The pressure to perform on an international stage is intense. Despite a series of travel challenges, River City‘s executive pastry chef, Stephan Schubert won the America’s Division of the American Culinary Federation‘s Global Chef Challenge. After being awarded ACF’s Pastry Chef of the Year last year, Schubert competed in the regional competition in Quito, Ecuador on Oct. 25 and was awarded top prize over chefs from Columbia, Peru and Argentina.
The win is all the more impressive given that, despite shipping all of his equipment to Ecuador two weeks in advance, Schubert arrived to word that his supplies were stuck in customs, and his hotel room had been given away.
“I almost cried,” said Schubert. “But then I thought that I didn’t come all this way to lose, so I had two days to get a plan B. I put my innovative skills to work.”
Unlike the United States, procuring equipment in Ecuador is not as simple as running to a big box retail store. Schubert sourced from mom-and-pop stores in the streets of Quito and managed to get enough of what he needed to compete.
In the end, Schubert competed alone for six hours, creating four desserts and a 26-inch tall chocolate showpiece reflecting the contest’s theme: Tales and Legends of Greece. Schubert’s showpiece was a modern take on the warrior who dispatched the monster Medusa. Only 25 percent of the sculpture could be molded, with the remainder hand crafted. “I worked in Greece and love the culture,” said Schubert.
The next step in the ACF is the world competition in Thessaloniki, Greece in September 2016. “I know more people in Europe, should there be shipping trouble again,” said Schubert. “But I may bring things carry-on, too.”
As for this year, Schubert said he is pleased to be able to bring recognition both to River City and hopes this win will encourage his staff to keep learning.
This article appears in October 2015.