And Bocuse d’Or During the Louisiana Restaurant Association LRA Showcase
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans and Company, Sirha Food and The Louisiana Restaurant Association Showcase (LRA Showcase) announced that the Americas selection of the Pastry World Cup and Bocuse d’Or will return to New Orleans and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. No other U.S. city has ever hosted this prestigious international culinary competition.
A new twist is that Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup will be held in conjunction with the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Showcase, the largest restaurant and hospitality industry trade show in the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the event is said to bring together chefs, restaurateurs, suppliers and industry experts, with 150 exhibitors, giving American cuisine greater visibility. By being part of this trade show, which welcomes each year more than 6,000 professional visitors, the continental selections underline the anchoring of the competitions in a dynamic ecosystem, conducive to innovation, exchanges and the celebration of gastronomic know-how.
THE AMERICAS SELECTIONS: A DECISIVE STEP TOWARDS THE GRAND FINALS
On July 25, 2026, the Americas selection of the Pastry World Cup will bring together eight teams from all over the American continent. Each team, made up of three specialists (a sugar expert, a chocolatier and an ice cream specialist), will have to demonstrate technicality, audacity and mastery to convince the jury. At the end of this demanding day, only the four best teams will qualify for the Grand Final of the Pastry World Cup 2027. The next day, the competition will continue with the Bocuse d’Or Americas. Eight teams, from eight different countries, each composed of a chef, a commis, a coach and a jury will defend their vision of gastronomy in order to gain a place for the Grand Final. Commitment, rigor and teamwork will be essential to enter the Top 5 of the ranking, to be qualified to the Bocuse d’Or 2027.
“New Orleans is proud to once again host two of the world’s premier culinary competitions, said Walt Leger III, president and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “The 2024 events were a resounding success, and we are thrilled to welcome back top chefs and pastry masters from across the Americas as they compete for global recognition. In partnership with LRA, we see this as a powerful opportunity to showcase New Orleans’ unmatched culinary culture and elevate our city’s place on the world stage.”
“Hosting the Bocuse d’Or Americas in New Orleans alongside the LRA Showcase is a milestone for our city and our industry, adds Stan Harris, president and CEO of Louisiana Restaurant Association. “Both Pastry World Cup and the Bocuse d’Or represent the pinnacle of culinary excellence, and its presence here will elevate the experience for our industry attendees—combining education, innovation, and networking with the rare chance to witness a competition that shapes the future of global gastronomy. We aspire for the LRA Showcase to be seen as the essential gathering for the entire Gulf South restaurant and hospitality industry.”
For more information, visit neworleans.com/bocusedor.