Revamped Salon Culinaire is returning to The Hospitality Show

The culinary competition Salon Culinaire is returning revamped and improved to The Hospitality Show for 2015.

The return of The Hospitality Show at NEC Birmingham next year was announced a few days ago, and now details have been released of what visitors can expect from its centrepiece Salon Culinaire, the world’s premier culinary competition.

James Tanner, Chef Director of Salon Culinaire, said “The revamped Salon Culinaire is set to be one of the key visitor attractions of the Hospitality Show, highlighting the best cooking skills the industry has to offer.”

For James, as well as making it more immersive and easier to enter, the changes made this year will also ensure it stays relevant.

“The programme really does offer something for everyone, from experienced competitors to first timers,” he added. “I would urge anybody wanting to test themselves in a competitive environment to sign up now.”

The 2015 event will comprise of three key elements; the first is the Salon Display, which will be a showcase for handcrafted works in foodstuffs such as fat, chocolate and marzipan as well as pastry and sugarcraft classes.

The second component is the live theatre, featuring classes on superfoods, street food, gluten-free dishes, canapés and patisserie. It will also feature competitions such as The Association of Pastry Chefs Dessert of the Year, Essential Cuisine’s ‘Teamwork in the Kitchen’ challenge and the British Culinary Federation’s Sustainable Fish Main Course. In addition to this will be lamb, duck and ‘mystery box’ classes, which have been maintained in response to feedback from competitors.

Completing the line-up will be the fine-dining experience La Parade des Chefs, in which teams of five juniors and one head chef will be competing to provide three course meals for the show’s 100 cover pop-up restaurant. Visitors can pay £32 for their meal, which includes a £2 donation to Just a Drop, an international water aid charity.

In addition to this, several aspects have been updated, building on the competition’s earlier appearance at Hotelympia and advice from a dedicated chef panel including Chris Galvin, Steve Munkley, Simon Hulstone, Cyrus Todiwala and Nick Vadis.

These changes include a new improved online entry system, the use of iPads for food photography in order to give fuller and more constructive feedback and the addition of a second award ceremony – one after lunchtime in addition to the traditional presentation at the end of the day.

Entries for Salon Culinaire are open now, and chefs can enter at www.hospitalityshow.co.uk/salon.

Registration for visitors is also open now at www.hospitalityshow.co.uk