Chefs show off skills at Salon Culinaire

A total of 996 catering establishments catered for 41,900 covers in September, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said yesterday.

Dr Zammit Dimech was inaugurating Le Salon Culinaire de Malte, a cookery exhibition and competition organised by the Malta Cookery and Food Association being held at the New Dolmen Hotel, in Qawra.

He stressed the importance of training in food preparation and in food and beverage services, adding that a high percentage of the employees in the catering sector were trained at the Institute for Tourism Studies (ITS).

Dr Zammit Dimech pointed out that when Maltese chefs competed locally and overseas they did excellently, bringing home medals and improving products and quality through experience.

The Salon Culinaire de Malte provided competition between chefs which translated into a high standard cuisine, he said.

The cookery exhibition is divided into two sections, giving participants the best opportunity to express their culinary skills.

The static display section consists of an exhibition of decorated cakes and showpieces - intricate sculptures and carvings - made from fat, marzipan and chocolate, which Dr Zammit Dimech described as near works of art.

Another section is the practical theatre, where the competitors - individually, or as teams - cook a dish on the spot in front of an audience.

Over 100 persons are competing in the salon culinaire, which will be judged by adjudicating panel composed of international professionals.

The association said it was looking forward to a future in the European Union and would be developing training programmes and submitting them to the EU for funding.

Dr Zammit Dimech said he was encouraged by the increasing number of establishments offering local cuisine, which formed part of Malta's culture and identity and which should be fostered.

The preparation and presentation of local dishes was an added promotional bonus to Malta's tourism sector, he said.

The salon culinaire is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until Sunday when it closes at 4.30 p.m., followed by the prize-giving ceremony at 7 p.m.