An Overview of the WACS 2008 Congress
(Log on to www.wacs2008.com for complete details of the congress)
The WACS (World Association of Chefs Societies) biennial congress sees a coming together of over 1000 of the world’s leading leisure-industry professionals.
The Congress will be held at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from May 12th to 15th 2008. (www.dicec.ae). The venue will be the centre’s magnificent Sheik Rashid Hall.
The main thrust of the congress will concern showcasing the prevailing exotic lifestyle of UAE residents. Arabian culture and the myriad cuisines and cultures of the diversity of nations that go to the making of the great city of Dubai will be prominently featured.
Delegates will be educated and informed in and entertained by the living traditions, customs and philosophy of societies other than their own. They will be regaled with practical illustrations of the culinary sophistication and refinement reached by nations they, in some cases, have never before encountered.
The Competitions
Three major international competitions will be held during the congress:
The Global Chef’s Challenge:
This practical cookery competition is a new WACS initiative. It will be inaugurated in Dubai during the 2008 congress. Seven senior finalists - each of whom will have triumphed as the best chef of their geographical region (through a world-wide series of competitions) – will be eligible to join culinary battle and compete for the title Global Chef 2008.
The Hans Bueschkens Memorial Trophy:
Here, twenty young chefs will each represent their respective countries, vying to be adjudged as the best young cook in the world. With only six-hours in which to complete the entire test - from the composition of the menu, to the service of the meals – this competition is designed to challenge each junior to prove to the jury the evidence of his/her culinary and organisational skills. (www.wacs2000.org).
The Meat & Livestock Australia Black Box Culinary Challenge.
Twenty-five teams of juniors, each consisting of: a team manager, a team captain, two cooks and one pastry chef, will compete in the grand final of a global inter-hotel competition that has taken the teams to two years of close competition to secure a place in the final. (www.mla.com.au)
The Kitchen Arena:
Throughout the life of the congress, there will be featured a permanent kitchen arena. Eight fully-equipped kitchens will be constructed in an arena setting; complete with lighting, back-projection screens, cameras and sound system.
Seminars and Workshops: In addition to the competitions, there will be a programme of interesting and informative workshops and seminars set at the kitchen arena, hosted by industry leaders.
The Dr. Bill Gallagher Junior Chefs’ Forum: Inaugurated by our Honorary-President-for-Life, Dr. Bill Gallagher, the Junior Chefs Forum will be conducted at the same time as the main congress and will offer some elements of the main congress programme to juniors. The forum is a platform for the young chefs of the world to air their views. The encouragement and development of junior chefs is an important part of the WACS philosophy. Although there is a separate programme planned for the junior forum it will be designed so as to converge with the main congress from time-to-time so that the juniors may associate with the senior delegates as much as possible.
The Social Programme:
Will include: Welcome City Familiarization Tour; Welcome Evening Cocktail Reception; Pre-opening sponsors and committee dinner; Delegates Dinner Modern Flavours and Trends; Delegates Deep in the Desert Gala Dinner with full entertainment programme.
