French Fried

‘THE award-giving season has been kind to Anorak.

Our alarm code won the Grammy for Best Use Of Electronic Security Devices In An Urban Setting, our office junior, Armani, is clutching her Bafta for Most Promising New Talent In Black Denim and our joke about Cherie Blair, Bill Clinton and a hookah pipe called Saddam has won all sorts of comedy prizes.

But when it comes to food we must remove our floppy white hats and give credit where credit is due. Well done Germany. And congratulations to Wales.

A competition held by the World Association of Cooks Societies, and staged at a college of further education in Colwyn Bay, Wales, brought out the best in global cooking.

Both Germany and Wales performed well in the contest, walking off with gold medals. The Guardian says that the Welsh and Germans turned in “good, solid performances”.

The contest was part of a series of international cooking matches. Teams score points and move up and down a league table. As it stands, Canada are top, with Singapore second and Switzerland third. England are down at 33rd but Wales seventh and Scotland sixth.

But where, say you, are the French? Surely they are right up there. But you’d be wrong. Not since 1978 have the French taken part in this contest. This was their debut.

The Guardian says the French were expected to do very well. Billed as the “Thierry Henris” of the cooking world, the French would dazzle. They’d score for fun. They’d wink at the cameras and try and flog you a nippy hatchback car. You’d buy one. And they’d win.

But things did not go according to plan. Despite putting up five of its most respected chefs, the country that gave the world the rich cream and apples of Normandy, the fine herbs and vegetables of Provence and Les French fries of Paris, performed not all that well.

Judges described the French style as ‘old fashioned’. Their ‘show plates’ were half an hour late. “Times have moved on,’ said one judge. They also spent double the £450 budget.”

The French claim to have enjoyed the contest, but one judge is not so sure they will take kindly to losing. Says he: ‘I just hope it doesn’t mean they take offence and drop out again.”

Of course, such is the nature of the awards industry that the French are free to set up their own league and create prizes that only they can win.

Well, if it works for the Baftas, the Brits and the Oscars, why not for the Foodies?’

Posted: 24th, February 2006 | In: Uncategorized Comment | TrackBack | Permalink