOTO

'The contest doesn't become more difficult in time. Now, the teams are more organised, more professional, stricter,' said the President of the International Organisation Committee, Regis Marcon, who won the famous Bocuse d'Or trophy in 1995.

He said that one of the purposes of the competition, gathering 24 renowned chefs from all over the world, is that of highlighting the products of the participating countries.

'There are countries that don't have a very large budget. (...) The rules of the contest bring us to countries that have a powerful culinary identity, such as Romania or Italy ? which this year isn't participating in the competition ? and we hope to find these countries on the podium, at some point,' he added.

In regards with the skills of the candidates to the Bocuse d'Or trophy, Marcon said that 'you don't become a very good chef because you participate in a contest, but [Bocuse d'Or] is a very good school.'

The countries entering the contest on Wednesday are: Germany, Finland, Malaysia, Norway, Canada, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore, Hungary, the Netherlands and South Korea. The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday evening, within which the winners of this year's edition of Bocuse d'Or will be announced. AGERPRES