International Institute of Hotel management (IIHM), India’s largest hotel school chain kicked off the culinary heats in Delhi. Young Chef Olympiad supported by Incredible India, gave a platform for students who have always been passionate for cooking. 50 countries including India participated with the support of celebrity chefs like Shaun Kenworthy, Manjeet Gill, Kunal Kapoor and Karen Anand.
The Director of IIHM, Abdul Ahmed believes that “The idea of the Young Chef Olympiad is to connect the world under one roof and get the best chefs work together competitively. Second is global networking, students from every country get a chance to explore different cultures, different tastes and most importantly, they would get a chance to represent their country. They make friends and stay connected through the food and culture which they have experienced. Teachers from different countries teach my students about their culinary culture and we do the same”.
Final year student of IIHM Delhi, Nisha Kumari, representing India in this Olympiad believes that her dream to represent her country has finally come true. Nisha said,“I have been practicing for this Olympiad from last 3 months and now I’m finally representing my country. Competing with so many students from different culinary culture is a privilege, I believe that winning and losing is a part of every competition, all what matters is to compete whole heartedly and give your best for your country and for your people.
“The idea of the Young Chef Olympiad is to connect the world under one roof and get the best chefs work together competitively.”
On the other hand, Eant Wint Htut from Myanmar, a participant in this Olympiad, has been cooking and experimenting with his dishes ever since he was seven years old. Htut said, “I am here to give my best and get my country recognition worldwide. Winning this title means a lot to me”. Commenting on the event, Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of the Young Chef Olympiad and CEO- IIHM, said, “We are delighted at the global participation this year. It is a fantastic event that will reach out globally to as many countries as possible. Food has always been the biggest unifier and continues to be so in today’s day and age. YCO has connected talent across borders from the best culinary colleges under one roof making it a truly global event. Connecting the students from India with world class chefs from across the globe will not only bridge bonds but will also lay foundation of a global connect that will go a long way in each of their careers. The YCO will not only produce and refine the best talent amongst the young chefs but will also give the young talent a platform to learn, teach, showcase and network with.”
Further commenting on the event Chef Shaun Kenworthy, Culinary Director, IIHM, said, “It’s a great initiative that will help build bridges for talent in this field across borders. It is a great opportunity for aspiring young cooks to showcase their talent and make their countries feel proud. The healthy competition between the culinary students and their chef mentors have made this season brilliant! The dishes we have seen today in all the cities take creativity and innovation in food to a new level.”
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