Chefs encoding black boxes.
Eckart
Witzigmann had sent a viral clip to Vietnamese candidates, saying “I’m excited
to experience Vietnamese cuisine with talented chefs. However, do remember I’m
not an easy person to persuade.”
If
he was easy, Eckart might not be the one who cooked and talked to Britain Queen
or US Presidents in special important occasions.
If
he was easy, he might not have a 75 years-old birthday celebration with 6 super
stars chefs cooking in his “every chef must see” party.
And
if he was easy, he might not carry a compact camera everywhere to take pictures
of special spices and cooking methods that performed by different people in
different cultures.
The
more you had followed what international newspapers have said about Eckart, the
more interesting and expecting you’d had when he would visit Viet Nam.
“Chef of the century” Eckart Witzigmann would attend in the final round.
Viet Nam has
Michelin-star chefs
Ending
days are the most expecting time of culinary world, when The Michelin Guide –
the most glorious culinary guidebooks of each country would announce Michelin
stars’ owners of the year.
On
his personal face book, Eckart had relentlessly pledged his students for days.
From bustling New York of the US to mysterious Tokyo of Japan, from magnificent
Paris to quietly antique Munich, there were chefs or restaurants that received
new stars or upgraded to more stars.
Meanwhile,
Eckart was standing on summit moments of The Golden Spoon contest with his nice
smile. He was one of the first chefs in the world getting 3 stars Michelin –
“the Oscar prize of culinary field”. It’s totally not lame comparing how pricy
and desirable of Michelin golden stars to Oscar statue in the 7th art.
Michelin-rated
restaurants, 1 or 3 stars, all have high-quality reputation and the most
expensive prices, ranking among top of the world.
Although
preservation in Michelin-rated restaurants can take a whole year, millions of
diners still have a desire to taste wonderful cuisine from Michelin-rated
chefs.
And
Vietnamese people had hoped that Michelin secret examiners would went together
or at least they would look and check Vietnamese cuisine out.
My
dear, when will we have Michelin-rated chefs?
The Golden Spoon final round gathered all experienced and reliable in culinary field.
Vietnamese spices
were in the “must have” list of world’s kitchen cabinets
I
usually wondered what made 75 years old Eckart, who has had most of glorious
reputation in his lifetime, to take a long flight to participate The Golden
Spoon Awards. I emailed him but he had not replied. Instead, I received a copy
of an interview in a Germany culinary magazine, in which he talked about the
importance of local spices.
The
chef named “important influence to cooking styles of the whole Europe” shared
his thoughts, “There are always some “must-have” lists in any classy
restaurants but they also have a list of regional products and spices. I like
to try local products every time I come to a new land and always think about
how to bring the most delicious specialties of each region to the global common
“must-have” list.”
He
did not clarify what specialties he brought from his homeland or from where he
had worked as personal chef of US President John F. Kennedy to his “must-have”
list, which should apply for every standard kitchen. However, he has brought an
endless inspiration: if there is a Vietnamese spice in this “must-have” list,
what would it be?
Let’s
follow the Map of Vietnamese spices from The Golden Spoon contest to see your
choice is any close to Eckart’s.
NOTE: The
most excellent 15 teams would compete in the final round of The Goden Spoon
contest 2016, which took place in Dec 6th and 7th 2016 at the Military Zone 7
Gymnastic (202 Hoang Vjan Thu st., ward 9, Phu Nhuan dist., HCMC). The jury
included 13 judges with all professional judges were highly professional and
experienced in culinary world.]
Main
contain of the final round with “secret ingredients” was as following:
- The
Organization prepared main ingredients and spices in black boxes
- 15
teams took turn to ballot
- 90
minutes to brainstorm the menu and to shop groceries
- After
shopping time, the farm market would be close and no one would be allowed to
take, to return, or to exchange what they had had.
- 90
minutes for preparation and party table set-up
- Official
cooking time: 140 minutes
By Kien Chinh/TTTG