Excitement is starting to build over the 2013 Bernard Loiseau Culinary Festival at Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius. For guests this will mean a rare opportunity to sample food prepared by some of the world's leading chefs together in one location.

A selection of six of Europe's very best chefs will visit Mauritius to cook alongside six of our island chefs with the challenge of creating an award-winning menu from local produce.

Starred Michelin Chefs are:

Anita Klemensen - Den Rode Cottage restaurant in DenmarkRoman Paulus - Alcron Restaurant in PragueWilliam Drabble - St James's Hotel & Club in LondonEzio Gritti - L'Osteria di via Solata restaurant in ItalyRobert Speth - Chesery restaurant in SwitzerlandThierry Fernandes - Le Prieuré restaurant in France.

Prestigious members of the jury include:

Dominique Loiseau - President of the Jury for the 8th consecutive yearPatrick Bertron - Current holder of 3 Michelin stars & Chef of the Relais Bernard LoiseauEyvind Hellstrom - Norwegian Chef and frequently jury of the Bocuse d'Or world FinalsNick Nairn - Celebrity Chef with a long and pioneering career in the UKPavel Maurer - Czech Republic's best known and most influential gourmetPatricia Broehm - Editor in Chief of Gault & Millau Magazine in Germany.

Guests at both Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Le Prince Maurice will be able to get involved throughout the week with cooking demonstrations, special menus created by the visiting chefs and the thrilling prize-giving ceremony.

Highlights for guests include:

Special dinner at Le Prince Maurice on 18 March orchestrated by Chef HellstromBest of "Constance a lifestyle" book on 18 March which includes the best recipes of our Executive ChefsSpecial dinner at Belle Mare Plage on 20 March created by Chef BertronMorning cooking demonstration by Chef Bertron at Belle Mare Plage's Citronnelle restaurant on 22 MarchTwo 6 stars dinners orchestrated by the European Chefs.

The week will climax with a cook-off on the final day in which the island chefs will need to put into practice all they have learned from their Michelin-starred mentors to create the winning menu.

Bertron, a former protégé of chef Bernard Loiseau after whom the festival is named, has described the competition as being, 'In the spirit of Loiseau's legacy, it's about sharing, it's about training and it's about transmission.'

Jean-Jacques Vallet, CEO of Constance Hotels & Resorts says: "Conviviality, exchange, sharing! Three core values that Bernard Loiseau Culinary Festival perpetuates year after year and more than ever, this edition is being taken to a new dimension. We have succeeded in making a unique event on the island and we are proud of what has been accomplished so far.

This festival celebrates the "Chefs" who are the real artists of this event and it is an honor for Constance Hotels & Resorts to continue and develop these exchanges between the Island cooks and the European Chefs. Whilst doing so, we are always on a quest for new flavors and tastes for our guests. Given the high standard of the participants this year, the 2013 edition promises to be very exciting".

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http://blog.constancehotels.com/
http://culinary.constancehotels.com/

Notes for editors:

The group Constance Hotels & Resorts owns and manages the following luxurious resorts in the Indian Ocean:

Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Le Prince Maurice in MauritiusConstance Lodge Tsarabanjina in MadagascarConstance Halaveli Resort and Constance Moofushi Resort in the MaldivesConstance Lemuria Resort and Constance Ephelia ResortClick here for further information on the Constance Hotels Group.

Distinctive elements about Constance Hotels & Resorts includes magnificent Indian Ocean island locations in total harmony with their environments and with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, distinctive architecture and design, warm hospitality, completely personalised guest experiences, extraordinary culinary creations matched by internationally recognised sommeliers, popular mini clubs at all hotels and resorts, wellness and rejuvenation with Le Spa de Constance, and some of the most beautiful natural diving locations in the world (PADI and CMAS are available at all hotels). Constance Belle Mare Plage, Constance Le Prince Maurice and Constance Lemuria Resort on Praslin all enjoy 18 hole championship golf courses.

Tour Operators/ Travel Agents/ PCO's

African Synergy
Sue Howells
t: 011 782 0636
m: 083 410 9682
sue@africansynergy.co.za

Media

Origin Blu Communications
Michelle Damaskinos
t: 011 431 2284
m: 082 853 8181
michelle@originblu.com