Sri Lanka’s Finest Hotels to Participate in Upcoming Bocuse d’Or 2023 Competition

text Rihaab Mowlana

In a dazzling display of culinary expertise and gastronomic excellence, Sri Lanka’s finest chefs will take center stage at the Bocuse d’Or 2023 competition, often hailed as the “Olympics of Cooking.” This highly anticipated international culinary event will showcase the exceptional skills of Sri Lanka’s finest chefs, who will compete on the world stage in Lyon, France. 

Supported by Dilmah Tea and a host of valued partners, this gastronomic extravaganza promises to be an unforgettable experience. Among the 30 hotels participating in this prestigious event are Cinnamon Grand, Cinnamon Lakeside, Courtyard by Marriot, Dickwella Resort & Spa, Galadari Hotel, Grand Kandyan, Heritance Ahungalla, Hilton Residences, Kosgoda Turtle Beach, Occidental Eden - Beruwala, Pegasus Reef Hotel PLC, Sri Lankan Catering, Thaala Bentota, Movenpick, Galle Face Hotel, Heritance Kandalama, Araliya Beach Resort & Spa, Shangri-La - Colombo, Club Dolphin, VIVANTA Airport Garden Colombo, Colombo Court Hotel & Spa, Taj Samudra Colombo, Anantara Tangalle, Waters Edge, Shangri-La - Hambantota, Kingsbury, Cinnamon Bey - Beruwala, Marino Beach Hotel, Hikka Tranz, and Cinnamon Bentota. Each hotel brings their culinary prowess to the competition, vying for culinary excellence and the chance to represent Sri Lanka on the global stage.

The main event is scheduled to take place on July 23rd, 2023, at the renowned William Angliss Institute at SLIIT. The participating chefs will engage in an intense cook-off, aiming to impress a distinguished judging panel that includes renowned culinary experts such as Chef Otto Weibel and Chef Frank Widmann. Chef Otto Weibel, a respected figure in the food and beverage industry with over 50 years of experience, will bring his vast expertise to ensure a fair and rigorous evaluation process. Chef Frank Widmann, known for his culinary prowess, will also join the panel, having previously achieved impressive accolades at the Culinary Olympics.

The competition will challenge the talents of chefs from 30 hotels, each tasked with creating two main course dishes, one featuring seafood and the other highlighting meat, artfully presented on individual plates and infused with the essence of Dilmah Tea. The contestants will additionally craft three garnishes and a complementary sauce to complement their culinary creations, with all ingredients, except seafood and meat, sourced by the participants themselves.

A highlight of the event will be the incorporation of exquisite teas from Dilmah and Genesis ingredients, such as jackfruits and seaweed, in both the competition and the Gala dinner. Dilhan C. Fernando, the Tea Grower and Dilmah CEO, will personally present the “Best Use of Dilmah Tea in Gastronomy” award to a deserving winner, acknowledging their exceptional utilization of tea in their culinary masterpieces.

The gala dinner and award ceremony will be held at Waters Edge, Colombo, where the winning team will be announced, securing their spot to represent Sri Lanka in the Regional Competition. The Bocuse d’Or 2023 competition celebrates the harmonious blend of culinary excellence and tea gastronomy, promising an unforgettable experience for all participants 
and attendees.

As the anticipation builds for this extraordinary culinary extravaganza, Sri Lanka eagerly awaits the chance to showcase the remarkable talents and boundless creativity of its culinary stars on the global stage. 

Pix Courtesy Dilmah