It has now been confirmed that the final of the famous International Signature Culinary Prize – originally scheduled for January 2021 – has been postponed until January 2022.
“In view of the levels of consistency that we have come to expect and strive for, the TAITTINGER International Signature Culinary Prize is an experience that cannot take place virtually. A moment of both rivalry and sharing between various generations of leading chefs, we wanted to pledge the same commitment to the winners of the national stages as with every other year. That’s why, rather than run after the “permitted windows of opportunity” and keep cancelling for the reasons that we’re all aware of, we’ve decided to take the necessary time, not more than a year, to ensure that the next international final can take place in the best possible conditions and to give the candidates every opportunity to showcase their talent,” explains Vitalie Taittinger, president of the champagne house organizing the event.
The eight candidates, this year selected in advance on the main theme of beef, will see their nominations carried forward and compete against each other in just over 12 months’ time in the famous kitchens of Ecole Ferrandi (French School of Gastronomy ). There they will be joined by the President of the Prize, Emmanuel Renaut, three Michelin-star chef of the restaurant Le Flocon de Sel***** in Megève, as well as the members of the jury.
This legendary Culinary Prize has been a mainstay in the calendar for over five decades and has seen the emergence of the leading chefs in French cuisine, such as Régis Marcon, Michel Roth and Joël Robuchon. Last year marked a real turning point in the proceedings, with organizers placing a single product at the heart of the competition and giving candidates a free rein to do with it as they please. There is still one fixed rule, however : a single candidate per country is selected for the international final to represent their own country and culture.
This legendary Culinary Prize has been a mainstay in the calendar for over five decades and has seen the emergence of the leading chefs in French cuisine, such as Régis Marcon, Michel Roth and Joël Robuchon. Last year marked a real turning point in the proceedings, with organizers placing a single product at the heart of the competition and giving candidates a free rein to do with it as they please. There is still one fixed rule, however : a single candidate per country is selected for the international final to represent their own country and culture.
“The competition has moved towards signature cuisine, which is more in keeping with the times and will allow new talents to shine through their originality of execution,” adds Emmanuel Renaut.
This year the Organizing Committee, made up of leading Michelin star chefs, revealed a few months beforehand that the theme would be beef.
“The Organizing Committee chose beef because it is a meat that is present worldwide which guarantees fairness between the different candidates but there is also a wide variety of breeds which allows each candidate to express the particularity of the breed of beef from his country and thus to give a singularity to his dish since it is this creativity that we are looking for ”, adds Bernard Leprince.
Each of the eight participants took their winning ticket for the final back to their respective country (Germany, Belgium, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland and France), having tailored their chosen recipe around beef.
LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL FINAL IN JANUARY 2022
Deepak Mallya
United-Kingdom / The Ritz Hôtel in London
1 Michelin star
1 Michelin star
Tristan Martin
Belgium / Château de Grandvoir in Neufchâteau
Ryo Horiuchi
Japan / Esterre by Alain Ducasse Palace Hotel in Tokyo
Louis Gachet
France / La Chèvre d’Or in Eze
2 Michelin stars
2 Michelin stars
Maximilian Kindel
Germany / Facil in Berlin
2 Michelin stars
2 Michelin stars
Victor Moriez
Switzerland / Hôtel de Ville in Crissier
3 Michelin stars
3 Michelin stars
Louis Cespedes
Sweden / Adam and Albin in Stockholm
Jan Smink
The Netherlands / Smink à Wolvega