Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre chefs to represent Australia
20 May 2010

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Senior Sous Chef, Russell Clarke has been selected to represent Australia at the world’s most prestigious cooking competition in France.

Russell and his apprentice chef, Mathew Lee will compete for the world title at the famous Bocuse d’Or International Cooking Competition in Lyon in France in January.

The Bocuse d’Or (Concours mondial de la cuisine) the world’s most highly regarded cooking competition, known as Cuisine Olympiad, has become the most sought after prize for young chefs world-wide and provides a professional springboard for young talent in international gastronomy.

The Brisbane pair won the right to represent their country at the biennial world chef championships from a strong field of five teams of Australia’s top young chefs including former international competition winners.

A team of 30 international and Australian judges including visiting 2 star Michelin French Chef Emmanuel Renaut and some of Australia’s most respected and well known chefs made their selection according to established rules of the international Bocuse d’Or competition, at a five hour cooking marathon held in Brisbane.

The announcement was made at the 2011 Bocuse d’Or Presentation Dinner held for the first time in Brisbane at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre last night.

The Director of the Bocuse d’Or, Mr Florent Suplisson who visited Brisbane for the announcement, said the level of competition was of ‘great international standard’ and described the event as a triumph for the organisers.

Russell Clarke said the chance to represent his country and the Centre in such a prestigious competition is a huge personal achievement. “It is a wonderful opportunity to utilise Australian produce and showcase the strong support Australia has for the culinary arts and just what we are capable of in Australia.” Russell has worked at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre since it opened except for two years when he worked in Europe.

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe said the achievement of Russell and Mathew was affirmation of the passion and relentless commitment demonstrated by the pair in their lead up to the selection process and in the daily execution of their jobs.
 

“The BCEC team is very proud of both Russell and Mathew and we will provide whatever support and encouragement is necessary in the lead up to, and during the event.” He said. 

Russell and Mathew will travel to Geneva in June to observe the European competition and then fly to Lyon in January to contest the world title as Team Australia.

AEG Ogden manages venues throughout the Asia Pacific, including the Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin and Kuala Lumpur Convention Centres, the Qatar National Convention Centre (currently under construction), Sydney’s Acer Arena, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and live theatres including Perth’s His Majesty’s Theatre and the Perth Concert Hall. AEG is the leading entertainment, sports and venue operator in the world, which owns, operates or consults with more than 100 of the industry’s pre-eminent venues worldwide.