4-Star Paris Hotel Turns up the Heat During Major Culinary Competition

PARIS, FRANCE--(Marketwired - Aug 18, 2014) - Much has been made of the expression, "to think outside the box." But the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center is doing its part to rehabilitate the image of the proverbial cube. Considered one of Paris' premier city-centre hotels, the property didn't just host a regional competition for Marriott International's European Black Box Culinary Challenge. Its team beat out every other participating French team and is now bound for the European Finals, all because the culinary staff knows how to turn the ingredients of a single box into one unforgettable menu.

Considered the most prestigious culinary competition within the brand, the European Black Box Culinary Challenge tasks teams from hotels around Europe to create a three-course menu from mystery ingredients found inside a designated black box. Each box contains a variety of local and seasonal produce along with spices, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, which the chefs then transform into a series of dishes mise en place at the host hotel's kitchen. From there, the servers, who are evaluated for their hospitality and creativity, set the dishes on beautifully designed tables to be photographed and judged.

Although the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel is home to R'Yves, a highly regarded restaurant in downtown Paris, there were no guarantees in this challenge. Teams consisted of three chefs (one could be a sous chef, while the other two must hold lower positions), one restaurant supervisor and three service associates. Additionally, teams could come from either the restaurant or the banquet divisions of any Marriott-branded property in France.

Each regional competition is required to consist of four to 10 teams, and the setting for this challenge couldn't have been more inspiring. Participants arrived in the heart of Paris' downtown dining scene where they had the opportunity to cook at a paragon among downtown Paris hotels. Once presented with their ingredients, culinary teams tapped the creative spirit of the place to develop menus for appetizers, main courses and desserts, as the front-of-house staff created a theme for their table.

While competition was stiff, this hotel's score of 91.06 points earned its team a place at the Finals in Frankfurt this November. There, the team will once again whisk, season and sauté gastronomic delights from a given set of ingredients, although this time they'll be competing against the five other top teams from across Europe and Turkey. Thinking inside the box has never been so exciting or delicious.

About the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center
Located in the heart of downtown and easily accessible from all major airports, the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center is a top pick for both business and leisure travel. Voted France's Leading Conference Center Hotel at the 2013 World Travel Awards, the property features 84 meeting rooms and business-friendly amenities including 24-hour concierge service, high-speed Internet access and an Executive Level with private lounge access. Guest rooms offer comfort, quiet and style with spectacular views, large work areas, coffee/tea makers, 24-hour room service and luxurious bedding including a custom duvet and plush pillows. Guests can also unwind in the fitness center followed by a post-workout massage. The Greatroom offers a space for dining, meeting and relaxing with 70s-inpsired decor, an international restaurant, cocktail bar, private lounge areas, take-away counter and Wi-Fi. This conference hotel in Paris is conveniently located near the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Paris expo Porte de Versailles, Paris Nord Villepinte Congress Center and La Halle Freyssinet. Major attractions, including the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees and Notre Dame are less than 30 minutes away via the nearby Metro.