FHA2006

International chefs to cook up a storm

More than 600 chefs from 21 countries will compete in a series of culinary competitions at Food &HotelAsia2006 (FHA2006. The Culinary Challenge is held in conjunction with the biennial FHA2006, Asia's largest international food and hospitality event.

The Culinary Challenge is one of the food show's seven specialised events featuring key aspects of the food and hospitality industry. The remaining six categories feature food and drinks, wine and spirits, interior furnishings, hospitality and foodservice technology and equipment, as well as bakery.

Each component caters to the respective needs of the food and hospitality sector and serves as a larger platform for companies to showcase their products and services. The Culinary Challenge comprises four categories of competition. Under the National Challenge, seven national teams from the Czech Republic, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Switzerland will present an ethnic cuisine representative of their countries in a three-course lunch for 80 diners each.

There will also be a scintillating display table featuring culinary art. The top three national teams will move on to participate in ‘The Battle for the Lion’ by cooking a three-course meal on the spot for 50 diners each.

The Gourmet Team Challenge which showcases the artistry of presenting cold buffet, features nine teams from Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Switzerland. Each team will prepare a cold edible buffet for 30 people consisting of salads, seafood and meat platters, tapas, desserts, soups and pastries. Individual chefs who are keen to prove their culinary skills can also do so under the Individual Challenge which has 15 classes. Chefs specialising in different styles can demonstrate their forte in creating pastries, desserts, ice carving, cake dressing and cold or hot dishes.

Thirteen teams from Dubai, Japan and Singapore have also signed up to compete in the Dream Team Challenge. Competitors in this category will each serve three diners in a café setting, pairing cocktails and wine with salad, main course, dessert and a specialty coffee.

President of the Singapore Chefs’ Association (SCA), Eric Teo, who participated in FHA's restaurant platter competition in 1988, said competitions are platforms for aspiring chefs to gather ideas and showcase their skills. "You have to research, do your homework and eat out a lot. It makes you think," he said. "When you win, it's a plus point because the SCA will notice you," he added. "It is also good for them to shine at their workplace."

Teo has competed in a number of international culinary competitions, including the IKA Culinary Olympics 2000, and Expogast 2002 World Culinary Competition.

Apart from the battle among culinary talents, the Asian Pastry Cup will also be held alongside the food show for the very first time. The event promotes pastry art through a competitive approach by pitting Asia's finest pastry chefs against one another's abilities.

The pastry competition, a spin-off from an internationally acclaimed competition, the World Pastry Cup, is open to countries within the Asia Pacific region namely, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and New-Zealand.

Two Asian teams (excluding Japan and Korea which run their own national selections) will be pre-selected to participate in the World Pastry Cup 2007 held in Lyon, France.

Manufacturer of French chocolate Valrhona, and Ravifruit, are official partners of the Asian Pastry Cup, together with Singapore Exhibition Services, the organiser of FHA2006, and the Singapore Chefs Association.

Regional pastry consultant for Valrhona, Vincent Bourdin, explains the significance of holding the pastry event at FHA2006. "FHA is the largest food show in Asia. It's important to be there. Secondly, there is no other competition dedicated to pastry. There are a lot of culinary competitions but nothing that's organised only for the art of pastry," Bourdin said. "It gives much better exposure to the recognition of pastry chefs."

World renowned pastry chef and founder of the World Pastry Cup, Gabriel Paillasson, will be president of the jury at the competition. More than 2,800 companies, including 47 country groups, are expected to turn up at the food show which will occupy six halls at the Expo.

Some of the country groups from around Asia include Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Greece and Cyprus will be hosting a pavilion at FHA for the very first time.