Marcel's Culinary Experience, Glen Ellyn, Wins Le Creuset Display Contest

For the second time, Marcel's Culinary Experience (http://www.marcelsculinaryexperience.com), a gourmet retailer and recreational cooking school in Glen Ellyn, has won a holiday display contest sponsored by Le Creuset (http://www.lecreuset.com ).

The French cookware manufacturer named Marcel's the Midwest regional winner in the 2013 Le Creuset Doufeu Holiday Display Contest. The annual competition -- to identify the most outstanding “French inspired” holiday themed display -- is open to independent retailers selected by Le Creuset, and which carry the company's signature cast iron cookware and bakeware. Marcel's previously won the 2011 regional award.

Marcel's 2013 winning display featured a replica of the Eiffel Tower with a “tower” composed of Le Creuset ovens. A photo of Marcel Foucré, the French chef grandfather of owner Jill Foucré (and inspiration for the store's name), accompanied the display with a “proclamation” that his two favorite towers are Le Creuset and the Tour d'Eiffel.

For winning the contest, Marcel's and its sales associates received gifts of Le Creuset products.

The promotion also included a customer raffle, with a drawing at each participating retail location for a gift of Le Creuset cookware. Le Creuset donated $1 per raffle entry to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign (www.nokidhungry.org ), which is working to end child hunger in America. Marcel's customers completed 64 raffle entries, according to Jill Foucré.

“We're proud that our holiday display was once again recognized by Le Creuset. We're also proud of our customers' efforts in helping contribute to Share Our Strength's important cause,” she said.