Belgium goes home empty-handed as Denmark wins Bocuse d'Or

The Danish team, which had earlier won the European final of the Bocuse d'Or, has also conquered first place in the first global edition of the culinary competition on Monday. Norway took second place, Hungary came third. Belgium leaves empty-handed after the competation at Salon International de la Restauration (SIRHA) in Lyon, France.

The Belgian formation, led by Sam Van Houcke of Maste restaurant in Ghent, was allowed to showcase its skills on Sunday. For the first exercise, the team chose a version of Belgian chips with butternut squash and a dessert based on Belgian waffles, with the theme "Feed the kids".

For the first time, the Bocuse d'Or organisers had chosen this year to focus the competition on the importance of food for children's health. The chefs were instructed to put the pumpkin at the centre and to incorporate at least one egg in their main dish. For the dish, monkfish took centre stage, complemented by scallops and a garnish consisting of only vegetable products.

Twenty-four countries participated in the global final. Belgium finished in fourteenth place. During the European competition, which took place in Budapest last March, the same three countries reached the podium: Denmark won, Hungary came second then and Norway third.

Ferdy Debecker was the last Belgian to win a medal at the Bocuse d'Or. He took bronze in 1999.

(BRV)

^{Danish chef Brian Mark Hansen ​ celebrates with his team after winning the 2023 Bocuse d’Or cooking competition © PHOTO JEFF PACHOUD / AFP}