Culinary Excellence Takes Center Stage in Young Chef Olympiad Round 1 at Hyderabad
The International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) witnessed a culinary spectacle as ten young chefs from around the globe showcased their exceptional skills in the 1st round of the 10th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO). Participants from Malaysia, Jordan, Iran, Luxembourg, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Maldives, Armenia, Ireland, and Ethiopia engaged in a fierce culinary battle at the IIHM campus in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, with the lone Indian participant, Lenin Bopanna, competing in Pune.
The culinary showdown began with a challenging 3.5-hour skills test, where contestants demonstrated their culinary prowess by crafting a vegetarian dish and dessert. Esteemed international judges, including Chef Neil Rippington, Chef Henry Brosi, Chef Shaun Kenworthy, Chef Mahesh Padala, and Chef Dharmender Lamba, evaluated the participants.
Earnest Immanuel, Director of IIHM
The event, part of the World’s largest culinary Olympiad, also took place simultaneously in Pune, Delhi, Goa, and Bangalore. The competition aimed to assess participants’ culinary skills, creativity, and knowledge of diverse cuisines while gauging their ability to thrive under pressure.
Earnest Immanuel, Director of IIHM Hyderabad, expressed his satisfaction with the high skill level and creativity displayed by the young chefs. Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of IIHM, highlighted the event’s significance as the largest culinary Olympiad globally, with this year’s theme focusing on UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The competition saw significant participation, with 60 countries involved, marking the highest turnout in the event’s ten-year history. The closing ceremony and announcement of winners will take place during the Grand Final in Kolkata on February 4, 2024. The gold, silver, and bronze medalists will be awarded $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000, respectively, as part of this prestigious culinary competition.
As the culinary world eagerly awaits the crowning of the world’s top young chefs, the Young Chef Olympiad continues to celebrate talent, creativity, and the pursuit of culinary excellence on a global stage.
