Local Chef Returns From Dubai Competition With Gold Medal

The American Culinary Federation’s (ACF) Michigan Chefs De Cuisine Association (MCCA) has announced its president, Brian Beland, CMC, and executive chef/director of food and beverage at the Country Club of Detroit was part of the ACF Team USA that was awarded a gold medal and came in second place at the inaugural Dubai World Hospitality Championship, Nov. 16–18 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Beland, of Sterling Heights, was one of seven chefs selected to be part of the ACF team in this prestigious competition that featured culinary masters from around the world who are well recognized on the international circuit and regularly compete in some of the world’s best known culinary competitions. The ACF team, representing the United States, competed against 11 other countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Wales. Singapore placed first, the United States came in second and Australia placed third.

The ACF team spent the last two months planning and preparing for this competition. Each team was required to present a cold food buffet including six tapas items, three plated appetizers, four salads, four protein platters, four centerpieces a hot-main course and a dessert buffet in six hours for 50 people and four judges. Teams were judged on mise en place, workstation and uniform cleanliness, culinary techniques, food safety, presentation of dishes, taste and food texture.

“This was such an incredible experience representing the United States and the flavors of American cuisine on a international stage,” said Brian Beland, CMC, executive chef/director of food & beverage, Country Club of Detroit, Gross Pointe Farms, Mich.; President, ACF Michigan Chefs de Cuisine. “It’s truly an honor to be part of the ACF team and I’m so proud of our tremendous accomplishment of placing among the top three teams in this world-renowned competition.”

The Dubai World Hospitality Championship, under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was organized by Zabeel Palace Hospitality in cooperation with World Association of Chefs Societies and The Emirates Culinary Guild.