Pastry chef for 85℃ (85度C) Bakery Cafe Chen Li-che yesterday won glory for Taiwan internationally after he bagged the championship at this year’s Global Chef Challenge in Stavanger, Norway.
Chen, who represented the Asia-Pacific region, dazzled the panel of judges with his magnificent chocolate display, titled the 3D Reflection of Deep Blue Ocean, which features a colored image of a breaching humpback whale.
The biennial contest was held between Wednesday last week and yesterday by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS).
Photo courtesy of 85℃ Bakery Cafe
Seven top chefs from the US, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Finland, Cyprus and New Zealand, representing seven regions of the world — Africa/Middle East, Americas, Asia, Europe Central, Europe North, Europe South, and the Pacific Rim — contested the challenge after winning the regional semifinals.
The bakery chain said this was the first time the company had been given the privilege to join the WACS — the largest international network of chefs’ associations, with more than 10 million members globally — under the name of Taiwan.
“It is also the first time a Taiwanese contestant has won the right to represent Asia in the finals and garnered the championship,” the bakery chain said.
Photo courtesy of 85℃ Bakery Cafe
Chen, 36, has several other international awards, including a silver medal at the 2010 Asian Pastry Cup and a gold medal in the category of packery display at the 2013 Hong Kong International Culinary Classic.
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