Sizzling start to culinary contest 2015 |02 September 2015
Bradley Larue is the winner of the Starter contest of the Seychelles National Culinary Competition 2015 which got off to a sizzling start yesterday at the Seychelles Tourism Academy.
Now in existence for over six years, the Seychelles National Culinary Competition continues to strive and bring top chefs around Mahé to show their artistic and gastronomic skills in a battle for supremacy.
The event is hosted by the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) and sponsored by ISPC Seychelles.
In yesterday’s Starter segment of the competition, the chefs had two hours, with five additional minutes for plating, to prepare six portions (five plates are needed for the judges and one for photography) of an original dish featuring the mandatory ingredients which was ISPC swordfish.
The five chefs taking part were helped by two commis of the STA who were randomly chosen just before the contest started.
The executive assistant of ISPC Seychelles, Sarah Bastienne, said that on the first day of the competition the chefs were a bit nervous.
“For the first part of the competition, we can see that our contestants are a bit nervous and tense.
We have been organising this competition for six years and already the chefs know a bit about one another, about their artistic skills they can bring to the table,” she noted.
She added that this year’s contest has attracted a very talented group, some of whom took part in previous competitions.
“Our finalists today are very good and talented, some of them already took part in the culinary competition in the past. It’s not just a competition but the chef also get a chance to learn more about one another and share experiences,” Ms Bastienne said.
Mr Larue, who also works at ISPC Seychelles as a chef, was very pleased to be the first winner of this part of the competition.
“I am happy to be the winner of the Starter contest. I give thanks to the Almighty God who guided me through the first day of the competition. The competition was really intense. I had two STA commis who helped me throughout the competition and I was able to succeed,” he said.
He added that he also took part in previous competitions but noted that this year is the first time he tries his hand in the Starter contest.
“It is my first time that I take part in the Starter contest; normally I take part in the Main Course contest. And tomorrow (today, Wednesday) I will bring my creativity in the Main Course competition,” said a confident Mr Larue.
He also pointed out that at first he wanted to become a teacher, but changed his mind to go at the STA which at that time was called the Seychelles Hotel and Tourism Training Centre (SHTTC).
The other contestants in the Seychelles National Culinary Contest 2015 are Patrick Barbe, Joel Constance (both of whom took fourth place); Johnny Constance, who came out third and Fabien Freminot who settled for second place.
Today the contestants will take part in the Main Course competition with main ingredient Vieille Maconde. The Dessert segment of the competition will take place tomorrow with main ingredient Nespresso Ristretto coffee.
Recipes will be judged on taste, originality and appearance by a five-member jury among whom are international judges Lionel Rigolet and Eric Boshman.
The three final winners will each receive a flight ticket from Air Seychelles; seven nights stay in the 5-star hotel of the Constance Belle Mare Plage of the Constance Hotels and Resorts and €800 (R12,000) cash from Cable and Wireless.