Chefs Alex McIntosh and Tristan Spain have officially left the country with Coach Dan Arnold and Jury Member Scott Pickett to represent Australia in the Bocuse d’Or Grand Final in Lyon, France.
The biennial gastronomic competition has been running since 1987, and sees chefs from across the globe compete to secure the lauded title.
McIntosh and Spain are currently preparing with Arnold at the SEPR L’Ecole des Metiers hospitality school in the lead up to the event, which will commence on 21 January.
The Australian team is set to compete on 23 January where they will create a number of dishes within a five-and-a-half hour period.
McIntosh and Spain have been designated two themes to draw inspiration from. The first, ‘feed the children’, must include pumpkin, with the second requiring chefs to create a platter that incorporates Scottish monkfish, scallops and mussels.
Jury Member Pickett, who has coached the Australian team in previous competitions, will be judging dishes from all 24 teams as part of the panel.
“I am very proud to be among some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs on the Tasting Jury,” says the chef. “Along with competing myself in 2005, this is one of the greatest highlights of my career.”
The Bocuse d’Or Grand Final will be livestreamed on January 22 and 23 from 6.30pm AEST via https://www.bocusedor.com/fr/streaming or Facebook @BocusedorOfficial.
The winner will be announced on 24 January from 4am AEST.