HoReCa 2003 activities set the stage for international standards

The Hospitality Salon Culinaire will be the place for chefs to demonstrate what's cooking in the gourmet world while the Annual Hospitality Forum will be offering workshops in the business, IT and hospitality fields and Deco'tel aims at bringing together furnishing companies and architects to discuss ongoing trends. To give it an even more elegant presentation, the Table Setting contests will award those with the best-decorated "Spring Lunch" table.

George Khalil, head chef at Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel, participated with his team last year at HORECA and won the gold medal. He believes that the Forum serves as a "motivation and challenge" whereby chefs can have a chance to brush up on their techniques and keep up with global standards.

Khalil believes that some hotel management schools in Lebanon lack the modern kitchens and equipment. He added that, "HORECA also exposes students in the field to the latest trends, helps them stay up to date and allows them to gain experience."

More than 150 Lebanese and international Chefs are expected to compete in 17 different food categories. An international panel of well-known judges from Europe will be on hand to award valuable prizes.

Nadine Turk, an interior designer at Galerie Vanlian, is competing in the Table Setting Contest. In light of the limited work opportunities that interior designers are finding in Lebanon, Turk nevertheless sees the competition as an opportunity "to helps artists promote their manner of thinking, their personal style of setting tables and ways of dealing with space."

"An international panel of judges seeing your work," she continued, "gives you excellent exposure."