A talented young local chef recently showcased her abilities on the world stage and returned to West Kelowna with some hardware.
Sydney Hamelin flew to Budapest, Hungary, for the 48th annual International Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition on Oct. 5, 2024.
Hosted by La Chaine des Rôtisseurs, the competition was open to 19 of the world’s finest chefs under the age of 27, who all had to qualify through selection competitions in their home country.
Up against world class young chefs from all over the planet, Hamelin took home the silver medal.
Each competitor was given four hours to compose a menu and prepare a three-course meal for four people using ingredients presented in a black box.
Hamelin’s menu consisted of the following, which you can see photos of at the bottom of the story:
- Appetizer: Terrine of pikeperch served with a celeriac dumpling, escabeche potato and fennel finished with a tarragon emulsion and sauce soubise.
- Main Course: Roasted Venison served with a warm couscous salad, carrot puree blistered cherry tomato and glazed green beans, finished with a foie gras and turkey sausage and a venison demi glace.
- Dessert: Olive oil cake topped with lemon curd, poached quince served with a vanilla bourbon semifreddo and finished with a tokaji gastrique.
Her efforts were good enough to earn the second-place nod from the panel of 12 internationally-certified chefs and the associated prize of €1500.
Hamelin is currently working as a chef at Mission Hill Family in West Kelowna under the mentorship of executive chef Patrick Gayler.
