Bocuse d'Or Candidate Moves to SF to Train With Locals

When the 12 candidates for the next installment of the Bocuse d'Or competition—aka the culinary Olympics—were announced back in December, the closest thing to a local pony that the Bay Area had was Percy Whatley of The Ahwhanee up in Yosemite, but now comes word that one semi-finalist has some new local ties. Mark Liberman—who was based in Florida until recently—has moved out to San Francisco to train, with the help of some of the city's best chefs. And as anyone who read Knives at Dawn can attest, there's a great deal of training involved in competing in the Bocuse d'Or, which was the reason Kevin Gillespie bowed out.

Since getting here, Liberman has been practicing on a nightly basis in Charles Phan's big commissary kitchen in the Mission. Meanwhile, you know the Frenchies are going to get involved in the Bocuse action in some way too, and La Folie's Roland Passot has been playing a key role in trying the dishes and giving feedback.

What's more, La Folie will be holding some fundraising dinners for the Bocuse d'or Foundation: Liberman will be taking over the kitchen of La Folie for several nights this month. On February 8-12, he'll offer a special menu, and though it's not an exact replica of the Bocuse plates, it's will probably be the closest normal people will get to tasting Bocuse-type food. The breakdown :

Chef Roland Passot Presents Bocuse d’Or USA with Guest Chef Contestant Mark Liberman

Potato Blinis with Arctic Char, Haricot Vert, Crème Fraîche and One Ounce of Tsar Nicoulai Select Osetra Caviar ($115)

Amuse Bouche

Foie Gras Soup with Truffled Crackers and Seared Foie Gras with Baby Turnips

Pastrami Cured Loch Duart Salmon with a Rye Caraway Seed Crust, Sauerkraut and Dill Mousseline, Cornichon and 1000 Island Emulsion

Mille-feuille of Lamb Saddle and Mergeuz Sausage: Benton Ham Crust, Pepper Mostards, Celery Root and Scallion Salad, Taggiasca Olive Jus

Warm Edam Cheese Soufflé with Fromage Blanc Sorbet, Crispy Bacon, White Sesame Tuile

Petit Fours

$150 Including wine pairing