NAIT baking instructor to compete against world's best next year in France

Published on August 11, 2017

Alan Dumonceaux is one of only a handful of experts chosen for the gourmet baking competition, Masters de la Boulangerie.

EDMONTON – NAIT baking instructor and program chair Alan Dumonceaux has been named one of only 6 competitors, and the first Canadian, to compete in the gourmet baking category of the Masters de la Boulangerie, the top baking contest in the world.

Dumonceaux was the pastry specialist for Baking Team Canada, which qualified for the 2016 Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie, the team baking competition.

The Masters competition, which will run Feb. 3-6, 2018 in Paris, is the individual contest that follows the Coupe du Monde. Participants are chosen by judges from among the best competitors in the Coupe du Monde and its qualifying event, the 2015 Louis Lesaffre Cup.

Dumonceaux and his coach, NAIT baking instructor Clayton Folkers, will spend the next several months developing recipes and practicing techniques. During the 10-hour competition, Dumonceaux will make 11 different kinds of pastries, including French classics like croissants, brioches and pains au chocolat, to strict specifications. He must also create a pastry representative of Canada, and a showpiece pastry.

QUICK FACTS

  • Masters de la Boulangerie participants compete in one of 3 categories: gourmet baking, bread-making and artistic bread-making, in which the bakers build an intricate showpiece made from bread.
  • 6 competitors are chosen in each of the 3 categories.
  • The competition is part of the European 2018 trade show in Paris, which includes about 700 exhibitors and 65,000 visitors from 140 countries.

QUOTES

Alan Dumonceaux, chair, NAIT baking program
“To have the chance to become the bakery master is quite an opportunity, but you have to be really creative to win against the best in the world. It’s a daunting challenge, but an exciting one.”

Kevin Shufflebotham, NAIT Provost
“The fact that Alan and Clayton have the skills and expertise to compete and coach at that world-class level speaks to the incredible individuals who work at NAIT. What a great opportunity for them, and for NAIT, to showcase the talents of our people on the international stage.”

LEARN MORE

Masters de la Boulangerie 2018

About NAIT

The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is a leading Canadian polytechnic, delivering education in science, technology and the environment; business; health and trades. With nearly 60,000 credit and non-credit students and a 95 per cent employer satisfaction rate, NAIT grads are essential to Alberta’s prosperity. Known for hands-on, technology-based learning, NAIT engages with business and industry in applied research and innovation and provides corporate training around the world. Recognized as one of Alberta’s top employers, NAIT provides outstanding returns on investment for its graduates, partners, the provincial government and the people of Alberta.

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