Seychelles joins Chaine des Rotisseurs |03 February 2014

Seychelles food lovers will soon have the possibility to enjoy good food through the Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs.

This follows the formation at the national Bailliage under the leadership of Dr Allan Nimmo.

La Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs is the oldest and most recognised international gastronomic society.

Founded in Paris in 1950, it is dedicated to fine cuisine and promoting and developing the gastronomic values while at the same time widening its focus to table art.
 
The Chaine is based on the traditions and practices of the old French guild of goose roasters which has been traced back to the year 1248 when guilds were formed to develop young apprentices and improve the technical knowledge of guild members. As its activities evolved and members of the Goose Roaster Guild extended their skills to preparing and selling all kinds of meat and poultry, the name of the guild was changed to ‘Rotisseurs’.

For over four hundred years the ‘Confrerie’ or brotherhood of the Rotisseurs cultivated and developed the culinary art and high standards of professionalism and quality until the guild system was disbanded, together with others, in 1793 during the French Revolution.  The Rotisseurs were almost forgotten until 1950 when three food lovers and two chefs resurrected the society and created La Confrerie de La Chaine des Rottiseurs.

Since its rebirth the society has grown dramatically, spreading its influence and presence worldwide.

Today the Chaine brings together professional and non-professional members from around the world who share in the ‘spirit’ of the society and who appreciate and enjoy wine and fine dining. While a confrèrie is a ‘brotherhood’, women have always been welcomed and they play an active role in the society.

The international headquarters – Siège Mondial – remains in Paris where the society was founded, and the present day the Chaine des Rotisseurs is still based on the traditions and practices of the ancient French brotherhood but now in an international and contemporary context.

The organisation is currently represented by over 25,000 members in 75 countries around the world. In each country it is organised in national sections called Bailliages and through the efforts of longstanding chaine member, Dr. Allan Nimmo, a National Bailliage has recently been formed here in Seychelles.

The Baillage is made up of professional members drawn from the management, kitchen and service staff of the hotel and catering industry within Seychelles as well as non-professional members, but who jointly share an interest in fine-dining and fine wines.

At regular intervals the local Bailliage will invite a restaurant to host a chaine dinner for their membership and guests. The executive chef of the chosen establishment is given the opportunity to plan and prepare a menu of his or her choice for the evening and upon which the sommelier will compliment with his/her choice of fine wines. In essence it becomes an evening of fine-dining among friends who share in the appreciation of good food, fine wines and the ‘art of the table’.

The selected host establishment, along with its kitchen and service brigade, is presented with an opportunity to showcase their talents and skills to an appreciative audience – some of whom will be drawn from other catering establishments. The dinners have a formal set format in the tradition of the chaine and for food and wine lovers they present an ideal opportunity to sample the wonderful talents of some of our finest chefs in the Seychelles.

The Chaine des Rotisseurs also organises cookery competitions for young chefs under the age of 27, sponsored by a professional chaine member. Its purpose is to encourage and promote the culinary expertise of young chefs in the tradition of the Chaine des Rotisseurs by exposing them to a competitive environment with their peers.

Competitors do not know the ingredients they are to cook with until their arrival at the competition. They then have 30 minutes to write a menu, and three and a half hours to prepare a three-course dinner for four people. Chaine members are often called upon to act as guest judges in cooking competitions such as the TV Show Top Chef.

The inaugural chaine dinner of the Bailliage National des Seychelles will take place at Le Bourgois Resturant, Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove Hotel, Bel Ombre, on Friday February 21, 2014.
 
Please contact Dr Allan Nimmo +248 2531126 for further information regarding this dinner and for any further information on the Chaine des Rotisseurs.

Contributed