Created in 2011, Gourm’Edhec is the culinary association of EDHEC. His goal? Promote a healthy and balanced eating lifestyle in the student world, while upholding its values: conviviality, pleasure and sharing. Lately, we are trying to rethink our events so that they fit into a more CSR approach and we will very soon be releasing a recipe book for students!
Toqu’Edhec, first student cooking competition in the Lille region
Gourm’Edhec organizes Toqu’Edhec, an inter-school culinary competition which brings together 1,000 visitors each year. The principle is simple: teams of 4 students have 2 hours to prepare a dish and a dessert. A seemingly easy thing, but a difficulty is added: the day before the competition, a mystery ingredient is revealed and must be included in the candidates’ dishes and desserts. In 2019, it was ginger that was in the spotlight!
To decide between them, chefs judge the achievements and rewards are awarded to the candidates according to the quality of their performance. Usually, there are tasting stands, culinary shows and demonstrations from top chefs alongside the competition.
After an edition canceled in 2020 due to confinement, the 2021 edition was to take place at the Chamber of Trades and Crafts in Lille on March 21. Everything had been planned so that the event took place while respecting all the necessary health conditions. Unfortunately, 3 days before the start of this edition, a new confinement was announced… We are therefore all the more determined to organize an unforgettable 2022 edition!
Other Gourm’Edhec events
Next to Toqu’Edhec, Gourm’Edhec organizes events mainly aimed at an EDHEC audience, such as cooking classes (tapas, sushi, etc.), snacks, the Coloc’ Almost Perfect (based on the model of Un Dîner Almost Perfect where 8 teams compete), the Love Box (small boxes of sweets made ourselves that students can order for their loved one for Valentine’s Day), etc.
Obviously, these events had to be rethought this year because of the health crisis. Thus, cooking classes were carried out by members of Gourm’Edhec via video during the October-November confinement. For the Love Boxes, we also had to be imaginative given that distribution normally takes place on campus. For one day, the members of Gourm’Edhec acted as home delivery drivers!
And for the future…
In the very near future, we will be releasing a recipe book for students, which will be available for sale in Lille, for a very affordable price! Simple and accessible recipes, but for all tastes, our ambition is to break the routine that can set in when it comes to food as a student and perhaps, who knows, awaken new vocations. It is essential for us to transmit the notion of pleasure which is inseparable from cooking, but which students tend to forget due to lack of time or desire.
We also think a lot about the sustainability of our events, particularly with regard to the remains of Toqu’Edhec. To this end, a CSR center has been created. It seeks to overcome the challenges that we may encounter on this theme: how to promote local producers, highlight women in a world that is still quite sexist… The possibilities are endless, so we are all very invested in this approach!
The testimony of Romuald, former participant of Toqu’Edhec
Romuald is part of the defending team, Audencia! We asked him a few questions.
What happened to you pushed to register?
My passion is cooking and I told myself that participating in a competition would be an opportunity to learn new things and test my opinion in a competition!
How did you experience this?
I had a great time, the chef we had was great! The presenter created a good atmosphere and everyone was friendly.
Your best memory?
I would say the moment when we are told of our victory and the rush at the end to finish on time!
Article written by Marion Fèvre
