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Top Chef Quiz: Culinary Olympics

partysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:15:16 -0800

Things took a serious turn on the most recent episode of Top Chef. The cheftestants had to cook serious food for some serious chefs. Thomas Keller appeared, the Voltaggio brothers struggled, and Kevin experimented with the culinary technique known as sous vide. How closely were you watching? Find out when you take the quiz!

Photo courtesy of Bravo

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Yummy Links: From Pumpkin Seeds to Carbonara

partysugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:15:35 -0700

Ten ways to spice up pumpkin seeds.- Chow
Kale and bacon make one delicious combination. - The Epi Log
Josh Ozersky questions the patriotism of the humble hamburger. - Vanity Fair
Fabio Viviani's latest gig? Pizza delivery man. - Grub Street NY
Cook's Illustrated's editor, Christopher Kimball, is ready to wage war on the blogosphere. - Eat Me Daily
The Bocuse d'Or USA is now searching for its next national team. - Eater
Jazz up classic pasta carbonara with peas and ricotta. - Serious Eats

Norway Wins Bocuse d'Or, Team USA Finishes Sixth

partysugar — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:00:18 -0800

The two-day culinary Olympics, known as the Bocuse d'Or, took place yesterday and today in Lyon, France. A 28-year-old chef, Geir Skeie, from Norway won the competition. There was much hope in the food industry that the American competitor, Timothy Hollingsworth, would win. However, Hollingsworth didn't even place. A Swedish chef took home the silver, while the French chef walked away with the bronze. This year was the first time that the Americans made a conscious effort to win the competition. Thomas Keller and a team of American chefs searched the country for a possible contender to represent the US. In July eight American semifinalists were announced. Hollingsworth won the highly-publicized competition in September and spent the next several months preparing for the finals at a special training facility near the French Laundry in California.

In the Bocuse d'Or finals each chef has to prepare two dishes: a seafood entry and a meat entry. The food is judged by 24 chefs from 24 countries. Two-thirds of the score goes to the quality of the food, while the final third counts for presentation.

Hollingsworth has yet to comment on the competition, but he is no doubt feeling (like most American foodies) a little disappointed in the outcome. To check out a huge gallery of images from the cooking competition, read more.

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Biggest Headline of 2008: The Bocuse d'Or Gains Momentum

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:00:41 -0800

This year has been a momentous one for the Olympics - not just in sports, but in the culinary arena as well. The Bocuse d'Or - considered the Olympics of food and the world's most prestigious award for French cuisine - is scheduled for Jan. 28 and 29, 2009 in Lyon, France. The rigorous selection process, however, gained plenty of attention in 2008.

It all began this Summer, when we caught up with Hung Huynh at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic, and the Top Chef Season 3 winner revealed his wish to be a semifinalist - which he was. In July, the American Bocuse d'Or advisory board, which includes Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, and Tom Colicchio, selected eight semifinalists to compete for the coveted chance to represent the US. The judges appointed were even more prestigious, with highly respected chefs such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten involved in choosing a winner. On September 26 and 27, the semifinalists faced off in a culinary challenge hosted by Al Roker, Food and Wine editor Dana Cowin, and John Besh at the Epcot Center.

After two full days of competition, Timothy Hollingsworth, a sous chef at The French Laundry, was selected as the US representative. Currently, Hollingsworth is training directly under Keller as he prepares to represent America in next month's championships, where Paul Bocuse, the French founder of the competition, will be on hand to observe and officiate. No American chef has ever won the final competition and the closest one has come to seeing gold was sixth place in 2003. Could Hollingsworth be the first?

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US Representative For Bocuse d'Or Selected

partysugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:00:19 -0700

Over the weekend, eight semi-finalists competed to see who would represent the United States at the Bocuse d'Or, a prestigious international culinary competition. Timothy Hollingsworth, a sous chef at the French Laundry, was selected as the winner. Hollingsworth now has three months to prepare for the French showdown in January. He'll train at a special facility created by Thomas Keller in Yountville, California with head coach Roland Henin.

No American chef has ever won the final competition and the closest one has come to seeing gold was sixth place in 2003.

The chefs and their assistants had to prepare two dishes - one fish and one beef - in front of a live audience. The dishes were judged on a variety of factors including presentation, texture, harmony of flavor, sophistication, and creativity. In the end, Hollingsworth's elaborately garnished Atlantic cod with Hawaiian blue prawns and sea scallops and equally complex beef tenderloin roasted in bacon with beef cheeks and oxtail won.

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Yummy Links: From Amazon Wine to the Bocuse d'Or Hosts

partysugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:45:32 -0700

Amazon.com is set to debut a wine superstore at the beginning of next month. - Serious Eats
Gear up for Fall with this vegetarian recipe for chickpea, potato, and spinach stew. - Cookthink
Learn the difference between toffee and caramel. - Chow
Leftover pickling brine makes a wonderful, simple vinaigrette.- The Kitchn
Intensive thinking may make you feel hungrier. - Slashfood
How to get a better restaurant table.- The Epi-Log
Make a cake that resembles a pizza! - Baking Bites
Al Roker, Dana Cowin, and John Besh will host the Bocuse d'Or semifinals on Sept. 27.- Eater SF

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Bocuse d'Or Announces Superstar Judge Lineup

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 03:00:59 -0700

The panel of judges for next month's Bocuse d'Or - the Olympics of the culinary world - were announced last Friday. Many of the judges, such as Laurent Tourondel and Jean-Georges Vongerichten, hail from New York, which makes me wonder if the giants of the gastronomic world really do believe that New York is the center of the culinary universe.

As if the list of uber-chef judges isn't intimidating enough, Paul Bocuse, the French founder of the competition will be on hand to observe and officiate.

The semifinals, which take place on September 26 and 27 in Orlando, determine which two of the contenders will represent the US in the Bocuse d'Or finals. To see the complete list of judges, read more.

Michel Bouit, former Bocuse d'Or director, Chicago, IL
Hartmut Handke, former Bocuse d'Or contestant, Columbus, OH
Daniel Humm, chef, Eleven Madison Park, New York, NY
Traci des Jardins, chef, Jardinière, San Francisco, CA
Gavin Kaysen, former Bocuse d'Or competitor, New York, NY
David Myers, chef, Sona, Los Angeles, CA
Patrick O’Connell, chef, Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA
Georges Perrier, chef, Le Bec-Fin, Philadelphia, PA
Alain Sailhac, chef, French Culinary Institute, New York, NY
Andre Soltner, French Culinary Institute, New York, NY
Laurent Tourondel, chef, BLT Restaurants, New York, NY
Jean-Georges Vongerichten, chef, Jean-Georges, New York, NY

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Bocuse d'Or Candidates Announced

partysugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:15:20 -0700

The eight semifinalists who will compete for the coveted chance to represent America at the culinary Olympics, the Bocuse d'Or, have been announced. Among them are Top Chef Season 3 winner Hung Huynh. It's no surprise that Hung was chosen for the competition, when I spoke with him at the Food and Wine Classic, he mentioned his desire to participate. Hung and the other seven candidates were selected from 150 applicants by an advisory board that included Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, and Tom Colicchio. The semifinalists will face off in a culinary challenge on September 26 and 27 in Epcot Center. The final two will be trained personally by Thomas Keller and will represent America in the finals. To find out who the other competitors are, read more.

Damon Wise, corporate chef at Craft, withdrew his name*
Tim Hollingsworth, sous-chef at French Laundry
Rogers Powell, instructor at French Culinary Institute
Richard Rosendale of Rosendales in Ohio; USA Culinary Olympic team captain
Michael Rotondo, chef de cuisine at Charlie Trotter’s
Kevin Sbraga, culinary director of Garces Restaurant Group
Percy Whatley, Delaware North Parks exec chef

*Update: Damon Wise has been replaced with John Rellah Jr., executive chef at Hamilton Farm in Gladstone, New Jersey.

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Hanging With Hung

partysugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:25:29 -0700

Last Friday afternoon at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, I had the chance to hang out with Top Chef Season 3 winner Hung Huynh. As part of his prize, Hung was invited to appear at the Classic Cook-Off on Sunday. In between attending seminars and sipping wine, Hung and I met up outside the grand-tasting tent.

An approachable, friendly guy, Hung isn't afraid to say hello to fans or cook dinner for 150 people. Although he was sometimes portrayed as a villain on TC, in real life, Hung is just an ordinary guy who cooks really well. To learn more about Hung, read more.

Currently Hung is working at Solo, a kosher Mediterranean restaurant, in Manhattan. He plans to remain executive chef until the end of Summer and hopes to open his own restaurant soon. He's yet to use his TC prize trip to Paris and prefers the kitchen to the tasting tent.
In his entourage: Kenny his best pal/sous chef from Las Vegas and Marcel his buddy and TC season 2 contestant.

On alcohol: Hung doesn't like to drink. Although he enjoys partying, he dislikes alcohol, especially red wine, because it gives him a headache and a red face.

Who he knows: Through his TC experience, he's gotten to know plenty of the food industry's biggest stars including Tom Colicchio, Eric Ripert, and Daniel Boulud.

What he wants to do: A fierce competitor, Hung plans on entering himself in the prestigious food industry equivalent of the Olympics, the Bocuse d'Or.

Why he thinks he can win: Many of his aforementioned acquaintances are on the culinary advisory board. The board members have a say in who is selected to compete.

After hanging with Hung, I conclude that he's not the bad guy Bravo portrayed him to be, but rather a bit of a diva. I can't blame him, he is after all, a Top Chef!

Top Chef Vegas: Episode 12

partysugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:12:49 -0800

It was down to five cheftestants on last night's episode of Top Chef. The final Las Vegas challenge - the next two shows take place in Napa, California - highlighted the Bocuse d'Or, the world's most prestigious classical cooking competition. A plethora of big name chefs including Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud, guest judged. Ready to discuss? Keep reading.