Ivo Galvao Filho, Cuisine Diploma graduate at Le Cordon Bleu London has won The British Grand Final of the Escoffier Challenge 2009 held on Saturday 17th October 2009 at the West London Hammersmith College.
This extremely prestigious culinary competition, organised by the international gastronomic society Association Culinaire Française, gathered the winners of the previous regional heats in Scotland, Manchester, the Thames Valley and London.
Candidates had to cook over 4 hours a compulsory starter - a classic recipe from Auguste Escoffier (Artichoke filled with Mushroom Duxelle, Poached Duck, Sauce Choron and Mushroom Fumet) - and a dish of their choice with chicken and 4 garnishes. Ivo amazed the panel of 12 high profile judges, including Pascal Aussignac (from the Club Gascon-1* Michelin) and Jean-Denis Le Bras (from Sketch-1*), with his gastronomic “Duo of Chicken, Baby Aubergine, Pommes Anna, Caramelised Diced Pear, Sautéed Wild Mushrooms and Tarragon Sauce”.
Ivo will now represent Le Cordon Bleu at the international Grand Final of the competition in February 2010 in Nice.