33rd WACS Congress Starts in 'Style'

Delegates and their guests arrived to a red carpet welcome before making their way into the ballroom filled with grazing stations of traditional Arabic and creative Western Cuisines, including delicate cold canapés and finger foods. Outside in the foyer, an interesting array of hot food items catered for the needs of everyone present. Guests were constantly crowded around the two whole lambs set atop mountains of basmati rice, intrigued by the traditional Middle Eastern dish.

WACS President Ferdinand Metz began his welcome speech by asking everyone present to smile at a person nearby. As President Metz pointed out, that person was probably from another country and from a completely different culture too. He pointed out that with so many nationalities present at the welcome event, it truly showed that the strength of WACS as an organization lay in our ability to come together despite our differences — differences in language and culture. He said, “This difference is the true and only strength of our association. I suggest we accept, even celebrate our differences.”

Indeed, with four full days of WACS meetings scheduled ahead of us, it is time to bury our differences and to work hard together for the good of our organization — the World Association of Chefs’ Societies!

 

Photos - http://www.wacs2000.org/event_coverage2008/photogallery_day1.php