Report from The Grand Chapitre 2018 in connection with the Bailliage de Norvège 50 years anniversary.

You'll find a lot of pictures on our Facebook-sites !

The Grand Chapitre of the year, in connection with the Bailliage de Norvège 50 years anniversary, was held in Sandefjord 17. - 19. August. Sandefjord are located in the heart of Vestfold. In addition to being the host of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in Norway, the city is also known as the Great whaling city. From 1850 until the end of the 1960, Sandefjord was the great and leading city in whaling in the Southern Ocean. In the prime of the whaling season, Sandefjord had against 3000 men out on one of the city's 15 floating whale factories and closer to 100 whale catchers. Today, the memories of whaling are held at the same with their own museum and by the restored "Southern Actor" whaling catcher located at the Museum Pier. Sandefjord has had town status from 1845. In the earlier times, before one at all had thought about adding a city here, the area was important in historical context.  On the site of “Heimdal”, just outside the town, there was a Viking city. Today we have “Gogstad barrow” to remind you that this was where the famous “Gogstad Viking Vessel” was dredged out in 1880. This vessel was the cemetery for one petty king at the end of the 900 century.

By arrival every guest received a book (120 pages) made special for the anniversary. This book, as an e-book, can also be downloaded from www.chaine.no

Friday's "Get Together" on the restaurant "Magazine" had the Vikings as the topic where food and beverages were prepared in the spirit of the Vikings.

Saturday started with a lunch "Anno 1968-2018" at Scandic Park Hotel. Here we had the pleasure of following the development of Norwegian gastronomy from the end of the 1960 and until today under the auspices of Chef Edgar Ludl. Not least exciting since the first Grand Dîner, under the auspices of the Bailliage de Norvège, was held here at the Park Hotel. Edgar Ludl was one of the central chefs who was creating the food 50 years ago. Edgar Ludl has since then been at the Chef Olympics, where he took first place in 1972. In 1980, he was named "Chef of the Year" in Norway. The anniversary menu was composed by Edgar Ludl along with several of the chefs who were present 50 years ago.

After the great Induction Ceremony, officiated by Denmarks Bailli Délegué Jørgen Krenk, it was set a table of a magnificent Grand Diner in the splendid Banquet Hall of Scandic Park Hotel with 237 guests around the beautiful tables. This was the place where the first Grand Dîner in Norway was held in autumn 1969. Scandic Park Hotel has since the start in 1959, been characterized by excellent hosts. The Hotel, built by the ship-owner Anders Jahre, has always set food and drink in the front seat and has continually enjoyed visiting guest chefs from well-known restaurants in Europe. Today's kitchen is located at a high level. During the dinner, Baillie Délégué de Norvége Thore Sande presented a well-deserved honorary award in gold for Bailli Délégué Honoraire Rolf Brænd for the work he during the recent years has performed for Chaîne des Rôtisseur nationally and internationally.

The event was concluded Sunday with a perfect lunch in the Commander Residence at the “Frederiksvern Fortress”, founded in 1750 and named after the well-known King Frederick V.

Erling Riisnæs
Chargé de Presse National