Edito
A few words from the chairman
The Bocuse d’Or Winners Association is a rather unique family. Its role is, of course, to bring together all those who have stood on the podium, ensuring there is an “after” that inscribes them in time; but this honor also comes with a duty.
Indeed, we must remain at the service of the competition and, above all, pass on our experience to all future candidates. The Bocuse d’Or is an extraordinary challenge, with a level of difficulty that requires overcoming numerous hurdles—technical, creative, emotional, logistical…
The road to Lyon is long; we have traveled it and now have so much advice to share with all those embarking on this incredible adventure! They should know that we are here for them.
Kenneth Toft-Hansen, Bocuse d’Or 2019, Denmark
President of the Bocuse d’Or Winners
The association
Story
Since 1987, every two years, chefs from all over the world meet in a friendly culinary fight at the end of which three of them reach the podium. The Bocuse d’Or prize-winner’s Academy was started in 2000 backed by ROUGIE which wanted to help strengthen the links between all the winners. Today we are 52 chefs from 14 different countries. Today, it is simply called : the Bocuse d’Or Winners.
Goals
The mission of Bocuse d’Or Winners
– Through their words and actions, they contribute to the promotion of the Bocuse d’Or as a prestigious competition. It now ranks top among contests of its kind, with a sphere of influence that has enabled it to attract the “gratin” of international gastronomy, paying a warm tribute to the cooking professions. Many of our chefs are getting involved in their own countries in very practical ways, organising selections, sitting on juries, coaching new candidates.
– They created the Best Commis Chef Prize, presented during the Bocuse d’Or to a young cook as a reward for his professionalism during the trials assisting candidates. The Chefs are committed to promoting their profession among the younger generation and this prize is a highly coveted sign of recognition for those who play a key role in each candidate’s performance.
– Driven by the need to get involved in helping those who feed the world, they supported solidarity micro-credit actions from 2013 to 2023 via Babyloan.org, today Lendahand.
Since 2023, they have supported World Central Kitchen, the NGO created by chef José Andres.
– Since 2004 the association has published numerous books, the most recent of which, Cooking Contest: Winning Advice, has been a great success. Available on request.
