Norway wins Bocuse d'Or

A Norwegian chef from an inn in Hordaland County won the World Champion title, Bocuse d'Or, in Lyon, France on Wednesday. Normally, Ørjan Johannessen is a chef at Bekkjarvik Gjestegiveri, a traditional Norwegian inn in Austevoll municipality in Hordaland County. The inn is a family business, and Ørjan's parents are the inn-keepers. 

Last year, the 29-year-old took home the bronse medal at the Europan championship in Stockholm in May last year. In Lyon, he competed against chefs from 23 other countries to be named the very best. 

In Wednesday's final, Johannessen had five hours and 32 minutes to prepare one meat course and a fish course. It had already been decided that the main ingredients were guinea fowl and trout, and for the fish course he only had a limited assortment of vegetables to choose from. 

After the winner was announed, the Norwegian national anthem was played, and several people in the audience waved with Norwegian flags. This is the fifth time Norway wins the world champion title. The four other winners are Bent Stiansen (1993), Terje Ness (1999), Charles Tjessem (2003), and Geir Skeie (2009).

(VG/Aftenposten)