The Bocuse d'Or
The World's Most Prestigious Culinary Contest
Founded in 1987 by the legendary Paul Bocuse, the Bocuse d'Or is a biennial world chef championship — and after nearly four decades, it remains the most coveted title in professional cooking.
Think of it as the culinary Olympics: a live, theatrical competition where chefs perform in front of thousands of spectators, every technique visible, every second counting.
More than 70 nations compete across national and continental selections over two years, with the Grand Finale always held at the SIRHA Lyon expo — the heartbeat of the global food industry.
New Zealand's journey at the Bocuse d'Or is young but already historic. Will Mordido, Szren Hamburger, Ken O'Connell, and Darren Wright have all carried the Silver Fern — and in 2023, New Zealand announced itself to the world with the highest debut finish in the competition's history.
Each cycle, the experience deepens, the ambition grows, and the team we send gets stronger. New Zealand has already proven it belongs. Now the goal is to climb.
Latest News
Team New Zealand
Get to know members of team New Zealand who will represent Aotearoa on the most prestigious culinary stage in the world.
Our Sponsors
We are very luck to have some amazing supporters who see what see - an opportunity for New Zealand to punch above its weight.
Unveiling Aotearoa's Culinary Excellence: Showcasing New Zealand's Skill, Produce, and Heritage on the Global Stage.
Our mission is to showcase New Zealand's skill, produce, and heritage on the global stage. As we compete in the prestigious Bocuse d'Or, we embody innovative techniques and traditional recipes, representing our finest talents in the world of gastronomy.
A Taste of Glory
In 2025 a team of top Kiwi culinary battlers took on the world at Bocuse d’Or — the Formula 1 of cooking. With fierce passion and homegrown ingenuity, they’re out to redefine New Zealand, Aotearoa cuisine on the global stage.
The cameras were rolling — now you can see what it’s really like behind the scenes. From kitchen chaos to competition, watch the story unfold here.
A massive thank you to our incredible documentary supporters: Silver Fern Farms, Compass Group, Goodman Fielder and all our sponsors backing the future of Aotearoa’s food story.
“The Bocuse d'Or Finals was an exhilarating expedition, testing my culinary artistry to its fullest. It's a genuine honour to demonstrate my skills and our rich culture among the world's top chefs.”
— William Mordido, 2025 Candidate.
Stay connected & keep up to date with how we are progressing with the Bocuse d’Or World Championship 2027.
Sign up to be the first to know about our sponsorship events while also receiving emails with exclusive discounts from our sponsors directly to you. Lets work together and take Aotearoa, New Zealand’s unique cusine to the world.
Supporting the team
The Bocuse d'Or is more than a cooking competition. It's watched and attended by the world's most influential chefs, food buyers, and culinary media. When Kenji and Sam step into that arena, they're carrying New Zealand's produce and food culture with them to an audience that genuinely matters — on to plates that the world is watching.
But the team doesn't get there on passion alone. Getting there takes investment. Training, equipment, flights, and accommodation in Lyon all add up, and we rely entirely on people who see what we see: a real opportunity for New Zealand to punch above its weight on the world stage.
If that resonates — whether you're a producer, an exporter, a food business, or simply someone who believes in this country's culinary talent — we'd love to have you along for the journey.
