Bear with us: Koffmann named ambassador for Bocuse d’Or UK
Affectionately known as 'the bear', the legendary Gascony-born chef held three Michelin stars at his London restaurant La Tante Claire between 1983 1999.
The rest of the line-up of Bocuse d’Or UK Academy includes Ashley Palmer-Watts, Alyn Williams, Jonny Lake, Simon Hulstone and Tom Aikens.
“The Bocuse d’Or is a world renowned competition but it doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves in this country. The UK truly has some of the best chefs in the world so it’s about time we get behind the UK team and do our bit to win our rightful place on the podium,” says Koffmann.
“Pierre is well respected both sides of the channel and far beyond. He is a legend among chefs with a great understanding of what it takes to achieve culinary excellence,” says Andreas Antona, founder and chair of the Bocuse d’Or UK Academy
I’m absolutely delighted to have Pierre and these fantastic chefs as our ambassadors. With these passionate and talented individuals on board, we’re moving ever closer to achieving our goal of reaching the Bocuse d’Or podium.”
The role of a chef ambassador is to share the importance of the high profile international cooking competition to the UK hospitality industry and promote its relevance to a wider audience.
The chef ambassadors will also play an active role in recruiting and selecting future candidates, providing input to the culinary and creative development of the UK entry and supporting fundraising and sponsorship activity.
Ruth Hansom, Luke Selby, Ian Musgrave and Robert Sussex are among the chefs vying to represent the UK at the next Bocuse d’Or global culinary competition and will face off at the Restaurant Show on 30 September.
The winning chef will go on to compete in the European heats of the contest in June 2020, ahead of the next international final in 2021.
Founded in 1987 by the late chef Paul Bocuse, the Bocuse d’Or is considered one of the world’s toughest cooking competitions and is held every two years in Lyon, France.
The UK came tenth in this year’s Bocuse d’Or, represented by Philips and commis Nathan Lane. Denmark won the top spot, beating 23 other countries to the gold medal.
The UK has yet to reach the podium, although it came close in 2013 when Adam Bennett and his commis Kristian Curtis reached 4th place.
