ISPA announced today that entries are now being invited for the third European Spa Chef Competition, which will see three finalists competing in Stockholm, Sweden, on 30 May for the coveted title of European Spa Chef of the Year 2003.

Picture:Martin Johansson, European Spa Chef 2002 (centre) with runners up Martin Kristensen (left) and Peter Patchett (right).

Organisers, ISPA Europe (the European Chapter of the International Spa Association), have enlisted the support of two industry experts to guarantee a top level event: Sven-?...ke Larsson, president of the Swedish Chef Association, and Bettina Schmid, nutrition specialist for The Rogner Group in Austria. The competition will be held during ISPA Europe`s annual congress, at the Hasseludden Conference Hotel and Yasuragi from 29 May - 1 June 2003.

Carina Billetun, President of ISPA Europe, says, “The food aspect of the congress is very important. Spa cuisine is very much a part of the spa philosophy and there are still things we need to learn. It`s a very important message to get to our chefs and guests. That`s why we recognise the need to increase the attention paid to the chef competition”.

The competition is open to chefs from ISPA Europe members and will be judged
by four independent judges. Applicants must submit a three-course menu for four people complete with dish description, a short narrative about their
restaurant`s spa cuisine philosophy, and photographic material of the menu. Entry
forms are available from Bettina Schmid, tel: 00 43 3383 5100 9462, or Peter
Schroff, tel: 00 36 83 500 500.

The winner of this prestigious title will be announced at a gala dinner, which concludes the ISPA Europe congress on 31 May. Prizes include trips to three spas with the opportunity to exchange spa cuisine knowledge and ideas.

Competition sponsors include Professional Spa magazine, Scan Food AB, Ewermans AB and Lantbrukarnas Riksforbund, LRF. Information on how to register for the 2003 ISPA Europe congress can be found at Congrex Sweden.

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