Indonesian Team Heads off as Asias Representative

The Indonesian Team has gone through their final stage of preparation and has departed as Asia’s representative for the International Culinary Competition, WACS Global Chefs Challenge Finals at Santiago Chile, 24-28 January 2010.

Bali Culinary Professionals (BCP) held a special gathering at The Laguna Resort and Spa for the team presentation.

This team, consisting of Balinese chef I Wayan Wicaya and apprentice Alexander Tanuhardja, both of Bulgari Resorts Bali, took the honors at the World Association of Chefs Society (WACS) Global Chef Asia competition held in Hong Kong early 2009, defeating long standing champions from Hong Kong and Singapore.

On their journey to Chile, they were accompanied by team leader/trainer Andrew Skinner, executive chef of Bulgari Resorts Bali, vice president of Bali Culinary Professionals (BCP) Darren Lauder, executive chef of Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa, and Dias Raditya Wijaya, a member of Young Chefs as junior delegate.

Since winning the regional competition, the team went through grueling daily trainings for three months, with over 200 hours of practice to polish their culinary expertise.

“Each step bringing us closer to Chile has been a major challenge, in terms of effort, time and financing. Our achievement today would not have been possible without the helping hand of all the BCP Committee, members and partners,” claims Made Putra, president of BCP during the gathering at The Laguna Resort and Spa, “We extend our gratitude to all our loyal sponsors who have supported us morally and financially”.

The WACS Global Chef Challenge competition is held every two years and coinciding with the WACS Congress, this year held in Chile. This competition brings seven finalists selected from the various continental areas (Asia, Pacific Rim, Africa, The Americas and northern, southern, and central Europe) to prepare and present a well-balanced four-course menu.

The winner will be crowned the WACS Global Chef Champion and be rewarded with a trophy and monetary award.

Bali Culinary Professionals is a non-profitable organization that supports chefs in Bali with members comprising of chefs of various levels from hotels and restaurants across the Island of Bali, together with food and beverage managers, owners and suppliers to the hospitality industry.

The goal of the organization is to create, maintain and improve professional standards of chefs, highlighting and encouraging new and needed skills, facilitating new ideas and exposing Balinese food and their craftsmen locally and overseas.

For more information on Bali Culinary Professionals: www.balichefs.com or contact
BCP Secretariat, c.o. Travel Works Communications International
Jl. Kesari 60A, Sanur, Bali
Tel 0361.284095, Fax 0361.270189
E-mail : info@travelworks-bali.com