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03
Oct
by Sophie Gayot
I previously wrote about attending Les Etoiles de Mougins, the 6th Festival International de la Gastronomie held in Mougins, France, and the professional chef competition. Of the seventy chefs who tried to take part, only five were selected to come to Mougins. Jessica Largey, who is a sous-chef at David Kinch’s Manresa restaurant in Los Gatos, California, was the only American and the only woman to make the cut.
I had the opportunity to follow Jessica, who cooks at one of GAYOT.com Top 40 US Restaurants. She also has worked at Providence with Michael Cimarusti in Los Angeles, another GAYOT.com Top 40; The Fat Duck in England; and at (the unfortunately defunct) Bastide in West Hollywood, so you can imagine the level of competition. The contestants had two hours to prepare a “foie gras cuit servi chaud avec une garniture libre autour de la courge butternut” (warm cooked foie gras with butternut squash based garnish). Largey’s interpretation became “foie gras, chestnuts braised with bay leaf, butternut squash purée and reduced consommé, lentil tuile, lentil agar with fried lentils, lemon confit, and purslane to garnish.”
Despite all of the stress on her, as well as jet-lag and differences in languages, equipment and ingredients, Largey overcame the odds and finished second! Watch our exclusive video interview with Largey before, during and after the competition. Congratulations, Jessica!
You can click on each photo to enlarge. All photos by Sophie Gayot.
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- Two days before the competition. From left to right: David Kinch, Jean-Pierre Halasz, Jessica Largey, Michael Cimarusti
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- The five contestants before the competition. From left to right: Nelson Da Silva, Jessica Largey (Manresa), Richard Galy (Mayor of Mougins), Sophie Gayot, Francis Ogé, Filipo Fiorentini, Olivier Jean
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- In full action
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- Jessica Largey cleaning the foie gras
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- Chef Raymond Blanc checking on Jessica Largey
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- Jessica Largey plating
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- Jessica Largey’s 2nd place dish
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- The five contestants receiving their prizes. From left to right: Olivier Jean, Francis Ogé (the winner), chef Eric Frechon (Le Bristol), Filipo Fiorentini, Richard Galy (Mayor of Mougins), Nelson Da Silva, Jessica Largey
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- Jessica Largey with her second place title and Sophie Gayot
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