Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie / World Pastry Cup

[chiantiglace]

Damm, USA got 3rd, I had a lot of faith in Shotts too. Ohwell better to be beat by France than anyone else.

[nightscotsman]

Thanks very much, bleudauvergne, for posting the great photos. Much better than the official site. The South Korean showpieces are aMAZing. Looks like they are becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Looks like the Netherlands took second place. Interesting... Any shots of what their work looked like?

[bleudauvergne]

This is En-Ming Hsu, captain of the US team, contemplating the Netherland's chocolate and sugar pieces at the end of the day. I'm putting this one up in color as well which might give more information on the pieces.

Unfortunately I did not get any decent close up images of the Netherland's pieces, but if you look closely there are monkeys climbin on both the sugar and chocolate...

On the first day, the day I was there, the two teams that ended up winning were the Netherlands and USA.

David, I was not there on the second day. What happened with the Mexican judge? He was breaking things? Was he doing it on purpose?

I am reading in the French press that the theme was "flight". Ok this gives some insight on Jordan's sugar piece.

[confiseur]

chefpeon,Jan 23 2005, 03:16 PM]

First thing you gotta tell is what this year's theme was. Bugs? Hard to tell from the photos....but

I saw the spider and.....thought maybe....

Although all those showpieces are spectacular and I'll probably never achieve something like that in my lifetime, I see a "sameness" in all of them.....at least the ones you've posted photos of. It's almost like it's a height competition too. Must they all be so tall? I've really never quite understood the whole pastry/tall dessert thing. I dunno....maybe it's because height is difficult to achieve, and height+difficulty=skill.

I sort of compare pastry competitions to figure skating. The person who usually wins the figure skating competition is usually the one who completes the most difficult triple jumps without falling, but they aren't necessarily the most lovely or graceful. Number of jumps completed is more measurable and not left to a judges opinion like grace and artistry is. I suspect that's how pastry competitions are judged also......there's certain elements you must have and how well you keep to the theme, and how much time you have, how difficult the project is, and how many flaws there are....etc.

Many times what I have considered the most elegant and well presented showpiece is never the winner.....like figure skating it makes me nuts!

Anyway.

I never have understood the super tall paper toque thing either. About the last thing I'd want to be wearing when I'm working on something so fragile and temperamental is a huge thing on my head that would most likely knock off whatever I have just placed on my big showpiece. I'd be wearing a bandana and a sports bra to keep it all outta the way.....

←

[chefpeon]

....................any chance of a picture of you in the bandana and sports thing?!..........

Hee hee....next time I'm working on a big wedding cake, I'll have someone snap a pic.

It ain't pretty though......about the last thing I cater to when I'm workin' is my vanity!

What's up with that one photo bleudavergne just posted? It looks like a giant bong......er.....uh....waterpipe. Oh! I get it! Flight! High! Ha ha!

I wanna hear more about Mr. Mexican Judge guy. I can't believe a judge would have a temper

tantrum. Maybe one of the competitors......but a JUDGE???

Not that I condone ANY temper tantrums.....people who throw them are NOT welcome in my

kitchen!

[chiantiglace]

The Netherlands showpieces are amazing. I see why they beat USA. That is the kind of showpiece I am tlakin about, it didn't seem to follow the same characteristcs as the others and was much more complex than the Koreans. I give them 2 thumbs up on there presentation.