2004 - ERFURT
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In a field of 56 regional teams at the October 17-20, 2004 World Culinary Olympics (held in Erfurt, Germany once every four years), Culinary Team Alberta's two entries placed 5th and 8th overall.
Each Alberta team picked up one gold and two silver medals in the three compulsory categories of the Cold Platter Regional Team Show. Tough competition and keen judging saw only Switzerland and U.S.A. pick up three gold medals.
This was the first time Alberta sent two teams to an international culinary competition and Business Manager Simon Smotkowicz said there are "no regrets".
When chefs first competed to be on the team, their strong performances, and even stronger commitment, led to the decision to create two teams. “They practised side by side, helped each other over the past year and half, and both earned the right to go for the Gold in Erfurt,” said Team Manager Vinod Varshney.
“Looking back,” added Smotkowicz, “you wonder if spreading our talent over two teams instead of concentrating it all in one team cost us points. Maybe. But it paid off in another way.”
Twenty Alberta chefs had a chance to experience the World Culinary Olympics: the grueling demands of high-level competition; the solidarity and strain of teamwork under pressure; the importance of renewed resolve when your best doesn’t quite hit the mark. Five of those chefs were students, and that’s where Team Alberta’s future lies.
In the coming year, the Team’s professional chefs will be mentoring Alberta’s student team for the 2005 international culinary competition in Basel, Switzerland. Tomorrow’s champions learning from today’s.
For more information about the World Culinary Olympics, go to http://culinary-olympics.com/
1 Gold, 2 Silver at 2004 World Culinary Olympics, 8th Overall
Trevor Stayer, Resi Mendoza, Clayton Folkers (Coach), Simon Smotkowicz (Business Manager), Vinod Varshney (Team Manager), Max Labhardt and Brad Horen.
1 Gold, 2 Silver at 2004 World Culinary Olympics, 5th Overall
Bishwa Pati, Ivan Ng, Clayton Folkers (Coach), Simon Smotkowicz (Business Manager), Doug Overes, Vinod Varshney (Team Manager), and Karen Schoenrank. Missing: Matt Batey.
Left to right: Connie DeSousa, Junko Sadahiro, Denise Paré-Watson, Charles Parker (Student Mentoring Manager), Vinod Varshney (Team Manager), Patrick Gayler and Tara Plischke Absent: Amber Clay