France triumphed on Monday, January 27, at the prestigious Bocuse d'Or gastronomic competition, organized at Sirha in Lyon. Paul Marcon, 29, succeeds his father Régis Marcon, winner in 1995, and inscribes his name in the history of French gastronomy.
Originally from Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid in Haute-Loire, Paul Marcon is the first to win the Bocuse d'Or thirty years after his father. To the applause of an excited crowd, he dedicated this victory to his team, including Camille Pigot, who won the prize for best commis. Moved to tears, Régis Marcon celebrated his son's feat, confirming the strength of this culinary dynasty.
To win this world title, Paul Marcon devoted 18 months to intensive training. Supervised by coach Christophe Quantin, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, and his commis Camille Pigot, he refined his creations around the imposed themes: venison and lobster-celery combination. This rigor allowed him to beat Denmark, second, and Sweden, third, after 5h30 of tests.
The 2025 edition of the Bocuse d'Or brought together supporters from all over the world to cheer on the 24 competing nations. In a hall dedicated to the French cause, the blue-white-red flags dominated the stands, animated by the Marcon family and the inhabitants of their village. "Paul was born for this competition," confided his mother, Michelle Marcon, moved to see him follow in his father's footsteps.
This victory marks the ninth for France since the competition was created in 1987. It also marks a new page in the history of the Bocuse d'Or, where passion and excellence continue to shine.
