New York Chef to Compete at Bocuse-D'or

[melly]

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.co...

I meant Bocuse-d'OR

[buttertart]

Interesting book on this competition recently came out: "Knives at Dawn" by Andrew Friedman. Have just started it.

[LindaWhit]

I see Christopher Parsons from Catch in Winchester, MA came in third - very good showing! A seriously crazy judges panel!

[StheJ]

Poor Kevin...

[goodhealthgourmet]

LOL! i had the same initial reaction for about 3 seconds...but he lost to some seriously talented chefs.

[Miss Needle]

Actually, Kevin dropped out of the competition.

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/01/29/...

[StheJ]

Seems weird. You'd think that he and Bravo would want him to drop everything and focus on the competition. I suspect he just couldn't cut it and all of this about business is smoke.

[trouttr]

I don't think that he couldn't cut it. He does have a lot going on (besides the business he and his wife also separated in late December). During the show he did quite well with a high powered panel of judges and the committee would not have offered him a spot in the next competition if they did not think he had sufficient talent.

By the way I attended the competition and it was great fun to see the cooking happening and the judging. Try to get to the next one if you can.

[gyc]

I don't know whether Kevin had the skills to win, but I think saying that he couldn't cut it is a bit harsh. Kevin was the fan favorite last season on TC, so I am assuming that he's seen a massive rise in business for his restaurant. Add to that all of the promotional appearances he must also be making outside of his restaurant and it's not hard to see why he thinks that he just doesn't have time right now to seriously commit to training for the competition.

[KTinNYC]

I don't think it's harsh at all. The Bocuse isn't Kevin's style. His food looks great but it's very different then what is presented at that particular competition.

[goodhealthgourmet]

that was my first thought - Kevin even said as much on Top Chef. he makes simple- albeit apparently delicious - food, and the Bocuse D'Or is mostly about intricate showmanship and serious technique...not really his style.

[trouttr]

If the Bocuse D Or committee thought that his food is too simple for the competition they would not have offered him a spot in the next competition. And, according to what his spokesperson told Andrew Friedman (author of the Knives at Dawn book) he is planning to compete at that time.

http://www.toqueland.com/2010/01/top-...

[KTinNYC]

The committee gave away an opportunity to compete to the winner of a contest on a tv game show, presumably for publicity. It's not hard to figure out why they are offering Kevin a spot in next years competition.

[StheJ]

Honestly, I just think he's soft. The quality of his food and worthiness for the competition aside. Someone gives you the chance to compete at the most prestigious competition in your field, you go. End of story. You don't whine and complain that you have too much work or that your wife left you and you're feeling bad about it.

[LindaWhit]

But it looks like he was offered a deferral to the next competition in 2013...but no mention as to whether he accepted that.

[goodhealthgourmet]

now THAT is a competition i wish they had televised. the judging panel was insane!