Morocco won the 2024 edition of the Bocuse d'Or Africa on Thursday in Marrakech, a culinary competition organized as part of the Official Tournament of Chefs Africa (TOC Africa).

The Moroccan team, composed of young talents Yassine Bogdad, Youssef Lamghani, Ahmed Ben Semlali, and led by Chef Moha Fedal, won this award after 5 hours and 35 minutes of competition, followed by Mauritius and Egypt, which secured the second and third places on the podium, respectively.

The elite chefs from Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Morocco, and Senegal competed in this event by tackling two challenges that tested their mastery of African culinary techniques while meeting international presentation standards.

The first challenge, called “Theme on Plate,” involved enhancing a roast beef tenderloin and veal sweetbreads, accompanied by three vegetable garnishes, one of which had to represent their country, to highlight the richness of Africa’s culinary traditions.

In the second challenge, “Theme on Plate,” the teams designed a complete menu centered around the carrot, including a starter, a main course with three scallops, and a dessert.

The Moroccans rose to the challenge. A very beautiful demonstration. A lot of finesse,” praised Davy Tissot, winner of the Bocuse d’Or World 2023 and President of the International Jury of Bocuse d’Or Africa 2024, in a statement to MAP.

Tissot also highlighted that Moroccan cuisine, as rich as it is varied, reflects the conviviality of Moroccans and a unique cultural heritage.

The Official Tournament of Chefs Africa will continue on Friday with the organization of the African Pastry Cup, which will celebrate the art of pastry through tests showcasing the creations of master pastry chefs from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.

The candidates will surpass themselves during 10 hours of competition in various categories, including "Tasting Tests" and "Artistic Tests." These spectacular creations, both visually and for the palate, showcase the excellence and creativity of the pastry chefs.

The winners of the African Pastry Cup and the Bocuse d’Or Africa will represent their countries in the grand final, which will be held at the prestigious SIRHA exhibition in Lyon in 2025.

The Bocuse d’Or is a prestigious cooking competition, sometimes referred to as the "Olympics" of gastronomy, founded in 1987 by the legendary French chef Paul Bocuse. This competition brings together chefs from around the world who compete in an intense contest, showcasing their creativity, technique, and ability to handle stress.

Article source: lobservateur