<strong>Secret weapon: </strong>Italy is hoping its candidate Martino Ruggieri will be the first Italian chef to win gold at prestigious cooking competition Bocuse d'Or in 2019.
Secret weapon: Italy is hoping its candidate Martino Ruggieri will be the first Italian chef to win gold at prestigious cooking competition Bocuse d'Or in 2019.
Accademia Bocuse d'Or Italia
<strong>Top contender: </strong>Ruggieri emerged the victor during a live cooking race as part of Italy's national Bocuse d'Or selection process.
Top contender: Ruggieri emerged the victor during a live cooking race as part of Italy's national Bocuse d'Or selection process.
Accademia Bocuse d'Or Italia
<strong>Food art:</strong> The vegetarian dish that helped him win symbolizes the cultural mix of Italy's south, featuring a patchwork of bright spices, pumpkins, oranges and mayonnaise.
Food art: The vegetarian dish that helped him win symbolizes the cultural mix of Italy's south, featuring a patchwork of bright spices, pumpkins, oranges and mayonnaise.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Tough competition:</strong> He impressed tough jury of Michelin-starred chefs and beat out three fellow Italian chefs to represent the country.
Tough competition: He impressed tough jury of Michelin-starred chefs and beat out three fellow Italian chefs to represent the country.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Signature dish: </strong>The chef's meat Trulli, which is something of a work of art, won him huge cheers from the crowd.
Signature dish: The chef's meat Trulli, which is something of a work of art, won him huge cheers from the crowd.
Accademia Bocuse d'Or Italia
<strong>High hopes</strong>: Ruggieri will compete at the European competition in Turin in June 2018. If he's successful there, he'll go straight to the world contest in 2019 in Lyon.
High hopes: Ruggieri will compete at the European competition in Turin in June 2018. If he's successful there, he'll go straight to the world contest in 2019 in Lyon.
Accademia Bocuse d'Or Italia
<strong>Main rival: </strong>France has won Bocuse d'Or seven times, most recently with chef Thibaut Ruggeri in 2013.
Main rival: France has won Bocuse d'Or seven times, most recently with chef Thibaut Ruggeri in 2013.
JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images
<strong>Current champion:</strong> 2017 winner Mathew Peters with chef Enrico Crippa, who is president of the Italian academy.<br />
Current champion: 2017 winner Mathew Peters with chef Enrico Crippa, who is president of the Italian academy.
Accademia Bocuse d'Or Italia
<strong>Idyllic location: </strong>Ruggieri will train in Italy's brand new academy, which is based in the UNESCO-listed Langhe region renowned for premium white truffle and rich Barolo wine.
Idyllic location: Ruggieri will train in Italy's brand new academy, which is based in the UNESCO-listed Langhe region renowned for premium white truffle and rich Barolo wine.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Fighting chance: </strong>"Somehow we never took it [Bocuse d'Or] seriously. But now, thanks to this new academy, our champion will get all the support he needs", says fellow chef Matteo Baronetto.<br />
Fighting chance: "Somehow we never took it [Bocuse d'Or] seriously. But now, thanks to this new academy, our champion will get all the support he needs", says fellow chef Matteo Baronetto.
Silvia Marchetti