Competition / Bocuse d’Or Europe New European Championship

European Cuisine Champion – neither the title, nor the contest existed until today! This has been remedied with the creation of the Bocuse d’Or Europe. This new contest, on the model of the Bocuse d’Or, will be held every even year in a European country. In 2008, Stavanger in Norway, will pioneer this new event.

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.

Following the success of the Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest, the Organising Committee has decided to broaden its scope by creating a continental selection event. In 2006, Latin American candidates were selected as part of the Copa Azteca during which Argentina, Brazil and Mexico won the right to participate in the finals in Lyons. This year, it is Europe's turn to hold a similar selection event…

A new title: Bocuse d’Or European Champion
The Bocuse d’Or Europe will have nothing to envy its elder reference event. It will be held as part of "Buffet" - a major trade exhibition dedicated to out-of-home catering. The new contest will take place in a culinary arena created for the occasion, prestigious jury members will judge the events, and a motivated audience will cheer on the participants. The chefs will have to prepare a meat dish and a fish dish, to be served on a plate supplied by Figgjo, the Norwegian specialist for arts de la table.

20 chefs from 20 European countries will take part in the Bocuse d’Or Europe. Twelve of them will be selected for the Bocuse d’Or 2009 finals in Lyons. Five countries - France, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and Sweden – have already qualified thanks to their performance in the 2007 edition of the Bocuse d’Or.
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 special Fish prize and a special Meat prize will also be awarded. Additionally a prize for the best assistant will be presented by the Bocuse d’Or Academy.