Announcing the Beaufort Chef 2007

Chef Alain Capelle, restaurateur of the Auberge de l'Hermitage in Beaufort (Nord), France was selected as the first visiting chef in the Beaufort Sister Cities new exchange program with the Culinary School of Carteret Community College, Morehead City, North Carolina. Chef Capelle, and his wife, Marie Claude operate a charming inn outside this small town in the northeast of France near the Belgian border.  Restaurant guides describe the Auberge as a beautiful brick building in the northern style, rustic and well cared for. The interior decor in copper and wood conveys a feeling of well-being and happiness.  The menu is up to date but with a classical technique infused with lots of personality.

    Having received a diploma from the hotel school of Strasbourg nearly thirty years ago, Chef Capelle is a member of the International Order of Disciples of Auguste Escoffier.  He was gold medal winner at the international culinary exposition of Offenbourg , Germany .  For two years he taught cooking in a school for restaurant apprentices and he corrects exams in the regional professional high schools. 

    Beaufort Sister Cities, Inc. was very honored to welcome Chef Capelle in this exchange which took place in November 2006 at the time of our next "Carteret County Cooks" competition.  Chef Capelle taught a one week mini-course at the College, collaborated with local chefs and restaurants and visited local high school cooking classes to demonstrate his pastry technique. The winners of the 2005 Bouillabaisse Contest, which was sponsored by the Carteret Community College Culinary School and Beaufort Sister Cities, Inc., also welcomed  Chef Capelle in their restaurants or homes.

     During his visit, Carteret County Cooks Cassoulet, the 2006 Competition was held at Carteret Community College.  The winning chefs were from Beaufort Grocery (first prize), The Dunes Club and Hogs of Havelock (second prize tie), and The Epicurean Club of the CCC Culinary Program (third prize).

     Chef Capelle will return to Carteret County as a guest of Beaufort Sister Cities and Carteret Community College in September 2007.