New Orleans and Company has announced that selections of contestants from the Americas region for the Pastry World Cup and the Bocuse d’Or will be held for the first time in the United States in 2024.

The trials for the ‘Americas Selections of the Pastry World Cup’ and the Bocuse d’Or will be held for the first time in 2024 in the United States, in New Orleans, says the official tourism agency of the city New Orleans and Company. 

A press statement by the bureau says that the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will host the two continental selections of the international culinary and pastry competitions on June 11, 12 and 13, 2024, showcasing the best pastry chefs and cooks from all over the American continents. 

The board adds that participants from up to eight countries from North and South America will take part in the ‘Americas Selection of the Pastry World Cup’ on June 11. The three teams on the podium will qualify for the Grand Finale which will take place during Sirha Lyon, the global biannual meet of restaurants and hotels that takes place in the French city in January 2025. A new feature will be an emblematic dessert of the country hosting the continental selections, adds the statement.

 

It says that the year 2024 will be punctuated by the various continental selections of the Pastry World Cup and the Bocuse d’Or: Europe, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa. These will begin with the European Selection of the Pastry World Cup, January 21 and 22, 2024 during Sirha Europain in Paris. The competition will see eight major European nations compete, including France, Italy and Belgium, and the three best teams will qualify for the Grand Finale.

The Bocuse d’Or Europe will be held on March 19 and March 20, 2024 in Trondheim, Norway. Of the 20 nations taking part, including France, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, as well as emerging nations such as Estonia, Latvia and Poland, only 10 will qualify for the Grand Finale in January 2025, during Sirha Lyon. 

It goes on to say that on June 12 and 13, the Bocuse d’Or Americas will take over the stage, with up to 12 countries competing. At the end of these two days of competition, the jury will qualify the five best teams for the Grand Finale of the Bocuse d’Or, also scheduled in January 2025 in France, during the next Sirha Lyon.

The board says that as a regular participant in these competitions, a USA team has reached the podium six times at the Pastry World Cup, with a World Champions title in 2001 and twice at the Bocuse d’Or, notably with the victory of Mathew Peters in 2017. 

“New Orleans is a world-class culinary destination and renowned as a city where champions of all kinds are crowned. We are honoured that New Orleans has been selected as the host city for the Bocuse d’Or Americas and the Americas selections of the Pastry World Cup in June 2024, becoming the first city in the United States to host these events. It is a testament to our culinary community and the international reputation our city enjoys for the unique, one-of-a-kind cuisine we showcase across our dining landscape, including classic restaurants operated for generations by legendary families, innovative fine dining, and passionate chefs in kitchens of all sizes and genres. We are ready to celebrate and welcome chefs from around the world to the greatest food city in America,” says Walt Leger III, President and CEO, New Orleans & Company.

Marked by its French and Spanish influences, New Orleans has a rich and varied culinary heritage that brilliantly reflects the diversity of its history and culture. The board adds that some of the most emblematic dishes to try here are gumbo, a traditional soup inherited from Creole cuisine, and crawfish étouffée, a typical stew served with rice.

It goes on to say that the city’s rich gastronomic heritage is evident as many local restaurants and chefs are honoured each year by the James Beard Foundation, one of the most prestigious gastronomic awards in America. This year, New Orleans was also named Best Food Destination in the US by TripAdvisor as part of the 2023 Travellers’ Choice Awards.