Fourth Excelencias Gourmet International Seminar Is Round the Corner

07 July 2014 11:14pm

Everything is ready to kick off a week from now the fourth edition of the Excelencias Group’s International Gourmet Seminar.

This one-of-a-kind event in Cuba, slated for the Melia Cohiba Hotel on July 16-18 July, deals with food and beverage marketers, managers, directors, chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, sales personnel and public relations majors hailing from hotels and restaurants all across Cuba and other nations, including chains and non-state eateries, that will gather to discuss three main topics: economics, new technologies and sommelier business in modern gastronomy.

How to make the record cost of a dish?What are the keys in restaurants for proper cold chain? What to do to encourage the sale of wine? Those are some of the questions that will be put on the table in the form of lectures and panels of experts who will share experiences with attendees and engage in tasting sessions of different products and beverages.

Besides being a unique opportunity to keep up with new trends in the sector, both in Cuba and overseas, in this year's event the Excelencias Group’s System of Vocational Training for the Tourism Industry in Cuba (FORMATUR), the Federation of Culinary Associations of the Republic of Cuba, in close collaboration with the Bartenders Club of Cuba and Cuban Sommelier Club, invite the boldest professionals to sign up for three competitions to choose the Best Excelencias Gourmet Waiter.

Best Excelencias GourmetWaiter

The contest consists of three qualifying stages:

First stage (July 14, Location: Higher School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Hotel Sevilla, Time: 10:00 am): Written exam on content related to the job.Only the top five examinees will move to the next phase.

Second stage (July 17, Location: Melia Cohiba Hotel, Time: 1:00 pm): Contestants will be put through their paces while providing lunch service for seminar delegates.Only the top three examinees will move to the next phase.

Third stage (July 17, Location: Melia Cohiba Hotel, Time: 4:00 pm): Practical test service to the public, which consists of the demonstration of examinees' skills on the trade from hypothetical situations presented by jury.This test will help handpick the Best Excelencias Gourmet Waiter.

Best Gourmet Excelencias Incoming

In this contest, practitioners enrolled in the seminary, bars and both state and non-state restaurants, demonstrate their talent and skills in the culinary arts.

Contesters should prepare a starter in a limited time and with specific ingredients, also caring for harmony of flavors to match them with wines with their labels veiled.

To choose the winner, the jury will consider the texture, presentation, flavor intensity, temperature and food pairing with wines.

Third Championship of Cuban Sommeliers

The Third Championship of Cuban Sommeliers’ main objective is to demonstrate objectively the development achieved by sommelier professionals in the country, expressed by the level of theoretical and practical knowledge of the trade.It also serves as a means to share experiences among professionals in the Cuban cuisine industry.

All Cuban sommeliers, as well as all graduates of the tourism training system (FORMATUR) and sommeliers in their courses are entitled to sign up.The jury will be made up of half a dozen professional sommeliers of proven experience in the business.

The organization of the Championship is as follows:

Day One: written test with a maximum duration of two hours, including a 100-question specific content (viticulture, winemaking, wine pairing, ethnography, distilled spirits and other beverages, coffee, cigars and service techniques).Only the top ten examinees will move to the next phase.

Day Two: Blind tasting with written descriptions of a white wine, red wine, sparkling wine or liqueur and distillate.Only the top three examinees will move to the next phase

Day Three: Practical test service to the public, where contestants will test their own skills of the trade, from situations presented by the jury.

• The finalist with the highest score from the jury will receive the title of "2014 Best Cuba Sommelier Gold".

• The finalist with the second best score will receive the title of "2014 Best Cuba Sommelier Silver".

• The finalist with the third best score will receive the title of "2014 Best Cuba Sommelier Bronze".

Those interested in signing up for the contest to choose the Best Excelencias Gourmet Waiter or to attend the Third Championship for Cuba’s Best Sommeliers, please write to: seminario@excelenciasgourmet.com.

They shall specify the following information: name, status, functions performed, workplace, telephone number and email.For more information, please contact our office by phone at 204-8190.

General Seminar Program

July 16

9:00 to 10:00: Registration and Coffee Break

10:00 to 10:15: Opening and Welcome

10:15 to 11:00: Keynote: The Perfect Recipe

11:00 to 11:15: Coffee Break

11:15 to 1:00: Panel: Economy in the Cuban Restoration.

1:00 to 2:30: Lunch.

2:30 to 3:00: Lecture: The importance of the cold chain in catering

3:00 to 4:00: The cold chain in pastry:Comparative tasting of chocolates and champagne pairing.

4:00 to 4:15: Presentation Havana Club 7: Essence of Cuba.

4:15 to 5:00: Excelencias Best Gourmet Starter Competition