Sommelier Wim Casteur and chef Wim Goedertier from the restaurant SOMM, led by Marina Claus, will represent Belgium in the biennial international gastronomic event that will take place in 2025 in Jerez de la Frontera.
Brussels, September 16, 2024 – The Belgian team taking part in the final of the Copa Jerez international competition has been announced. Sommelier Wim Casteur and chef Wim Goedertier working together were chosen to represent Belgium at the 11th Copa Jerez competition.
The mission for the selection
For this pre-selection of the Copa Jerez competition, the assignment is clear. Each team, a sommelier, and a chef, proposes a menu with a starter, a main course and, of course, a dessert, in which Sherry wine plays the main role in harmony with the culinary creations put together by the team. The competition saw numerous participants submitting their menus, with 3 meeting the stringent criteria required for evaluation.
The three finalist teams were:
- Restaurant SOMM, Ghent - Chef Wim Goedertier and Sommelier Wim Casteur
- Restaurant Vers Namur, Leuven - Chef Sam Wils and Sommelier Bjon Vandernoord
- Restaurant Den Silveren Harynck, near Antwerp - Chef Samantha Verbruggen and Sommelier Sam Venlandeghem
Pictures by Menno De Jong
The winning team, Restaurant SOMM, will showcase their award-winning menu at the Copa Jerez Forum & Competition in 2025, where they will compete against top teams from Spain, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Mexico.
The Winning Team and Their Menu
The winning team from Restaurant SOMM impressed the judges with a meticulously crafted menu that highlighted their skillful use of Sherry wines. Their winning dishes were:
- Starter:
- Jardin Maritime - Spanish rice with roasted leek broth, plankton, sea lettuce, seasonal crunchy vegetables, and green pea
- Sherry Fino "Caberrubia Saca VI" from Bodegas Luis Pérez
- Main dish:
- Voyage vers Extremadura - Millefeuille of Iberian pork cheek and caramelized onion with bay leaf, salt, pepper, demi-glace with dark chocolate, fennel, ginger, yuzu, seasonal vegetables, and Iberian and vitelotte potato croquette
- Sherry Amontillado from Bodegas Collantes, “Fossi”.
- Dessert:
- Destination Andalusia - Roast of caramelized fig and Shropshire cheese with Shropshire cheese ice cream, rocket coulis, fried rocket, caramelized pecans, and a vinaigrette of olive oil, Sherry, and walnut oil
- Sherry Palo-Cortado Medium, Blend Boca Dulce “The Wine Bang”.
Pictures by Menno De Jong
Copa Jerez Forum and Competition, the biggest Spanish cooking show
Restaurant SOMM is now preparing to represent Belgium at the Copa Jerez Forum & Competition in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, in 2025. This prestigious biennial event is one of the largest international gastronomic gatherings focused on Sherry wines. It will showcase top chefs, sommeliers, and winemakers from around the globe over two days of exceptional culinary performances and wine tastings.
The Copa Jerez Forum & Competition, held every two years, is renowned for its celebration of Sherry wines and high-level gastronomy. In 2025, the event will be hosted in Jerez de la Frontera, bringing together the foremost experts in the culinary and wine industries. Attendees will experience a series of top-tier culinary demonstrations and wine tastings, all centered around the rich heritage of Jerez wines. Over 200 distinguished professionals from both gastronomy and the wine sector will gather to engage in tastings and discussions, highlighting the significance of Jerez in the global culinary landscape.
The Distinguished Jury of the Copa Jerez Belgium Final
The selection process for the Copa Jerez Belgium final was overseen by a distinguished panel of experts, reflecting the high standards of this prestigious competition. The Belgian jury comprised:
- Patrick Fievez: A well-respected journalist specializing in wine and Sherry for Horeca Magazine, Fievez brought his extensive knowledge as a sommelier and served as the President of the Jury.
- Daniel Molmans: the General Secretary of Mastercooks.
- Dirk Rodriguez: editor-in-Chief of Vinopres, renowned for his specialization in sommelier practices.
- Paul Henri Cuvelier: a celebrated sommelier and former winner of Copa Jerez.
- Lieven Lootens: renowned restaurant chef from 't Aards Paradijs.
Pictures by Menno De Jong
Together, this esteemed jury evaluated the finalists' culinary creations and Sherry pairings with a keen eye for quality and originality, ensuring that the competition upheld its reputation for excellence.
For more info and additional photo material, please contact:
- Excellis Agency
- t: +32 2 644 22 52
- e: info@excellis.be
- Trade and Economic Office of the Spanish Embassy in Brussels
- t: + 32 2 551 10 40
- e: bruselas@comercio.mineco.es
Details of the winning team restaurant SOMM:
- Restaurant SOMM
- t: +32 473 88 25 18
- e: info@somm.gent
The other two teams finished ex aequo:
- Restaurant Vers Namur- https://versnamur.be/
- Chef: Sam Wils
- Sommelier: Bjon Vandernoord
- Restaurant Den Silveren Harynck - https://www.densilverenharynck.be/
- Chef: Samantha Verbruggen
- Sommelier: Sam Venlandeghem
Picture of the winning team:
Pictures of the winning menu:
More pictures available in low and high resolution.
#copajerez #sherrywinesjerez #winewisebenelux
