At the XIV International Cous Cous competition in San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily, France swept the two awards given by the jury, the overall award and a second one for best presentation. The public voted Senegal tops.

French chef Alice Delcourt receives prize for best couscous dish.

French American chef Alice Delcourt, who is the head cook at Erba Brusca in Milan, wooed the jury with a light couscous dish cooked with dried fruit, sesame seeds and roasted almonds, all topped with a large slice of smoked mackerel. A little Greek yogurt on the side balanced the flavor and added an aesthetic touch that helped Delcourt on her way to the award also for best presentation.

The jury voted Senegal second and Israel third. For a photo of all three of their plates, have a look at the previous post.

Senegalese cooks

In the popular vote, in which France failed to get out of the eliminatory round, Senegal took the top honors ahead of Morocco and Israel. The three countries had won their eliminatory rounds. Like France’s Delcourt, Senegalese cook Diatou Ba made a fish-based dish mixing in also pumpkin and dates.

Senegal's Diatou Ba keeps a watchful eye over her helpers

Chefs in the final as voted by the public