February 29, 2020 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The top pastry chefs in the nation were at Grand Rapids Community College on Friday competing to be on Team USA in the prestigious 2021 Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie in Lyon, France.
GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education is hosted tryouts in the GRCC baking kitchens in the lower level of the Spectrum Theater. The competition is hosted by professor Gilles Renusson, GRCC’s internationally known pastry chef.
Chefs competed in three categories: Sugar centerpiece and chocolate entremets; chocolate centerpiece and plated dessert; ice carving and ice cream dessert, plus entremets chocolate
A jury group composed of members of previous U.S. Pastry Teams scrutinized the finalists during the competition. The pastry chefs who will obtain the best scores in each category will join the 2021 U.S. Team.
Selected for Team USA were:
- Chef Julie Eslinger, assistant pastry chef for Centerplate at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
- Chef Mary Lewis, banquet pastry chef at the Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs. W.Va.
- Chef Jordan Snider, executive pastry chef at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Charleston, S.C. He was the alternate team member for Team USA 2019.
- Chef François Behuet, the pastry chef at Bottega Louie in Los Angeles, was named an alternate to the team.
Club Coupe du Monde U.S.A. was formed to study and advance the art and the science of food preparation and food service.
Every two years the club searches for and identifies America’s best culinary educators, researchers, and food service professionals, challenging them to create leading edge advances in food preparation, taste combinations, shelf-life extension, and presentation styling.
Grand Rapids Community College has been offering educational opportunities in West Michigan for more than 100 years. Established in 1914, the college offers degree courses, certification and training programs, and workshops and personal enrichment classes. Offerings are held on GRCC’s downtown Grand Rapids campus, and at several locations throughout Kent and Ottawa counties, as well as through distance learning.