Marseille, France – Over the past few days, the Slovak national gastronomic team competed in the European round of the world’s most demanding and prestigious culinary competition: Bocuse d'Or Europe 2026. Facing fierce competition from 20 European countries, Slovakia secured an overall 16th place. Although this result did not secure a spot in the world final in Lyon, the team delivered a world-class performance, proving that Slovak gastronomy is making tremendous strides.
The Slovak team, consisting of Patrik Pokrývka, Viktória, and Tomáš, had exactly 5 hours and 30 minutes to prepare two complex competition dishes. The cooking took place under immense pressure, directly in front of a strict international jury and hundreds of spectators. They also incorporated a local Slovak touch into their culinary creations—the distinct and specific flavor of juniper—aiming to introduce the jury to the authentic tastes of our region.
"Representing Slovakia among the best chefs in Europe was a massive dream, an honor, and at the same time, one of the greatest challenges of my career. Behind every plate were months of training, hundreds of hours of hard work, a lot of emotions, determination, and team energy," reflected head chef Patrik Pokrývka immediately after the competition.
The European round was won by the representatives of Denmark, followed by Norway and Italy.
Participating in such a demanding event would not have been possible without strong backing. Preparing for Bocuse d'Or requires top-quality ingredients, professional equipment, and the support of partners who believe in the potential of local talent. Alongside the main partners, the Berndorf Sandrik brand—a long-time supporter of the development of premium Slovak gastronomy and dining culture—also contributed its part to supporting the national team.
Although the Slovak team did not win a ticket to the world final, they leave Marseille with valuable experience, fresh inspiration, and an enormous motivation to push the boundaries of the domestic culinary scene yet another level higher.
