Newsletter February
Success Story: Giovanna Grossi
Giovanna Grossi chose to learn and study cuisine because her parents own restaurants in Brazil.
She always liked to be in the kitchen, but never imagined herself working professionally as a cooker
before her formation at Institut Paul Bocuse. Graduate of Anhembi Morumbi University, she
enrolled in the Institut Paul Bocuse Worldwide Alliance student session in 2012 because she wanted
to learn more about Cuisine of the World and discover new food cultures.
After four months at Institut Paul Bocuse, Giovanna decided to take up new challenges and get
some experience. She signed up for Bocuse d'Or Brazil 2015 in order to put in practice skills and
techniques acquired throughout years. On October 16th 2015, she participated to the finale in Sao
Paolo and dominated the seven other candidates. She became the first woman to win Bocuse d’Or
Brazil. She flew to Mexico City few months later to participate to the continental step held during
Sirha Mexico: Bocuse d’Or Latin America 2016. Her talent was recognized and awarded with gold
by the jury. Giovanna will represent Latin America during the worldwide finale held in Lyon next
January 2017. A city that she knows well since she lived there few years ago! Good luck to her!
Why are you participating to the Bocuse d’Or competition? What does it represent for you?
G. This worldwide chefs competition is one more challenge in my life. It is a good way to show myself that I can keep
growing and learning. When I started the competition on October, I was hoping to go to the second stage but was already
considering myself victorious to be there. Now I will represent Latin America during the worldwide finale. That’s incredible!
Culture focus: Carnival de Barranquilla
The Carnival de Barranquilla is inscribed on the representative list of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008. Every year, this Colombian festivity takes
place during the four days before Lent in the city of Barranquilla. Due to its
geographical location and the commercial development during the colonial period,
Barranquilla became one of the most important business cities of Colombia. Nowadays,
the city is considered as a real place of meetings and exchanges, where European,
African, and indigenous peoples and cultures converged.
During the Carnival de Barranquilla, different Colombian sub-cultures and local
traditions are promoted thanks to dances, music and folk instruments. Dancers, actors
and singers performed in the street and share happiness and enthusiasm with
spectators. Spectators discover dances such as mico and the African congo; listen to
cumbia – the predominant traditional music – in a burlesque atmosphere.
Throughout years, the Carnival de Barranquilla grew up and became more famous in
the continent. Today, this colorful event receives wide media coverage and generates
economic benefits for the entire region. Nevertheless, it remains a Colombian
traditional festivity that aims to celebrate cultural melting pot.