Culinary Olympic trials coming to ECC
A sort of culinary Olympic trials is kicking off locally at the same time as the Winter Games.
More than two dozen chefs from around the country will compete at Elgin Community College Feb. 19-21 in the first of two competitions determining who will represent the U.S. on the American Culinary Federation's Team in the 2012 International Culinary Art Exhibition in Erfurt, Germany.
The event is known to those in the profession as the "culinary Olympics."
Three of the 28 chefs competing for a slot are from the Chicago suburbs.
Timothy Bucci is an associate culinary professor at Joliet Junior College; John Reed owns Skokie's Customized Culinary Solutions; and Rudy Smith is a corporate chef for Unilever Foodsolutions in Lisle.
To be selected to compete, chefs must be members of the American Culinary Federation. Participating in competitions helps individuals earn various certifications.
Reed noted that out-of-pocket expenses buying and preparing food for competition can get pricey. And time consuming.
"There's always a question why we do this. ... It helps toward certification. But I do it because I want to prove to myself I can cook with the rest of them," he said.
According to a federation news release, the competition at ECC features what is called a "cold-fold" segment - where candidates have 17 hours (over two days) to prepare, plate and present three different cold dishes to a panel of judges.
Ingredients can be organized and cleaned ahead of time, but not processed or prepared, Reed said.
The second and final tryout, this one focused on hot food, will take place later this year. Six individuals will ultimately be selected for the team.
Competitors must, in their presentation, incorporate various trends into their dishes, and display a knowledge of classical cooking skills. Personality, teamwork, and attitude are also factors considered.
The American Culinary Federation's national team first began taking part in international competitions in 1956. Since then, it has won world championship in 1960, 1980, 1984 and 1988.
"This is how we stay on top of our game," Reed said.