Chefs and apprentices from across the country will practise their cooking skills at Vancouver Island University in preparation for 2024’s Culinary Olympics.
The Culinary Olympics, which occur every four years in Stuttgart, Germany, feature teams from across the globe competing in cooking-related categories and adjudicated by experts. The upper cafeteria at VIU’s Nanaimo campus will serve as “the latest training facility,” noted a press release from the university.
National, provincial and junior team members, including Ottis Crabbe, a VIU culinary arts management graduate, will compete in Germany.
Team B.C. will prepare hors d’oeuvres in a “stand-up reception” at the university and a three-course meal, complete with wine pairings, will be prepared by the junior team, the press release said.
The training will mirror what will happen at the Culinary Olympics, said Rita Gower, VIU’s culinary arts and professional baking and pastry arts programs’ chairperson, in the press release, with current VIU students assisting with set-up and bussing.
It will serve as inspiration for current students, Gower said.
“We’re thrilled to have the teams here and grateful for the opportunity to show our students what’s out there if they want to go in this direction,” Gower said in the press release.
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