Loire Valley International Mâche Match Final Results 2008
British, French and Spanish chefs battled it out at a grueling live cook-off in the Loire Valley, France for the International Mâche Match 2008 on Thursday 6 November.
Nick Chapman, House of Commons sous chef came second in the competition, scoring highest overall in the surprise basket round and impressing the international panel of judges.
The French finalist, Nicolas Guiet, sous chef from renowned gastronomic restaurant ‘La Mare aux Oiseaux’ in the Loire came out on top winning a prize of €1,500 after four categories designed to test finalists’ skills to the max. Alberto de la Fuente Helleman, chef at ‘La Botilleria del Café de Oriente’ in Madrid made up the Spanish contingent of the three talented finalists.
The competition, judged by a panel of European food service leaders was held by the Loire Valley Lamb’s Lettuce Association (CEAFL) in close association with the UK Craft Guild of Chefs to highlight the practicality and versatility of mâche (that’s lamb’s lettucein French, in case you were wondering!) among chefs.
The British finalist’s menu included:
• Rapid Cuisine round: Seared scallops and foie gras with mâche foam
• Healthy Eating round: Seared and cured Halibut with mâche jelly, celeriac purée, Girolle mushrooms and red wine crème fraîche
• Gourmet round: saddle and rack of rabbit stuffed with mâche mousse on a bed of offal salad
• Mystery basket round: Pan fried Guinea Fowl breast with mâche and fennel puree, Borlotti beans and Chanterelle mushroom cream.
The judging panel for the competition held at the prestigious Nicolas Appert culinary school in Nantes included:
• Martin Bates, CEO, Craft Guild of Chefs
• Michelin starred Mey Hofmann, Hofmann culinary school and restaurant, Barcelona
• Didier Peschard, President, Loire Valley Eurotoques
• Bernard Géry, President, Valnantais Cooperative and Regional Legumes Association
Head judge Martin Bates, CEO, Craft Guild of Chefs said: “This year saw the introduction of a new mystery basket round to really put the finalists to the test. Despite the high pressure situation the level of creativity was excellent.”
Olivier de Grandmaison, President of the Loire Valley Lamb’s Lettuce Commission said: “Loire Valley mâche is a product of our unique ‘terroir’. 85 per cent of mâche cultivated in France is from the Nantes region and most of this is exported throughout Europe. This international competition, now in its second year, is important to highlight the many benefits of mâche and to allow up and coming UK, Spanish and French chefs to share their inspiration for this high quality ingredient.”
The three international finalists were also taken on a tour of Mâche seeding, production and packing facilities to learn more about the origins of the nutritious leaf.
All the recipes are available for view in the recipe section of the Craft Guild of Chefs website, along with entries from previous years.
Filed under: Awards, Chefs, France, Produce, Recipes | Tagged: Alberto de la Fuente Helleman, Craft Guild of Chefs, International Mâche Match, lamb’s lettuce, Loire Valley, Nick Chapman, Nicolas Guiet