SINGAPORE/LYON – It is 5pm on a Monday at the Sirha Lyon, where the world’s most prestigious cooking competition is drawing to a close after an intense and emotional two days. The stage is empty. The results are still hours away. And yet, the arena is a blizzard of nationalistic fervour.

There is singing, shouting and a horn that never seems to let up. To my right, the United States contingent breaks out into chants of “USA! USA! USA!”. Not to be outdone, Icelandic supporters launch into their trademark Viking thunder claps. 

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