UK candidate Bennett along with his commis chef Josh Allen, a culinary arts student at University College Birmingham, and his coach Idris Caldora from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts competed in the contest in Stockholm yesterday. The team will now compete in the World Final which takes place on the 28 and 29 January 2015 in Lyon.
Chefs from 20 different countries competed in the two-day European competition, with the top 12 gaining places in the final. First place went to Tommy Myllymaki of Sweden, while second place was awarded to Denmark’s Kenneth Hansen and Ørjan Johannessen of Norway took third.
Bennett, who is head chef at The Cross Kenilworth, also secured 6th place at the 2012 European final of the competition. His meat menu in yesterday’s competition consisted of Ballotine of young Swedish Pork with Sage, Truffle and Bacon, Braised Trotter & Hock with Vegetables, Savoy Cabbage with Bacon, Carrot filled with Ham and Mustard, Potato Croquette with Black Pudding and Bramley Apple.
The fish menu he put together included Supreme of Swedish Coalfish, Seaweed Sauce, Mussel Ketchup, Coalfish with Smoked Salmon Mousseline, Saffron Potatoes filled with Creamed Leeks, Pea Puree with Baby Onions and Bacon, Cucumber with poached Oyster and Sea Pearls, Mussel Ketchup, Seaweed Butter Sauce.
Bocuse d'Or European selection 2014 results:
1) Sweden
2) Denmark
3) Norway
4) France
5) Finland
6) UK
7) Iceland
8) Estonia
9) Hungary
10) Germany
11) Netherlands
12) Switzerland
13) Austria
14) Belgium
15) Italy
16) Spain
17) Turkey
18) Russia
19) Luxembourg