A look at upcoming international culinary competitions

(Courtesy of Gulfood Expo)

Culinary teams from Switzerland, Finland and Wales will be locked in a battle of iron wills and gastronomic supremacy at the Welsh Battle for the Dragon between February 22 and 24. Here are a few other major culinary competitions happening around the world over the next few months.

Emirates Salon Culinaire 2011
February 27- March 2
Dubai, UAE

More than 1,300 chefs compete to test their different skills as pastry artists, cooks and bakers. The team events are designed to test cooperative, gastronomic and artistic skills. The practical cookery events test gastronomic and timing skills. The salon takes place over four days at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and runs in conjunction with the annual Gulfood, a major food expo in the United Arab Emirates.
http://www.emiratesculinaryguild.net

HOFEX/Hong Kong International Culinary Classic
May 11-14
Hong Kong

Aside from the regular categories for chefs, pastry chefs and apprentices, this year's competition has upped the ante with a new category called the Dream Team that will bring together a chef, waiter and bartender who will compete to provide the best dining experience. More than 500 chefs from around the area are expected to compete.
http://www.hofex.com/events/hkicc.php

The American Culinary Classic
July 24-25
Grapevine, Texas (in the Dallas-Fort Worth area), USA

Teams made up of one team manager, three chefs and one pastry chef prepare 30 portions of a cold, edible buffet from a list of mandatory ingredients. The buffet is judged on innovation and presentation and served to guests.
http://www.acfchefs.org