Get ready, lovers of maritime flavors and Provencal authenticity! The very first French Bouillabaisse Championship is officially underway. A first-of-its-kind competition to be held in Sausset-les-Pins, in the spirit and tradition of Marseilles. A real point of honor for this emblematic dish of Mediterranean cuisine.
See you on December 7 at La Calanque Bleue
The event will take place on Sunday, December 7 at the restaurant La Calanque Bleue in Sausset-les-Pins. Chef Yvan Vahanian is the driving force behind this historic initiative. Passionate about bouillabaisse and renowned for the quality of his product, he has been taking this legendary dish around the world for several years now (New York, Tokyo, Mexico…). Motivated by his desire to inscribe this Marseilles tradition on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list.
Six chefs, three hours, one title
The organization of the event promises to be spectacular, and will be modelled on the format of major TV cooking shows. Six candidate chefs (as yet unknown), each accompanied by a 3-person team, will compete live. They will have the same products and equipment, and three hours to prepare their dish and convince an exceptional jury.
The public will have the privilege of watching the competition from a special grandstand, making it a true culinary extravaganza.
A star-studded jury
To decide between the candidates, Yvan Vahanian has assembled a top-flight jury to ensure the highest standards:
- Gérald Passédat (three-starred chef).
- Guillaume Gomez (Michelin-starred chef at the Élysée Palace).
- Alexandre Pinna (Chef at Chez Fonfon in Marseille).
- Ludovic Turac (Chef of the restaurant Une table au sud).
- Paul Visciano (Chef at Chez Michel).
- … and of course, Yvan Vahanian.
Sausset-les-Pins, gateway to the world
The winner of the French Championship will earn his or her ticket to the very first Bouillabaisse World Championship, scheduled for 2027! He or she will then face chefs from the world’s capitals, where Yvan Vahanian has already exported his bouillabaisse in recent years.
This championship is also a key step for the association, which is working to have bouillabaisse included in UNESCO’s intangible heritage list. Such recognition would seal its status as a universal gastronomic treasure.
This Marseilles cove, where Captain Cousteau dived, is one of the 5 most beautiful beaches in France.