Canada to host 2019 International Chaine des Rôtisseurs Young Chefs Competition

For only the second time in the history of the event, Canada has been selected to host the prestigious 43rd Concours International des Jeunes Chefs (Young Chefs) Rôtisseurs Competition. The Competition, open to young cooks under the age of 27, will be held on September 20, 2019 in Calgary, Alberta, and will be hosted and sponsored by the Canadian National “Bailliage” (Chapter) of La Chaine des Rôtisseurs. Additional sponsors to date include Le Cordon Bleu Ecole Culinaire (France), Wüsthof Manufacturing (Germany), Turbo-Pot (USA), CattleBoyz Foods (Canada), Chef’s Hat (Canada), Gordon Food Service (Canada), Hotel Arts Group (Canada), Uniglobe Voyages Lexus (Cnada), and Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar (Canada).

The competition has a long and storied history, having first been organized in 1977 in Switzerland to support and promote future young chefs. Forty-three years later, it still provides each young competitor with a week of educational culinary experiences, and the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a competitive environment with their peers, showcasing their talents and creativity in an international arena. The young chefs are chosen for the event through selection competitions held in their respective countries. For example, the 2018 competition featured competitors from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Dubai, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, U.K. and U.S.

A panel of 12 internationally certified chefs, all members of the Chaine des Rôtisseurs, judge the competition, awarding marks for taste, presentation, originality and kitchen technique. Each competitor is given four hours in which to compose a menu and prepare a three-course meal for four persons using ingredients presented in a “black box”. Compulsory ingredients in 2018 included blue crab, lamb rack, chia seeds, banana, tofu, porcini mushroom and cream cheese. Contestants are required to use at least 50 per cent of each of the above mentioned items and could compliment them from a large array of non- mandatory items such as fresh octopus, beef tongue, duck liver, and sweetbreads.

About La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs

The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is an international gastronomic society devoted to promoting fine dining and preserving the camaraderie and pleasures of the table. The society has both non-professional “gastronome” and culinary professional members in more than 75 countries around the world. For more information on the society in Canada and internationally, please visit the website at canada.chainedesrotisseurs.com.