Very soon after our arrival in Naples, the La Bazenne team launched an intense series of recruitment interviews to select the perfect team to help us launch the first La Bazenne restaurant on U.S. shores.
By November, we had short-listed our top candidates and invited them to take part in a “Meilleur Chef” competition, designed after the famed “Top Chef” competition in Paris, France.
The candidates were drilled by the owners of La Bazenne, USA Inc. during a morning Preliminary Round on some key French dishes that are core to our menu.
For the Final Round, we invited 15 local celebratory judges to a cook-off event styled after a French "Apéritif dînatoire" in which 2 teams of candidates competed to compose a French menu of small bites and sweets fusing a pre-determined set of ingredients.
Judges were invited to circulate around the room to observe the chefs’ preparations and ask them any questions that could help in their assessments. And of course, the key input was the final taste-off.
At the end of the competition, prizes were awarded based on 6 dimensions:
- Culinary technique
- Working style
- French flare
- Local appeal
- Aesthetic appeal of prepared dishes
- Taste of prepared dishes
The “Meilleur Chef” event made headline news in local papers and blogs, building anticipation for the opening of La Bazenne on Fifth.
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French Press: Chefs vie in front of judges for jobs at new French restaurant on Fifth Avenue in Naples, Naples News
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French Press: Public cook-off for chefs looking for a job, Naples' News Photo Gallery
PHOTO BY JASON EASTERLY
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Amy Giacometti, president of La Bazenne, USA and Co-owner of La Bazenne on Fifth, give judges final instructions on judged categories during the finals round of La Bazenne’s “Meilleur Chef” Competition.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Judges toast the chefs before sampling their dishes during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Chef William Teahan chops ingredients for his teams culinary creations during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Chef Matthew Wilson helps create culinary dishes for his team during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Two executive chefs and two sous chefs compete during the finals round of La Bazenne's 'Meilleur Chef' Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
PHOTO BY JASON EASTERLY
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Chef Christopher Cassel works on his teams culinary creations during the finals round of La Bazenne’s “Meilleur Chef” Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Chef William Teahan, left, and Chef Matthew Wilson create their dishes during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Judges ask questions as they observe dishes made by Chef William Teehan during the finals round of La Bazenne’s “Meilleur Chef” Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Chef Christopher Cassel works on his teams culinary creations during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Chef Christopher Cassel talks with Chef Brian Roland, owner of Crave Culinaire and one of the contest judges, talks about Cassel's culinary creations during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Naples based sous chef Matthew Wilson works on his teams culinary creations during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Contest judges Chef Brian Roland, owner of Crave Culinaire, and Pj Fuerstman Meyer, owner of P'zazz, talk during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Chef William Teahan answers questions from judges as he cooks during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Naples based sous chef Matthew Wilson works on his teams culinary creations during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Judges take notes as chefs create masterpieces during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
A sampling of finished creations where sampled by a room full of judges during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
A culinary dish served by Chef William Teahan during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
Special to the Daily News/Jason Easterly
Duck breast with Foie gras on a salt block served by Chef Christopher Cassel during the finals round of La Bazenne's "Meilleur Chef" Competition, a Top Chef style contest to find the new executive chef and the new sous chef for the new French restaurant coming to Naples. The event, held at Sur La Table in the Mercato on Monday, paired the talents of the top two culinary teams from a morning preliminary round.
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Naples Illustrated Facebook Page
La Bazenne Chef Event at Sur la Table, Naples Illustrated Facebook Page
La Bazenne Chef Event at Sur la Table
In advance of the opening of new French restaurant La Bazenne Café-Resto-Club on Fifth Avenue South, owners Amy and Romuald Giacometti held a cooking exhibition with prospective chefs and local VIP judges at Sur La Table in Mercato.
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Alliance Francaise Naples Website
La Bazenne Restaurant on 5th Chef Competition
Posted on November 11, 2013 by Gene Jenkins
President Denyse Jenkins was selected to be a Judge for the finals of Executive Chef and Sous Chef for La Bazenne Restaurant on 5th, which is scheduled to open in December 2013. The competition took place on November 11, 2o13 at Sur La Table Store.
Pres. Jenkins with owner Amy Giacometti
Pres. Jenkins with owner Romuald Giacometti
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