Sodexho Chefs Showcase Talents In Mysterious Culinary Competition

TEMPE, AZ, January 3, 2006-Sodexho chefs across the nation will join together this weekend in a competition sure to pique the senses and curiosity of judges and fellow culinarians. Six chefs, one from each of Sodexho's divisions will compete by creating a variety of appetizers and main courses using a mystery basket of secret ingredients revealed to them only seconds before the contest begins. The competition will be held at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ on January 7th and 8th.

The competition will test the chefs' ability to spontaneously create innovative dishes using ingredients for an appetizer and main course that center on protein such as chicken or beef. Chefs will have one hour and 15 minutes to complete and professionally present the two course meal. Prior to the cooking, each chef will have 15 minutes to create a menu and submit it to the judges, who will include Corporate Chef David Russell, CEC, AAC of Unilever Food Solutions, Suvir Seran, Executive Chef and owner of Devi in New York City, and Corporate Chef of Sodexho UK Peter Joyner. The winner of the competition will receive a trophy and gift certificate.

The culinary competition is part of Sodexho's second National Chef Association Conference, a two and a half day event held to nurture the creativity and knowledge of more than 200 chefs by encouraging participation and sharing of culinary skills, techniques and styles.

Chefs will be provided with limited cookware, but are allowed to bring with them what they think they might need. No advance food preparation is allowed, but extra points will be allotted to chefs for utilizing all of their protein.

Competing chefs include Executive Chefs Jeff Cahill, Sterling Smith, Dan Phalen, Chris Gray, David Williams, and Anthony Verona.

Sodexho USA (www.sodexhoUSA.com) is the leading provider of food and facilities management in the United States, with $6 billion in annual revenue and 110,000+ employees. Sodexho USA offers innovative outsourcing solutions in food service, housekeeping, grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset management, and laundry services to more than 6,000 corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, military and remote sites in North America. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, MD, Sodexho USA proudly serves as the official food service provider for the US Marine Corps.