USA Places 7th At Bocuse d'Or; France Wins Gold

The world's most prestigious culinary competition wrapped up today, and France walked away with the coveted Bocuse d'Or award. The USA didn't do too badly, either.

Team USA, led by captains Richard Rosendale and Corey Siegel (with much buzz from Bocuse d'Or USA Foundation president Thomas Keller and Grant Achatz), came in seventh in the international culinary competition.

Japan stood on the podium for the first time, winning the Bocuse de Bronze, while Denmark received the Bocuse d'Argent (second place). France won the gold.

Guatemala won a special award for Best Promotion, Hungary won Best Poster, and Kristian Curtis from the United Kingdom won the Best Commis award. Norway won for the Fish Course, while the U.K. won the special meat prize.

Denmark took the gold back in the last Bocuse d'Or competition in 2011, but France's win is hardly surprising. Of all the countries, France has won the most Bocuse d'Or awards; with this year's win, France now has seven golds, two silvers, and one bronze. And while Team USA  has never placed higher than sixth (this year, they came within 7 points of sixth place Sweden), Thomas Keller tweeted that the USA's meat platter was paraded to the soundtrack of "Born in the USA." That's winning enough for us.