Marrakech – The 2024 edition of the African Pastry Cup kicked off in Marrakech today, gathering the continent’s most creative and exciting bakers in arguably the continent’s most colorful and vibrant hub of tourism. 

Coming on the heels of the “Bocuse d’Or Africa” contest, which Moroccan cuisine won yesterday, today’s competition saw eight national teams try to outdo each other in inspiration and mastery while vying to emerge as Africa’s best pastry chefs. 

With contestants hailing from Morocco, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Senegal, and Tunisia, Marrakech seemed to dance to dizzyingly innovative moves of the continent’s top pastry geniuses as they went head-to-head in a sweetly heated showdown.

According to its organizers, this prestigious competition is essentially meant to celebrate the art of pastry through challenges that showcase the creations of the finest pastry masters from across the African continent.

During a press conference held this morning, Karim Rahal, CEO of Rahal Events and P president of TOC Africa, emphasized that the competition aims to be a platform to showcase the exceptional  trends and techniques that define the uniqueness of pastry art in Africa. 

In addition to celebrating the cutting-edge innovations in the field, he argued, this event provides a platform for the continent’s top pastry chefs to display their remarkable skills.

Rahal also highlighted that the competition pays tribute to the rich cultural roots that influence African pastry masters.

The candidates showcased their skills in a 10-hour competition featuring a series of thrilling challenges.

Read also: Africa Top Chefs Tournament 2024: Morocco Wins 1st Place at ‘Bocuse d’Or Africa’

The tasting challenges included creating three frozen entremets with fruit purees for eight people, three innovative takes on the classic Paris-Brest for six, and eight exquisite chocolate desserts that combined technical prowess with flavor harmony.

In the artistic challenges, the contestants were asked to crafteone sugar sculpture and one chocolate sculpture.

These stunning creations, designed to dazzle both visually and gastronomically, showcased the ultimate skill and creativity of the pastry chefs.

In hosting such competitions, Morocco not only enhances its gastronomic prestige but also cements its growing reputation as an indispensable promoter of African cooperation and intra-African exchanges in all sectors.