Culinary Olympics set to sizzle

By Ray Furlong
BBC correspondent in Berlin

Chefs will compete in a range of disciplines

The third and least well-known of this year's Olympic Games are set to start in Germany on Sunday - the Culinary Olympics.

Thirty-two nations have sent their best chefs to fight it out in the city of Erfurt - the biggest number since the competition began in 1900.

Chefs will compete in disciplines as diverse as cold platters, military cooking, and confectionary.

The event is expected to attract some 25,000 spectators.

Potato sacks

The teams do their cooking in glass-walled kitchens.

They are closely watched by an international jury who judge them on creativity, presentation, and of course - what it actually tastes like.

The spectators, meanwhile, can sample all of the dishes on offer at the restaurant.

The Culinary Olympics has been held every four years in Germany, except during the two world wars, since being launched by a group of German chefs in 1900.

The original aim was to make people more aware of how good German cooking is, although last time round the run-away winners were the Swedish team - with the Germans coming a poor seventh.

This time the German military team showed off its skills on the eve of the tournament.

Crepes with fillet of pork, and stuffed wild mushrooms in cream sauce were served to passers-by on the main square in Erfurt.

The opening ceremony will be graced by politicians, sportsmen and celebrities - dressed up for the occasion in potato sacks.