Chefs ready to do battle for Taittinger competition prize
Entries are being sought for the UK heat of this year's Prix Pierre Taittinger (PPT) competition, the winner of which will go on to represent the UK in the prestigious international final to be held in Paris on 19 November.
The competition is open to chefs between the ages of 24 and 39 working in restaurants open to the public, and who have a minimum of eight years' professional experience. Past national winners include this year's chairman of the judges and UK member of the grand international jury, Paul Gayler, executive chef of London's Lanesborough hotel, who represented the UK in the grand finals of 1979 and 1981.
First held in 1966, the Prix Pierre Taittinger is one of the world's most highly regarded culinary contests. Its aim is to test the culinary creativity of chefs from around the globe. Participating countries are Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. "This is the most prestigious annual culinary competition and I feel you should always enter the best. I wish all entrants to the UK heat the best of luck," commented Gayler.
This year, prospective competitors are being asked to submit one personal recipe (for 12 people) accompanied by a photograph based on the following theme: 3kg of monkfish and an 800g-1kg blue female lobster arranged on an oval dish and served with two garnishes of the candidate's choice. This will be subjected to a paper judging (closing date 20 September), following which about eight chefs will be selected to take part in a cook-off at Westminster Kingsway College, London, on 31 October.
At the UK final, competitors will also be asked to prepare pike mousseline sculpted with a spoon to form 12 individual servings, again arranged in an oval dish and topped with a sauce of the candidate's choice.
The results of the UK final will be announced at a dinner that evening. The candidate with the highest overall score will be invited to Paris with his or her partner to participate in the heats for the international final.
Last year's UK representative was André Garrett of London's Orrery, the current holder of the Roux Scholarship title.
The international final winner, announced on the same evening as the competition at a reception held by Claude Taittinger and his wife, will receive a medal depicting Pierre Taittinger (sculpted by Paul Belmondo); the El Gusto trophy; a week-long trip to the USA (accompanied by his or her partner); and the Taittinger cup. Second and third prize winners will receive holidays to the value of €4,575 (£2,906) and €2,290 (£1,454).
The winner of last year's event, the 35th Prix Culinaire International Pierre Taittinger, was Karim Boukhari from Restaurant L'Agath in Howald, Luxembourg.
The competition has been won only once by Great Britain - by Michel Nicoleau of London's Connaught in 1971.
For full details of the competition and an entry form, contact Justin Llewelyn, the UK and Ireland's brand ambassador for Champagne Taittinger, on 01529 241304.
by Amanda Afiya
