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America and Canada

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America and Canada


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American Culinary Federation


Thomas Keller; Philip Tessier; Gavin Kaysen; Skylar Stover
Thomas Keller; Philip Tessier;
Gavin Kaysen; Skylar Stover

Philip Tessier's Fish Platter 2015
Philip Tessier's
Fish Platter 2015

Philip Tessier's Meat Platter 2015
Philip Tessier's
Meat Platter 2015


Canadian Culinary Championships 2015

Edmonton, City of Champions


Ryan O'Flynn, Canadian Champion 2015
Ryan O'Flynn,
Canadian Champion 2015

Ryan O'Flynn's Sturgeon with textures of Beets and Caviar 2015
Ryan O'Flynn's Sturgeon with
textures of Beets and Caviar 2015

Ryan O'Flynn's Foie gras and pine smoked Sturgeon Terrine 2015
Ryan O'Flynn's Foie gras and pine
smoked Sturgeon Terrine 2015


October 2010

History Bites  12th Edition

A while back I visited Google Analytics. This service generates detailed statistics about the visitors to the Champchefs web site. I do not go there very often as I find it somewhat difficult to comprehend. My recent acquired computer skills are purposely focused on ‘need to know tasks’. At this Google site I find myself immersed in strange terminologies such as a ‘dashboard’ that talks about ‘Bounce Rates’ and ‘Traffic Sources Overviews’.  There are ‘Absolute New Visitors’ who are somehow different from just ‘Unique Visitors’ if you can explain that difference?  I would prefer to think of all my visitors as ‘Special Visitors’.

However one fact was interesting. The many thousands of visitors to the Champchefs Archive originate from ninety nine different countries. What a divergence of readers! But one thing did stump me. There was one visitor from Benin. I have not previously heard of this Country so I went to Google Earth and there it was on the west coast of Africa. So here’s a ‘hands across the waters’ to our lone fan from far away.

During the last dozen or so Editions, the Champchefs Archive has expanded to include some 200 or more teams reaching back to 1956. This means that the Archive has captured 54 years of chefs competing in salons worldwide.

Looking to South America. There was great coverage of the WAC’S Congress in Santiago, Chili. And last year we included the Guatemala Regional team led by Euda Morales that competed in Erfurt 2008. It would be great to see a few more South American Teams represented in the Archive. So you good folks way down south please contact me with details on your National, Regional or Junior teams.

I thought it appropriate to include a new section on Sommeliers as it is their excellence that often enhances our masterful creations. A splendid dinner would be lonely indeed without a glass or two of wine or your preferred tipple.

ASI (Association de la Sommellerie International) represents Sommeliers worldwide and has been doing so for many years past. In 1969 Armand Melkonian of France was the Champion of the first ‘Best Sommeliers in the World’ competition. Most recently ASI held their convention in conjunction with the WAC’s World Congress 2010 in Santiago, Chili. Gerard Basset of England was crowned their new Champion.

In 2007 a splinter group of associations resigned their membership in ASI and set up a body called WSA (World Sommelier Association). I have included some results from WSA competitions in this Archive. It has been suggested that I should not include this splinter group. Perhaps, but, it is not for the archivist to be an arbiter of right or wrong and cherry pick popular favorites. An Archive is a record for posterity. It is a legacy where present and future readers can discuss the merits of schisms and protocols. (Just imagine - heated discussions around the dinner table - what fun - how appropriate!)

To find the section on Sommeliers, simply go to the Header ‘Teams’ and scroll down to ‘Champion Sommeliers’. I have made the distinction between ASI and WSA competitions.

Finally, take a visit to the header ‘Retrospectives’ and scroll to ‘Singapore Chefs-Growth to Glory’ and enjoy the cartoon crafted by chef Dieter Rosch and see if you recognize some of the finest talents to be found working the kitchens of Singapore.

To review the most recent Teams to be included in the Champchefs Archive, simply visit the Home page.

Maurice O'Flynn

Editor.