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Morocco claimed victory in the 2024 edition of the Bocuse d'Or Africa, a prestigious culinary competition held as part of the Official Tournament of Chefs Africa (TOC Africa) in Marrakech on Thursday. The Moroccan team, composed of talented young chefs Yassine Bogdad, Youssef Lamghani, and Ahmed Ben Semlali, and led by Chef Moha Fedal, secured the win after 5 hours and 35 minutes of competition. Mauritius and Egypt took second and third place, respectively.
Top chefs from Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Morocco, and Senegal competed in two challenges that tested their mastery of African culinary techniques, while adhering to international presentation standards.
The first challenge, «Theme on the Tray», required participants to elevate roast beef sirloin and sweetbreads, accompanied by three vegetable garnishes, including one that represented their country, showcasing the richness of African culinary traditions.
In the second challenge, «Theme on the Plate», teams crafted an entire menu centered around carrots, including a starter, a main course featuring three pieces of scallops, and a dessert.
«The Moroccans rose to the occasion. It was a beautiful performance, full of finesse», said Davy Tissot, winner of the Bocuse d'Or Monde 2023 and president of the international jury for Bocuse d'Or Africa 2024, in a statement to MAP.
Congratulating the Moroccan team on this prestigious victory, Tissot highlighted that Moroccan cuisine, as rich and diverse as it is, reflects the warmth and cultural heritage of the Moroccan people.
Chef Moha Fedal also expressed his joy at the team's success after a tough competition. «Our chefs made Morocco proud and gave their all to win this title for the second time, following our 2018 victory», he said with emotion.
Kamal Rahal Essoulami, CEO of Rahal Events and President of TOC Africa, emphasized that this tournament goes beyond being just a culinary competition—it’s a celebration of Africa's gastronomic heritage.
He added that the tournament offers African chefs a platform for innovation and creativity, allowing them to represent their countries in front of a prestigious jury of top experts in the culinary world.
The Official Africa Chefs Tournament will continue on Friday with the African Pastry Cup, which will celebrate the art of pastry through a series of events showcasing the work of master pastry chefs from Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.
Over the course of 10 hours, candidates will compete in multiple categories, including tasting and artistic events. These spectacular creations, both visually and gastronomically, will highlight the excellence and creativity of African pastry chefs.
The winners of both the African Pastry Cup and Bocuse d'Or Africa will go on to represent their countries at the grand finale, which will be held at the prestigious SIRHA fair in Lyon in 2025.
Through these competitions, Morocco not only enhances its culinary influence but also strengthens its role as a leader in African cooperation, fostering cross-border exchanges.
