This week I have just confiscated Onno’s blog because I'm very proud of the unique setting of our service team. By the arrival of Anne Hövels, started at September 1st as demi chef de rank, there are currently three champions working in team; an unique situation in the Netherlands!

Allow me to introduce them to you... First Kim Poortman, she won the National Championship Hospitality several years ago and reached to end at the third place on the European Championship. Anne Hövels, she won silver at the American Skills, won the Medal of Excellence at the World Skills (World Cup) and also won the Dutch Championships 2009. And still there is more, Kimberly Thorne has come to reinforce our team this year. Last March, she became Dutch Champion Hospitality and Hospitality Talent of the year. And what's more exciting to her, she will join the World Skills in a couple of weeks!

I am very proud that we of Ciel Bleu, have the change to support these talents in their development. And for me personally it is a huge challenge. Although I have previously judged at the national championships and coached participants, this is the first time I'm so close to a World Championship. It's great that our team in this way can invest in the future of gastronomy in the Netherlands.

I can see now how much effort it takes to achieve such a goal. The World Skills will take place this year in London and this World Championship consists of four days. Every day a particular theme is organized. There will be themes like Fine Dining, Bistro Service, Techniques and Banqueting & Bar. On those four days you have to give everything you have and actually you have constantly in mind what the profession really entails. It's amazing the things you need to show, and every day Kimberly needs to train hard.

To name a few components which are addressed at the World Championship: wines, distillates, blind tasting, napkin folding (10 different folding techniques within 15 minutes), table preparations, serving techniques, carving techniques, flambé techniques, cutting techniques, blind tastings of wines, cocktails, the correct way to open wine bottle, correctly pour champagne and of course contacts with the guest.

On the 'Techniques day’ she will be in front of the jury all day. Kimberly will be judged on her carving skills, she has to cut a whole chicken and a whole duck, prepare steak tartare, filleting salmon and cut fruit. But she will also present her flambé techniques to the jury. Every day, Kimberly comes in at 12 o’ clock to train for several hours in order to master all these components. Afterwards she joins the service. For the theme day ‘Bistro Service’, she worked three weeks in Serre Restaurant to experience the differences in the service. Because everything is going a bit faster and more informal, related to the process our Ciel Bleu.

On September 29th, Kimberly will go to London and this date is coming soon. The World Championships will are from the 5th until the 8th of October. She will compete against 24 competitors from countries such as Brazil, China, England and Germany. In the preceding period she is training very hard every day, but it's very nice that we can support her and provide her with advice, so she will be fully prepared for the great experience at the World Skills!
 

Of course we will keep you informed on her performances, but if you would like to ask Kimberly questions about her adventures in London, or if you would like to wish her success, please do so via our Facebook account .
 
Kindest regards,

Pasquinel Kolk