The First Annual StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition

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Presented by PreGel at the StarChefs.com International Chefs Congress
Save the Date: September 20-22, 2010 New York City

The First Annual StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition: Wrap-Up

Day 1/Sept. 20th,
8:00am-10:45am:
Pre-dessert

Day 2/Sept. 21st,
8:30am-10:30am:
Plated Dessert

Day 3/Sept. 22nd,
11:00am-12:00pm:
Three corresponding chocolate items each showcasing a different technique: Chocolate Centerpiece, Bonbon, Cake

Purchase ICC and Pastry Competition Passes Here or call 212-966-7575

Media Credentials
(download).

StarChefs.com launches its inaugural International Pastry Competition presented by PreGel at the fifth annual StarChefs.com International Chefs Congress this September 20-22 in New York City. A select group of twenty (20) leading international and US pastry chefs will compete for a grand prize: a stage in a top pastry kitchen. The competition is unlike any other pastry competition and is designed to let fine dining restaurant pastry chefs shine with an emphasis on courses of plated desserts. No traditional showpieces to be had here!

The competitors will make their magic happen on the ICC Main Stage for all of the Congress attendees to observe. The judging panel is a who's who of industry luminaries who know their way around a kitchen, and who represent both classical and cutting-edge philosophies: rock star Pastry Chef Johnny Iuzzini will be the official Executive Pastry Chef Consultant of the competition; guest judges will include Jacques Torres, Elizabeth Falkner, Albert Adria, Marcus Samuelsson, Wylie Dufresne and Jeffrey Steingarten.

Designed specifically with the fine dining restaurant pastry chef in mind (but not to the preclusion of any other working pastry chef), this competition focuses on elements critical to the execution of a well-rounded dessert menu. The StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition presented by PreGel will give pastry chefs an opportunity to be evaluated for talent and techniques used in an everyday restaurant setting in competition with their peers. In contrast to the usual template for pastry competitions that focus on large-scale pulled sugar and chocolate showpieces, this competition will focus on showcasing plated desserts in the first two elimination rounds and more advanced techniques will be incorporated by the three finalists. Participants will be judged on presentation, execution, creativity, taste, and theme.

Pastry Competition Judges


Executive Pastry Chef Consultant Johnny Iuzzini Jean Georges New York, NY	Chef Albert Adria Inopia Barcelona, Spain	Chef Wylie Dufresne wd~50 New York, NY	Chef Elizabeth Falkner Orson San Francisco, CA

Chef Marcus Samuelsson Red Rooster & Riingo New York, NY	Jeffrey Steingarten Writer for Vogue New York, NY	Pastry Chef Jacques Torres Jacques Torres Brooklyn, NY

WINNER

Ron Paprocki

Gordon Ramsay at the London

FINALISTS

Name	Restaurant
Chris Ford	Trummer's on Main
Ian Gresik	Drago Centro
Ron Paprocki	Gordon Ramsay at the London

SEMIFINALISTS

Name	Restaurant
Maximo Carmona-Rivera	Lacroix
Jim Hutchison	Foxwoods Resort Casino
Chris Ford	Trummer's on Main
Ian Gresik	Drago Centro
Kei Hasegawa	Sashi
Jiho Kim	L’Espalier
Ron Paprocki	Gordon Ramsay at the London
Ramon Perez	David Myers Group
Toni Roberts	C-House
Yulanda Santos	Dry Creek Kitchen

What is the StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition?

• An original three-day pastry competition designed to showcase the creativity of the most talented pastry chefs in the industry.
• 20 pastry chefs will compete for the chance to win the grand prize (a stage in a top pastry kitchen).

Day 1, Sept. 20th, 8:00am-10:45am: Pre-Dessert Competition
Day 2, Sept. 21st, 8:30am-10:30am: Plated Dessert Competition
Day 3, Sept. 22nd, 11:00am-12:00pm: Finalists create three corresponding chocolate items that each showcase a different technique:

• Chocolate Centerpiece
• Bonbon
• Entremets

The first and second days of the competition are elimination rounds, culminating in three finalists on the Main Stage during the final day of the ICC. Each of the three competition rounds will be judged based on criteria specific to the items being created and presented that day.

Round 1: 20 chefs compete for 10 spots to advance to round two based on creativity, presentation, taste, execution, and theme.
Round 2: 10 chefs compete for 3 finalist spots and prizes and advance to the final round.
Round 3: 1 pastry chef will win the grand prize.

A separate demonstration kitchen will be available to continuing competitors on days one and two for their mise-en-place between elimination rounds.

General Competition Information:

• Competition is open to any working pastry professional (restaurant, hotel, catering, banquet, bakery, pastry shop, chocolate shop, private chef).

Ingredients:

• Competitors will not be allowed to bring in any outside ingredients.
• A pantry of items will be provided by StarChefs.com, PreGel, and supporting sponsors of the competition.

Equipment:

• Each competitor will be allowed to bring in a select list of smallwares and specialty equipment. All other tools will be provided by StarChefs.com.
• During the competition, competitors will be given their own workspace but must share other relevant heavy equipment.

Judging:

• General judging criteria will evaluate presentation, execution, creativity, taste and theme where applicable.
• Participating judges to include Jacques Torres, Elizabeth Falkner, Albert Adria, Marcus Samuelsson, Wylie Dufresne and Jeffrey Steingarten.
• Tasting portions of the competition will occur in staggered intervals.
• Competitors advancing onto rounds two and three will be given appropriate time for mise-en-place in a StarChefs.com appointed prep kitchen.

Prizes

Grand Prize:

• Trip to Paris, France with roundtrip airfare and 5-night hotel stay for winner and a guest. Trip includes stage at Pierre Herme in Paris. Presented by Bravo.
• 3-day, 4-night trip to Costa Rica, including a visit to a Rainforest Alliance Certified Cocoa Plantation and a free day in San Jose. Presented by Belcolade
• 2011 invitation to teach a 5-Star Pastry Series Seminar with media promotion, including airfare, stipend, and accommodations near PreGel Professional Training Center in North Carolina. Presented by PreGel.
• Opportunity to be a judge at the 2011 StarChefs.com International Pastry Competition
• Profile on StarChefs.com

Round Two Finalists:

Each of the 3 chefs who move on to the final round will receive the following prizes:
• Hobart N50 5-quart mixer, presented by Hobart
• $2,000 voucher to be used toward the purchase of any piece of Carpigiani equipment, presented by Carpigiani
• Profile on StarChefs.com

Round One Finalists:

Each of the ten finalists who move on from Round One will receive the following:
• Stainless steel cheese knives, presented by Wisconsin Cheese.
• 10 Waring Commercial Immersion Blenders Quick Stick WSB25

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