Nine chefs from International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) member properties in Denmark, Sweden, France, Netherlands, Germany and the United Kindgom attended the IACC-Europe Knowledge Festival at Kapellerput Hotel in The Netherlands to compete for the European Copper Skillet.
Regina Andersen from the Trinity Hotel & Conference Centre in Denmark took the Senior title and Mary Palecek from Woodside, a Sundial Venue in the U.K., won the Junior category. Both will go on to compete with other chefs from IACC chapters around the world at the International Copper Skillet Competition at the IACC-Americas Connect Annual Meeting in April in Los Angeles, where the 13th Global Copper Skillet Champion will be named.
The chefs had 30 minutes to prepare, create and present a dish to local judges consisting of basic pantry items along with a “mystery basket” of proteins and other produce, dairy and grocery items.
Andersen whipped up a pork fillet rolled around cod with potatoes and fried onions, while Palecek served a dish of pork fillet medallions, sweet potato, sauteed zucchini and chorizo, with a tomato and chili salsa.
The competition was introduced in 2004 to showcase the best chefs from IACC-member conference venues around the world and highlight the F&B offerings in the conference center segment.