Top-ten finish for Canadian Chef David Wong at global culinary showdown
Top-ten finish for Canadian Chef David Wong at global culinary showdown
Title sponsor Moxie’s Classic Grill congratulates Team Canada on a job well done at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or
Calgary, AB, January 29, 2009 - Moxie’s Classic Grill is proud to announce that Chef David Wong and the Canadian Bocuse d’Or team achieved success placing in the top ten at this year’s Bocuse d’Or in Lyon, France. With a ninth place overall finish for Bocuse Team Canada, Chef Wong’s apprentice Grace Pineda won top honours for “Best Commis (Apprentice).” Their participation at the most prestigious culinary competition in the world has helped foster worldwide appreciation for the quality and character of Canadian cuisine. This rewarding experience for Team Canada is a culmination of years of hard work from Chef Wong and months of support from title sponsor, Moxie’s Classic Grill.
“On behalf of the entire Moxie’s family, I’d like to congratulate Chef Wong and his team for their performance at this year’s Bocuse d’Or,” said Laurids Skaarup, President of Moxie’s Classic Grill. “We’re a fiercely proud Canadian company and these are fiercely proud Canadian competitors. At Moxie’s, we have always known that Canada is blessed with tremendous culinary talent, evidenced in David’s top-ten placement and Grace’s award for “Best Commis.”
Leading up to the 2009 Bocuse d’Or, Chef David Wong spent the past six years training to perfect his craft. After winning the Canadian Bocuse d’Or nomination in 2007, David put his instructor duties at The Art Institute of Vancouver on hold to prepare full time for the Bocuse d’Or competition.
“This has been an incredible journey, and it was truly a privilege to represent Canada at the Bocuse d’Or. The competition is unbelievably fierce, and the opportunity to compete at this level is something I will never forget,” said Chef Wong. “Moxie’s dedication gave us advantages no other Canadian competitor in the history of Bocuse has enjoyed - we were able to train full time in the months leading up to the competition, work with young Moxie’s chefs across Canada, and share our story with Canadians.”
The Bocuse d’Or is held every two years in Lyon, France and was founded in 1987 by legendary chef Paul Bocuse, who is widely accepted as the father of modern cuisine. The competition sees 24 chefs from 24 countries competing to take home gold, silver, or bronze and the respect of the global culinary community. This year’s event took place on January 27 and 28, 2009.
Underlining the Bocuse d’Or’s emphasis on learning and mentorship, Chef Wong was assisted by Grace Pineda, who is completing her apprenticeship at the Vancouver Fairmont Waterfront Hotel under Chef Wayne Harris. “This has been the journey of a lifetime - Chef Wong has mentored me every step of the way, and I couldn’t be more excited or more proud than I am right now,” says Pineda. The Bocuse d’Or requires that competing chefs mentor and bring as their assistants apprentice chefs who are no older than 22 years of age.
Contributing to Chef Wong’s success is an all-star Canadian team, which includes his mentor and coach Robert Allen Sulatycky, a Bocuse d’Or alumnus whose fourth place finish at the 1999 Bocuse d’Or remains the best finish for a North American chef. Chef Sulatycky is Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage at the world-renowned Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows. Chef de Mission Vincent Parkinson, Executive Chef of the Calgary Golf and Country Club, has led Canadian culinary teams to victory in Luxembourg, Berlin, and Glasgow.
“Sponsoring Team Canada at the Bocuse d’Or has been a tremendous experience for Moxie’s, and Team Canada’s performance is icing on the cake. We always believed that Canada can compete on the world stage; this is a reminder for young, culinary talent that with passion, training and mentorship, they can achieve anything,’ said Mr. Skaarup. “Moxie’s and Bocuse d’Or Canada share a passion for food and a passion for learning, and we have seen both in action. Our work with David and the Bocuse d’Or team gave us an opportunity for our own emerging talented chefs from our kitchens across Canada to work with Canadian world class chefs.”
Be sure to check out David’s Facebook Fan Club. Become a fan and send a congratulatory message to Team Canada. Facebook users can join the David Wong Fan Club by clicking here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Wong/8848998268
About Moxie’s
Founded in Calgary in 1986, Moxie’s Classic Grill has 59 locations across Canada, Moxie’s is Canada’s largest growing restaurant chain in the premium casual sector. Moxie’s is a Canadian success story with system sales exceeding $240 million. Moxie’s operates upper tier casual restaurants coast to coast and is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and late-night dining.
About Bocuse d’Or
The Bocuse d’Or was founded in 1987 by legendary French Chef Paul Bocuse and Albert Romain, organizer of the trade exhibition. Their vision was to create a competition that would bring the greatest chefs out from behind closed doors and onto the world stage. They wanted to share the atmosphere and life of a great kitchen and give an international audience the opportunity to see these great chefs at work. Nowhere else in the world of culinary arts is there such a concentration of talent, competitive rivalry, and exquisite cookery than at the Bocuse d’Or. This is the most prestigious culinary competition in the world, a showcase for the talents of chefs who represent 24 countries in an intense, highly charged, and extremely noisy atmosphere. Bocuse d’Or takes place over two days in conjunction with SIRHA, the International Hotel Catering and Food Trade Exhibition, and attracts more than 160,000 visitors from around the world.
