Sixteen finalists are gearing up for the grand national finale, which will take place this Tuesday, March 25, and Wednesday, March 26, at the Paul Augier Hotel and Tourism School, Vocational High School in Nice. They will compete for the titles of 2014 Junior and Professional French Dessert Champion.
The regional selections for the 40th French Dessert Championship, organized by CEDUS (Centre of Studies and Documentation on Sugar), have just concluded, and talents have been unveiled.
Across France, dozens of candidates have showcased their technique, boldness, and creativity to demonstrate their mastery of plated desserts. Today, 8 junior pastry chefs (students from hotel schools and apprentices from training centers) and 8 professional pastry chefs are qualified for the grand national finale, which will take place on March 25 & 26 in Nice.
On this occasion, they will have to recreate the plated dessert that allowed them to qualify and create a second plated dessert from a surprise basket that they will discover on the day, concocted by Philippe Conticini, president of the 2014 juries.
The stakes are high, and to celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Championship plans an exceptional edition. This year, the prodigy of French pastry Philippe Conticini, co-founder of La Pรขtisserie des Rรชves, will preside over the juries throughout these two days of competition and will present the winners with their awards.
Furthermore, 40 champions from the past 40 years will gather in Nice to support their successors; it will be an opportunity for some to participate in the Champions Challenge, a friendly intergenerational competition focused on transmission and sharing.
