SANTIAGO, Chile — Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet, shared dinner and addressed some 600 delegates attending the 2010 biannual Congress of the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) in Santiago, Chile on Monday.

Cachelet charmed attendees with her warm greeting and willingness to pose for dozens of pictures throughout the three-hour all-delegates dinner at the historic (1816) Castillo Hidalgo, Cerro Santa Lucia. During the night, she explained how the Chilean government’s 20+ year goal to build food production, and the culture of food itself, is now paying off as Chile becomes a leading exporter of food products around the world.

SANTIAGO, Chile — The 34th biannual Congress of the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS), is underway at the Casa Piedra Convention Centre in Santiago, Chile.

Some 20 Canadians — led by the Canadian Culinary Federation’s (CCFCC) national secretary, Simon Smotkowicz of the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton — had registered opening day, along with close to 400 delegates from more than 60 countries.

Smotkowicz, who is also manager of Culinary Team Canada, was appointed official voting delegate from Canada, replacing CCFCC national president, Judson Simpson, who was forced to cancel due to personal reasons.