Winners of the Bocuse d’Or 2013 were crowned in Lyon, France, on Wednesday, and for just the second time in the prestigious competition’s 26-year history, a non-European chef placed in the top three. Team Japan, led my chef Noriyuki Hamada, won the bronze. Team France and chef Thibaut Ruggeri took home the gold (the seventh time a French chef has nabbed top honors), and silver went to Team Denmark, headed by chef Jeppe Foldager (the country’s fifth medal).
Despite months of rigorous training and a dream team of coaches — including Forbes Travel Guide Thomas Keller of The French Laundry and Per Se; Chicago-based Alinea chef Grant Achatz; and Forbes Travel Guide Tastemaker chef Daniel Boulud — Team USA’s Richard Rosendale from The Greenbrier placed seventh out of the 24 chefs.
In the demanding competition created by legend Paul Bocuse, chefs have five-and-a-half hours to prepare elaborate meat and fish courses reflective of their own countries. Rosendale, who grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania, created a beef platter inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and his famous Fallingwater house, and a fish entry with Virginia ham and Tennessee black truffles, a nod to the Appalachian region.
“I’m proud of the effort we put forth today, and while I’m disappointed we didn’t finish higher up, I know that Corey [Siegel] and I gave it our all,” Rosendale said in a statement. “I’m extremely thankful for all the great support we’ve received from our coaches, the Foundation and board members, the team at The Greenbrier and our families. It’s been a privilege for us both to represent our country at this competition, and one we will never forget.”
The next Bocuse d’Or will be in January 2015, and American chefs will compete for the coveted Team USA spot at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y., next January.
Complete List of Finalists
Gold: Team France, chef Thibaut Ruggeri
Silver: Team Denmark, chef Jeppe Foldager
Bronze: Team Japan, chef Noriyuki Hamada
Special Prize for the Meat Course: Team United Kingdom
Special Prize for the Fish Course: Team Norway
Best Commis: Kristian Curtis of the United Kingdom
Best Poster: Hungary
Best Promotion: Guatemala
Photos Courtesy of Bonjwing Lee and Bocuse d’Or USA
