Bocuse d'Or 2010

James Kent, sous chef at New York City’s famous Eleven Madison Park restaurant took home the top prize in this year’s Bocuse d’Or USA competition and has earned the privilege to compete in the culinary world’s equivalent to the Olympics, the International Bocuse d’Or competition held in Lyon, France next year.

This year’s competition included 12 semifinalists from around the United States, each given five-and-a-half hours to create two dishes that exemplified their culinary skills showcasing Scottish salmon and American spring lamb. All contestants worked their magic in kitchens outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment from Manitowoc Foodservice . The four competition kitchens were equipped with Convotherm^® Combi Ovens, Garland^® ranges and salamanders, plus Delfield^® refrigeration, blast chillers, and custom counters.

After the dishes were plated, the chefs presented their creations to a panel of culinary experts to be judged on criteria such as presentation, taste, and creativity. While all submissions were exceptional, Kent’s dishes were recognized by the judges as superior overall and he, along with his commis Tom Allan were declared the winners and will be moving on to compete as the USA representative at the international Bocuse d’Or event in Lyon, France.

Announcing the winners on behalf of Bocuse D’Or USA were Caitlin Rodgers, marketing director of Manitowoc Foodservice, and Francois Houpert managing director of Manitowoc Foodservice France. View a Manitowoc slide show of the event .

Manitowoc Foodservice was a major sponsor of this event at the CIA, not only providing the equipment and installation for all four competition kitchens, but also providing on-site technical support with five corporate chefs on hand throughout the competition. Nora Carey, president of the Bocuse d’Or USA Foundation stated, “Much of our success this weekend is to be shared with the Manitowoc Foodservice team, we are so happy to have them as partners!”

Kent and Allan will work with The Bocuse d'Or USA Foundation in a customized, year-long training program crafted, executed, and supervised by The Foundation's esteemed Board of Directors and Culinary Council. The training kitchen will include the same Manitowoc Foodservice equipment that will be used in next year’s international Bocuse d’Or event.

In addition to representing the United States at the Bocuse d'Or International Culinary Competition in 2011, Chef Kent was also awarded a $5,000 cash prize. In second place, Chef Luke Bergman, Sous Chef at The Modern in New York City, was awarded a trophy and a $4,000 cash prize. In third place, Chef Christopher Parsons, Executive Chef/Owner of Catch in Winchester, MA, was awarded a trophy and a $3,000 cash prize.

This year’s event drew big names. The full list of competitors at The Bocuse d'Or USA Finals Competition 2010 included:

Luke Bergman, The Modern, Sous Chef (New York, NY)
Commis: Joseph Piccione, The Culinary Institute of America, Student

Jim Burke, James, Executive Chef/Owner (Philadelphia, PA)
Commis: Simon Solis-Cohen, The Culinary Institute of America, Student

Danny Cerqueda, Carolina Country Club, Executive Sous Chef (Raleigh, NC)
Commis: Wayne Goode, Caroline Country Club, Prep Cook