It wasn’t the podium finish he was aiming for, but Vancouver chef Alex Chen was in the top 10 with a ninth place finish in this year’s Bocuse d’Or cooking competition in Lyons, France.

The competition, which wrapped up Wednesday, saw France, Denmark and Japan win first, second and third respectively.

“This has been an incredible journey, and it was truly a privilege to represent Canada at the Bocuse d’Or,” Chen said in a statement. “The competition is incredibly fierce, and the opportunity to compete at this level is something I will never forget.”

Chen is the culinary architect of Moxie’s Grill & Bar, and was previously the executive chef at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.