Team Australia has been selected to compete in the Grand Finale next January in France, following the cancellation of the 2020 Asia Pacific competition, which was originally scheduled for 1-2 July in Guangzhou, China.
Organisers have nominated the top five teams from the previous Asia Pacific competition in 2018, which were Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Australia.
“It is thanks to the exemplary effort of our 2018-19 team – Michael Cole and his commis chef Laura Skvor – that our current team has been selected,” says Tom Milligan, President Bocuse d’Or Australia.
“We are very excited that 2020-21 Australian candidate Joshua Pelham and commis Harrison Caruana have been invited directly to the Lyon finale in 2021.”
The Bocuse d’Or Americas, scheduled for Lima in September, has also been cancelled. USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and Chile have all qualified, also using results from 2018.
Meanwhile, the Bocuse d’Or Europe and Bocuse d’Or Africa will take place this October in Estonia and Morocco.
The Bocuse d’Or – or Gold Bocuse – was established by famed chef the late Paul Bocuse over 30 years ago and has grown in stature to become the world’s most elite culinary competition.
Team Australia is led by President Tom Milligan, Vice President Philippe Mouchel, Head Coach Scott Pickett and Ambassador Gabriel Gaté. Last year they selected Pelham, who is Executive Chef at RACV Cape Schanck Resort, and Commis Chef Harrison Caruana, a chef at RACV City Club, to represent Australia.
“We could never have envisaged last September when we announced our new team that a pandemic would sweep the world, causing a crisis in the hospitality industry and global economies,” adds Milligan. “I am encouraged by the dedication of Josh and Harrison, who have continued to plan and train for the competition, although constrained by the health restrictions.”
He adds that the two chefs are grateful for the backing of their employers RACV Club, as well as the steadfast support of sponsors Global Meats, Aquanas, Moffat, Alliance Insurance, Imports of France, Bone Roasters and Scicluna’s.
Image credit: Sydney Low.