Lithuania's Bocuse d'Or national selection took place on 28 May 2025 at Dūmų Fabrikas in Vilnius. Three teams competed for the opportunity to represent the country at the next stage of the Bocuse d'Or cycle.
Organized by the Bocuse d'Or Lithuania Academy, the event featured an appetizer and a main course challenge inspired by the freshness and seasonality of spring. Candidates were required to work with ingredients including green asparagus, fresh radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, morels and Nordic cod, while showcasing creativity, technical expertise and a strong sense of culinary identity.
The competition was judged by an international panel chaired by Gustav Leonhardt (Sweden) and including culinary professionals from Belgium, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Representing Lithuania on the International Stage
Following the competition, Gabrielius Zajac was selected to represent Lithuania. Chef at Pink & Yellow, he approached the competition with a deeply personal theme inspired by memory, emotion and his professional journey.
Through two dishes reflecting different stages of his career, he sought to express both his culinary identity and his evolution as a chef. His winning performance earned him the opportunity to represent Lithuania at the Bocuse d'Or Europe 2026 in Marseille, where he competed against twenty European nations. La Lituanie s'est classée 12e sur les 20 pays en lice, manquant ainsi de deux places la dernière place qualificative.
From this experience, Gabrielius continues to contribute to the development and international visibility of Lithuanian gastronomy.
Practical information
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