Blancpain rewards Geir SKEIE, Winner of the Bocuse d’Or 2009 © Blancpain

January 27th -28th 2009 Eurexpo, Lyon (France) – 24 contestants, a single champion: Geir SKEIE, of the Restaurant Mathuset Solvold, in Sandefjord (Norway), wins the most coveted international gastronomy award. As the icing on the cake, Blancpain, official timekeeper of the Bocuse d’Or 2009, presents the French laureate with a watchmaking gem: its famous Flyback Chronograph Grande Date. During the two intense days of competition on January 27th and 28th, the mural replicas of the Blancpain chronograph have faithfully measured off the five hours and thirty-five minutes allotted to contestants.

Finalists in the 21st Bocuse d’Or, organised as part of the World Hotel, Catering and Food Trade Show (SIRHA) in Lyon, found themselves engaged in a daunting trial of their talent and skills. In carrying off the Bocuse d’Or 2009, Geir SKEIE, of the Restaurant Mathuset Solvold, in Sandefjord, notches up a 4th win for Norway since the creation of the Bocuse d’Or in 1987.

Beneath the attentive gaze of a large audience, 24 experienced cooks have done their utmost to appeal to the expert taste-buds of an international jury composed of the world’s finest experts, chaired by the man commonly referred to as “the chef of the century” and the “pope of gastronomy”, Paul Bocuse. Competitors vied with each either in preparing the Aberdeen Angus Scottish Beef and Norwegian Sea Products, the mandatory ingredients in a meat and fish menu to serve 14 people. As official timekeeper of the Bocuse d’Or, Blancpain scrupulously counted off the five hours and thirty-five minutes available to competitors in their attempt to win this gruelling competition.

Blancpain is proud to present gold medal-winner Geir SKEIE with a Flyback Chronograph Grande Date, the star timekeeper of the competition. This self-winding chronograph is entirely in tune with contemporary demands and serves as a reminder of the longstanding reputation acquired by the Manufacture from Le Brassus in producing some of the watch industry’s most outstanding chronographs. Available in stainless steel on a steel bracelet or a hand-sewn leather strap with rubber inner lining, the Flyback Chronograph Grande Date is water-resistant to 100 metres thanks to its screw-in case-back and screw-locked crown and pushers.