Top chefs left toques at home

US President Barack Obama's will be there, and so will Britain's Queen Elizabeth's and French President Nicolas Sarkozy's.

The chefs responsible for the meals of some of the world's most powerful people are gathering in Hong Kong this week.

Cooking is not on their menu, though the chefs, who serve the heads of state of 19 countries, will share their experience with aspiring young chefs in the city.

The visitors, who include four from Beijing's Great Hall of the People, are in town for the Club de Chefs des Chefs' annual gathering. The club, founded by French couturier Gilles Bragard in 1977, is spending four days in Hong Kong - with a side trip to Macau tomorrow - before making a four-day visit to Beijing.

Club vice-president Mark Flanagan, the head cook for Queen Elizabeth, said the visit to Hong Kong was the first after he became a member of the club eight years ago.

While the army of chefs will be taking a break from working in the kitchen, they will talk about food along the way, including during a visit to the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute to share their experiences with the students there.