Team USA competes in world's "most rigorous culinary competition" qualifiers in New Orleans
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A New Orleans convention center hall was filled with cheers, American flags and clanking cowbells Wednesday afternoon as U.S. chef Stefani de Palma alongside assistant Bradley Waddle competed in the hopes for a spot at the next Bocuse d'Or.
Why it matters: The U.S. is hosting the continental qualifier for what's considered the world's "most rigorous culinary competition," and it's happening in New Orleans.
The challenge: Competing chefs from across the Americas spent the day preparing a pair of dishes that incorporated south Louisiana ingredients like wild boar rack, grits, alligator sausage, whole shrimp, oyster and lump crab meat.
Catch up quick: The Bocuse d'Or was created in 1987 and takes place in Lyon, France, every two years.
- To get there, chefs must pass through multiple rounds of qualifying.
- The latest is the one happening in New Orleans.
- In addition to the U.S. hosting the qualifying round for the first time, De Palma is only the third woman to lead the team, and the first in over two decades.
- Earlier this week, New Orleans also hosted the Pastry World Cup qualifiers, a separate event that also ends with finals in Lyon.
The vibe: Chef teams from Guatemala, Venezuela, Canada and Argentina competed alongside the U.S. on Wednesday.
- The convention center hall was draped in black, and a high-end chocolatier, All-Clad cookware and a chef's coat maker had booths around the edges.
- But the action was at the center, where supporters cheered on their respective teams, and the chefs worked intently under the spotlights as cheery pop music played over the sound system.
- At midday, big name New Orleans chefs, like Alon Shaya, Susan Spicer and Emeril Lagasse, milled around the room. Chef Mike Nelson popped in, and Mason Hereford even dropped off lunch.
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One proud dad: "Stefani was the kid who, growing up, could do anything she put her mind to," said chef Stefani De Palma's father, Vince De Palma, who waved a giant American flag as he watched her compete. "She could put together these 1,000-piece puzzles in an hour."
- "When she got promoted to chef de cuisine at [San Diego's Michelin three-star restaurant] Addison under chef [William] Bradley," he told Axios New Orleans, "that's when we knew that she's special."
What's next: Bolivia, Columbia, Chile and Mexico compete on Thursday.
- Then, the awards ceremony, which separates those teams whose journey has ended from those who will travel to France, is Thursday at 6pm.
- See the schedule.
How to watch: If you're in New Orleans, you can drop into the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for free.
- If you're farther afield, you'll have to pay for streaming access online.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Stefani De Palma is the third (not the first) woman to lead the U.S. team, and the first in over two decades.