Ten candidates from all over the country are in Livonia this week, vying to for the title of Certified Master Chef.
No, it's not for a TV show; it's a real certification to be a master culinary expert.
“The people on TV would not last Day one here," said Jeremy Abbey, Certification Director for American culinary Federation.
The American Culinary Federation is hosting the Master Chef exam for the first time in three years – and it’s at Schoolcraft College.
It’s an eight-day process. They started off with 10 candidates, but two have already failed.
The culinary federation picked Michigan because six of the 29 evaluators are Master Chef's from Metro Detroit.
“The concentration of certified masters chefs in the metro Detroit area really lent itself to having a successful exam,” said Abbey.
The chef's are being tested on different types of techniques and cuisine:
"Sautéing, to baking, to butchery, to fabrication, to deserts, to baking, pastries, to healthy cuisine, to global cuisine, international, classical cuisine, buffet catering."
Once they survive the week, the last day, where they cook for a total of nine hours, using a mystery basket, is the hardest.
So what do you get from being a certified Master Chef? Bragging rights and opportunities knocking on your door.
"It can change your life," said Abbey.
