From 13th to 21st March 2026, Constance Hotels & Resorts will host the 19th edition of the Constance Festival Culinaire, the most established gastronomic competition in the Indian Ocean.
Held across Constance Belle Mare Plage and Constance Prince Maurice, the festival will once again bring together Michelin-starred chefs, world-renowned pastry chefs and Constance Hotels & Resorts’ own culinary talents from Mauritius, the Maldives and Seychelles for a week of high-level competition, mentorship and collaboration.
Since its creation in 2006, the Constance Festival Culinaire has evolved into a benchmark event on the international culinary calendar, not only celebrating excellence, but actively nurturing talent within the hotel group.
Jean-Jacques Vallet, CEO of Constance Hospitality, comments:
“For nearly two decades, the Constance Festival Culinaire has showcased our long-standing commitment to gastronomy. Beyond competition, it is a platform for transmission, creativity and collaboration, bringing together international experts and our own teams in a spirit of excellence and shared passion. The Festival also plays a direct role in elevating our culinary standards, fuelling creativity, strengthening our teams and ensuring our food and beverage offering continues to delight guests across all Constance Hotels & Resorts properties throughout the year.”
The festival features four major competitions:
Deutz Trophy
Régis Marcon Trophy
Pierre Hermé Trophy
Jars Art of the Table Trophy
The Deutz Trophy and the Regis Marcon Trophy
Presiding over the savoury competitions is legendary three-Michelin-starred chef Régis Marcon, who returns to Mauritius to lead the Régis Marcon Trophy.
A prestigious selection of Michelin-starred chefs from across the globe will participate in these two renowned contests:
Chef Kristian Vangen – Norway
Chef Anton Schmaus – Germany
Chef Simone Cantafio – Italy
Chef Sebastien Grospellier – France
Chef Ollie Bridgwater – UK
Chef James Southern – UK
They will be evaluated by an esteemed international jury, including:
Patrick Bertron (2 Michelin stars) – France
Kazuyuki Tanaka (2 Michelin stars) – France
Ørjan Johannessen (Bocuse d’Or Winner 2015) – Norway
Jan Punčochář (MasterChef judge) – Czech Republic
Thomas Frake (MasterChef Winner 2020 & MasterChef Champion of Champions 2025) – UK
Nathalie Lumpp (wine expert, author and TV personality) – Germany
Pierre Hermé Trophy: The Pastry Challenge
Overseeing the pastry competition is the iconic Pierre Hermé.
Known internationally as the “Picasso of Pastry,” he has redefined modern French pâtisserie and remains a global reference in pâtisserie.
Six internationally acclaimed pastry chefs will compete:
Yann Brys – Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2011, France
Alban Guilmet – Pastry Chef & Chocolatier, Relais Desserts, France
François-Xavier Cathala – Pastry Chef & Chocolatier, Relais Desserts, France
Pascal Hainigue – Pastry Chef of the Year (Le Chef Awards) 2025, France
Cesare Murzilli – Pastry Chef & International Competition Judge, Italy
Christophe Morel – Two-time Canadian World Chocolate Master, France/Canada
They will be judged by Pierre Hermé, alongside Vincent Guerlais (President, Relais Desserts), Frédéric Cassel (Maison Frédéric Cassel, Fontainebleau), and Mercotte (renowned TV host and culinary blogger).
Jars Art of the Table Trophy
In collaboration with esteemed partner and sponsor, Jars, renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship in tableware, this competition showcases passion and creativity at its best. Jars brings unparalleled expertise and dedication to culinary excellence, elevating this journey to new heights.
A Culinary Festival Beyond Competition
In addition to the trophies, the programme includes ten exclusive dinners and masterclasses open to both hotel guests and external visitors, offering rare access to culinary masters in an intimate setting. The Festival is also a platform for knowledge transmission, pairing Michelin-starred chefs with Constance Hotels & Resorts’ own culinary teams, reinforcing the hotel group’s investment in talent development across its Indian Ocean properties.
With the support of long-standing partners such as Champagne Deutz, and anchored in Mauritius and its flavours, Constance Group, holding company of Constance Hospitality, supports the Festival through the supply of locally sourced produce; an invitation to celebrate Mauritian terroir, seasonality and craftsmanship across each competition and dinner.
As always, the Constance Festival Culinaire remains rooted in the values of sharing, creativity and respect for local ingredients. This gathering invites gourmets, food lovers and wine connoisseurs to immerse themselves in a journey of flavours, textures and sensations. The Constance Festival Culinaire 2026 promises a week of exceptional dining, creativity and culinary mastery in Mauritius.
M283 Arabia covers all aspects of men's lifestyle; fashion, sports, self-care, and travel tips and destinations.
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