10 Young Chefs Battle Out In Round 1 Of 10th IIHM Young Chef Olympiad At Bengaluru

10 young chefs from 10 different countries of the world participated in the Round 1 of the 10th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) in the Bengaluru campus of the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) today.

The participants of the round-1 were Stelian Genchev Ganchev from Bulgaria, Karl Joakim Erik from Sweden, Adrian Leroy Tomasi from Fiji, Adisa Wacu Maryanne from Kenya, Regina Losana Stoopen from Mexico, Chintaloo Rowin from Mauritius, Kamal Thapa from Nepal, Clifford Jeff Unabia from Philippines, Baran Kalmaz from Turkey and Itqua Ansari from UAE.

The culinary battle, that began at 9 am saw these young chefs showcasing their culinary skills in a 3.5 hours starting with skills test, preparation of vegetarian dish and a dessert. The contest concluded at 2:00 PM.

The first round of the Olympiad Competition for Bengaluru was judged by a panel of esteemed international chefs, including Prof Dato Abdul Wahab Zamzani, Chef Shaun Leonard, Chef Enzo Oliveri and Chef Anupam Gulati

“The competition aimed to test the participants' culinary skills, creativity, and knowledge of different cuisines, as well as their ability to work under pressure. The judges were impressed with the level of skill and creativity displayed by the young chefs, making it a tough competition to judge. We all are super excited as this is the 10th YCO”, apprised Sanchari Chowdhury, Director, IIHM Bengaluru.

The leading 10 competitors from Round 1 will compete in the Grand Finale; the next 10 competitors filling the 11th to 20th positions will compete for the Plate Trophy and the remaining competitors will take part in the YCO Dr Suborno Bose Challenge. The 10th International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad looks all set to be the mega culinary competition and conclave of the year.

The Grand Final’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medallists; the Plate Trophy Winner; the YCO Dr Suborno Bose Challenge Winner and all other Award Winners will be announced at the Closing Awards Ceremony on the evening of 4th February 2024. While the Gold winner will be awarded a US $ 5,000 prize, the Silver winner will bag US $3,000, and the Bronze winner $2,000.

On the occasion, Dr Suborno Bose, Chairman, IIHM, who conceptualised and has passionately guided this event since its inception in 2015, said, “The 10th International Young Chef Olympiad is the biggest Culinary Olympiad anywhere in the world. In 2024, the theme is the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This assumes great significance in light of India’s G20 Presidency. This year over 60 countries are participating in the Olympiad. This is the first time in the history of the event that there is participation in such large numbers. IIHM campuses across the country are eagerly looking forward to hosting this mega culinary competition which will not only inspire young chefs from around the world to do their best but also sensitise them to the critical importance of sustainability in the field of hospitality.”

Green Steps :

Going with the sustainability theme, IIHM YCO Sustainability Walk in Bangalore, featuring students from various schools in the city, was a remarkable initiative organized in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department of the Government of Karnataka and BCIC Karnataka . This event aimed to promote awareness and action towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Participants from different countries, united under the banner of the 10th IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2024, joined hands with the local community to emphasize the importance of sustainable practices. The walk not only fostered a sense of global citizenship but also served as a platform for exchanging ideas and fostering a collective commitment to building a more sustainable future. Through this collaborative effort, the Sustainability Walk became a powerful expression of the shared responsibility to address environmental, social, and economic challenges, creating a positive impact on both the local and global levels.

The YCO Bangalore Chapter partners are Ariane Fine Porcelain, McCain Food Service India, Curefoods, Hyatt Centric MG Road, Taj MG Road, Grand Mercure Gopalan Mall, VRO Hospitality Bangalore – Badmaash, Nandus, Charnock Equipments Pvt Ltd. Other partners are Stories Kitchen & Brewery, Hindustan Men’s Wear, Greenpath Organic, Olive Ridley, Sigma Consultancy services and Ranga Silver Palace.