BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
Chef John
Folse is known for his impressive resume and his work with WAFB on Stirrin' It
Up on 9 News at 5 p.m.
"I've
had an opportunity to cook all over the world from popes to five
presidents," Folse said.
But this
summer, the Cajun/Creole chef and restaurant owner is taking his cuisine to
what he calls the "ultimate" stage.
"When
I look back at the opportunities I've had, I don't think anything overshadows
being able to bring the food of Louisiana and the great food of the Gulf and
put into the mouths of athletes from all around the world," Folse said.
Chef Folse
is bringing the "Spirit of the Gulf" across the pond for the Olympic
Games. He is leading the "Team USA" of the culinary world, made up of
eight chefs from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Folse's
manufacturing plant in Donaldsonville is home base for the operation, where the
chefs have prepared a menu that represents the Gulf Region. It is all part of
BP's presentation at the US pavilion.
Security
has been tight at the plant and Folse said his crew has taken hundreds of phone
calls every day for the past six months from officials around the world. They
are making sure the preparation and delivery of nearly 2,500 pounds of food is
on point.
"It
has been extremely hectic no doubt about it," Folse said last week.
"We've
opened a new restaurant, we have our food manufacturer, we have all of our
company to run and we've been coordinating efforts of the Olympics, so it's
been tough, but I remember I have eight and a half hours there...eight and a
half hours back on that plane. I'm going to get my rest and I'm going to catch
up!" he explained.
The menu
consists of alligator gumbo, crab cakes, shrimp pasta and Galatoire's famous
crab maison dish, among other items that 1,000 athletes from competing
countries will enjoy each night.
"The
chefs have all been asking, 'Are we going to get to see swimming and other sports,'
and I remind them we are challenged to represent our states...challenged to
represent the Gulf of Mexico," Folse said.
"We're
there to represent the greatest cuisine in the world, so that's our game. And,
we have to put our game face on and if we have an opportunity to get to see
anything else, well that'll be a plus," he added.
Chef Folse
said the looks on the athletes' faces, as they take that first bite, will bring
victory home to south Louisiana.
"That's
going to be like getting a gold medal and I'm going to feel just that
way," Folse said.
The
shipment of food for the athletes was set to ship out Monday morning.
The opening
ceremonies for the Olympics begin Friday, July 27.
Copyright
2012 WAFB. All rights reserved.
Chef John Folse
