Chefs from around the world have gathered in the eastern French city of Lyon on Tuesday to compete for a shot at gold in the Bocuse d’Or, also known as the Olympics of cooking.
Food fans have packed out the stands of Lyon’s Eurexpo convention centre, cheering loudly for their favourite international cooking teams as they put the final flourishes to their elaborate dishes.
This year’s competition is the first since its creator, legendary French chef Paul Bocuse, died in 2018. His son Jerome has since taken over as head of the 24-member jury.
First time African countries taking part
"Today my father is no longer with us, but we must continue. This is true for the Bocuse d'Or, and it is true for all his restaurants. He led the way and today it is up to us to maintain his vision," Bocuse said.
There are a total of 24 different countries represented this year, including Morocco and Tunisia, the first African countries to ever compete at the event.
The stakes are high for defending champions Team USA, who hope to take home the title again this year.
