IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) Young Chef Olympiad 2024 successfully wrapped up its first round of the competition today at their campus in Pune. The competition saw aspiring students from across 10 countries competing against each other. Participants from Italy, France, Northern Ireland, Oman, South Africa, Spain, Wales, Slovenia and Azerbaijan participated at the IIHM Pune campus. The 10th IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2024 (YCO 2024) is hosting student chefs from over 60 countries, emphasizing its commitment to sustainability and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
These participants demonstrated their culinary skills for over 3 hours in front of a panel of the finest Chef Judges, composed of some of the best-known chefs and hospitality stalwarts from all over the globe. The students received an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of an esteemed panel of judges including Chef Sarah Hartnett, Executive Pastry Chef at Smart Group Ltd, Ireland; Chef Garth Stroebel, Executive Chef of the Mount Nelson Hotel, South Africa; Chef Mario Perera Executive Chef at the Dorchester Hotel, London; Gary Maclean, National Chef of Scotland, Food Ambassador, Author, Masterchef, UK; Chef Manjunath Mural, Indian Executive Chef of Michelin Star, Singapore and Chef Paul Jervis, HOD of Hospitality & Culinary Art Department Westminster Kingsway College, London.
The students were judged on two stages. Stage one included a skill test while stage two was all about the cooking test. In the skill test, the students were judged on their cutting and chopping techniques and in the cooking test they were evaluated on the taste of the dishes and presentation skills. The students were asked to present a dessert and 4 portions of a main course vegetarian dish suitable to be served at a brasserie-style restaurant.
Mr. Rupinder Singh Khurana, Director IIHM Pune & Executive Committee Member for YCO 2024, said, “I am grateful for the electrifying energy that filled the IIHM campus in Pune today. Witnessing the exceptional enthusiasm of all the students as they displayed their culinary talents before some of the industry’s finest culinarians was truly inspiring. The constant support extended to the participants by the jury members, country mentors and esteemed judges fills me with humility and gratitude. As the students bid farewell to Pune today, I eagerly anticipate the next stage of the competition unfolding in the enchanting city of Kolkata.”
Following Round 1, all the competitors and mentors will leave for the cultural city of Kolkata for the next stage of the competition. The leading 10 competitors from Round 1 will compete in the Grand Final; 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 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 prize money of US$ 5,000, the Silver winner will bag US$ 3,000 and the Bronze winner US$ 2,000.
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