Paris. The jury of the International Eckart
Witzigmann Award (ECKART) has announced its first selection: Alain
Ducasse will receive the ECKART 2017 for the “Art of Cookery”.
“Alain Ducasse embodies a culinary philosophy that is very similar to
my own. Preparing food is first and foremost a craft for him: The
product takes centre-stage, with no room for airs and graces in the
kitchen,” said Eckart Witzigmann, commenting on the jury’s decision.
Alain Ducasse represents the revival of haute cuisine unlike any
other and makes the product the focal point in a radical way. He is
the first chef to create and serve an all-vegetarian menu worthy of
three stars. Ducasse thinks far beyond the plate. Food is for him a
fundamental need with the status of a civil liberty.
Alain Ducasse is the only chef to have earned the highest accolade of
three Michelin stars for three different restaurants: “Le Louis XV” in
Monte Carlo; “Le Plaza Athénée” in Paris and the “Alain Ducasse at the
Essex House” in New York City.
With an approach more prêt-à-porter than haute couture, Ducasse
started out opening bistros in his name without aspiring to the level
of a starred restaurant. In this way, he was able to share his
culinary philosophy with a wide audience. Today, he operates 26
restaurants worldwide.
ECKART 2017 jury session
Chairman of the jury and host was ECKART 2013 award-winner Joël
Robuchon. The jury met at the “Atelier Robuchon” restaurant in Paris
to decide the winners of the ECKART 2017 in the categories “Art of
Cookery”, “Innovation” and “Art of living”. This year, there were more
nominees for consideration than ever before.
For the ECKART for “Creative Responsibility and Enjoyment”,
introduced in 2013 with a cash award endowed by the BMW Group, the
jury also draws on the expertise of former ECKART winners. The
remaining recipients of the ECKART 2017 awards will be notified and
announced over the course of the summer.
This is the first time the ECKART will be presented outside of
Germany and marks the beginning of its world tour. The award ceremony
for the ECKART 2017 will be held in Paris, with the next stop in New
York City.
For the BMW Group, which has partnered with the Witzigmann Academy
since 2012, sustainability has been an integral part of its corporate
strategy for many years, with sustainable development firmly
established as a corporate target at Group level: from the development
of alternative, fuel-saving vehicle concepts through
environmentally-compatible production processes to eco-friendly
recycling methods. At the BMW Group, sustainable thinking and action
influences not only the product, but the entire value chain. In all
areas of the company, the focus is on meaningful and responsible use
of energy and raw materials.
If you have any questions, please contact:
BMW Group Corporate Communications
Julian Hetzenecker, BMW Group Business and Financial Communications
Tel.: +49-89-382-39229
Email: julian.hetzenecker@bmw.de
Email: presse@bmw.de
Media website: www.press.bmw.de
Press contact
Witzigmann Academy Otto Geisel
Lachner-Straße 18
80639 München
Tel.: +49 89 139 260 26
office@ottogeisel.de
Further information on the Eckart Witzigmann Award can be
found at:
www.eckart-witzigmann-preis.de
The BMW Group
With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly
facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than
140 countries.
In 2016, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.367 million cars and
145,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax was approximately
€ 9.67 billion on revenues amounting to € 94.16 billion. As of 31
December 2016, the BMW Group had a workforce of 124,729 employees.
The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupview
Google+: http://googleplus.bmwgroup.com