Young Chef Olympiad: Get set to relish foods as young chefs battle it out in the kitchen
The annual event, International Young Chef Olympiad, is back to the Capital with youngsters from across the globe travelling to India, to cook in the best way possible.
Poached Eggs Florentine and Lemon Soufflé Pudding are some of the dishes that won’t just make you salivate, but also decide the destiny of youngsters from across the globe. These youngsters are heading to Delhi to participate in the fourth edition of International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO).
Organised by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and various state tourism departments, YCO 2018 will open in Delhi where 43 participants will compete for the winner’s trophy and a cash prize of USD 10,000.
But, this cooking battle won’t be easy considering there are world-renowned chefs in the judges’ panel including names such as Sanjeev Kapoor, David Foskett, Karl Guggenmos, Chris Galvin, Ranveer Brar, Parvinder Singh Bali, Udo Leick, and Boris Leung. “Only food can bring 50 nations together harmoniously. It’s the most spoken language in the world,” says Shaun Kenworthy, judge, YCO 2018, adding, “There will also be a section, Chef Speak, in each city where local chefs will be socialising with the participants and mentors, listening to their personal stories along with academic discussions by the judges.”
As some of the best culinary institutes compete against each another for the title, the participants are sharpening their knives, scraping spatulas, creasing the chef hats and acquiring a supersonic speed to chop, cook and present their dishes in the best way possible. Surya Sekharroy Chowdhury, a 24-year old from Kolkata who is the India finalist, says, “Representing the country at this prestigious stage is like a dream come true for any aspiring chef. I feel extremely privileged and will leave no stone unturned in making India proud. I can’t deny that I’m pretty excited to rock the plates!”
Even Padma Shri awardee chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who is the principal judge, reinstates the need for such competitions to promote the young talent, “As an Indian, I am so proud to see this huge initiative on such a global scale. This is a unique global learning concept for young chefs and hospitality students.”
“The Young Chef Olympiad was conceptualised as a platform for young chefs-in-training from around the world to interact and showcase their talent. We are glad to see a great response from the international community, who have come together to make this event a great success over the past three editions. With this event, we have tried to put India at the centre of the culinary map of the world. In future, we intend to make the competition bigger with over 100 countries participating in the next edition,” says Dr Suborno Bose, founder and chief mentor of IndiSmart Group and IIHM.
After the opening on January 28, the competition will continue on the following days at IIHM campuses in Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Pune till February 2.
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