4th EDITION OF YOUNG CHEF OLYMPIAD TO BE HELD IN INDIA IN JANUARY 2018
by Prashnat Kapadia/NHN
Mumbai, 17th Jan 2018: The 4th Edition of Young Chef Olympiad, conceptualized and executed by IIHM, will be held in India from 28th Jan to 2nd Feb 2018. The international cooking contest is supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and will have over 50 countries competing for the coveted YCO trophy and a cash prize of $10,000.
YCO was created as a platform by noted hospitality school, IIHM, for young chefs-in-training from around the world to interact and showcase their talent. The previous three editions saw an increasingly positive response from the international hospitality community, making the event benchmark for the industry across the world.
The 4th edition, which will be held across Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune and Kolkata, will see schools such as Box Hill Institute (Australia), Sunrice Global Chef Academy (Singapore), University College Birmingham (England), Johnson & Wales University (USA) and many more to compete / participate. The whole list can be viewed at: www.ycolympiad.com
This year also features an eminent panel of Indian & international judges including Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef Ranveer Brar, Chef Abhijit Saha, Chef Pradeep Rozario, Chef Andreas Muller, Chris Galvin, Michelin-Star Winner Chef John Wood, Celebrity TV Chef Enzo Oliveri and more!
The event will open with a grand ceremony in Talkatora Stadium, Delhi on 28th Jan, followed by the first round in Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune respectively. Among the highlights of YCO 2018 are:
- Rupy Aujla of The Doctor’s Kitchen fame, will be the special judge for YCO 2018
- Chef Sanjeev Kapoor as YCO 2018 Principal Judge and YCO mentor
- David Foskett will be the Chairman of the Jury
- 24-year old Surya Shekhar, a student of IIHM, Kolkata will be representing India in the competition this year
- A unique Chef’s Conclave in all the key cities, encompassing a discussion with some of the leading chefs about the issues the industry is facing
- International Culinary Forum in Kolkata, a gathering of culinary and hospitality practioners from every corner of the World meeting to discuss, explore, learn and share views and experiences pertinent to a range of contemporary issues affecting the Global Hospitality and Culinary World.
The 4th Edition of YCO includes a special United World of Young Chefs – where representatives of each country will be preparing and presenting the national dishes of each nation on 31st January at Hyatt Regency, Kolkata.
Dr. Suborno Bose, Founder & Chief Mentor of IndiSmart Group & IIHM, said, “Young Chef Olympiad was conceptualized as a platform for young chefs-in-training from around the world to interact and showcase their talent. We are very glad to see a great response from the international community, who have come together to make this event such a great success over the past 3 editions. We have put India in the center of the culinary map in the world. We intend to make Young Chef Olympiad bigger, with over 100 countries for our next edition.”
“I think for me IIHM today represents the pulse of the youth and the pulse of young chefs. And an event like the Young Chef Olympiad, totally encapsulates, that pulse and energy that today’s young chefs have. It is the greatest initiative for the student chefs on this planet and I am very happy to be a part of it”, said Chef Ranveer Brar speaking on the occasion.
Tham Jiajun Mathew from Sunrice Global Chef Academy, Singapore won the previous edition of YCO in 2017.
YCO 2018: Format & Judges
There are 50 countries that have been selected to participate in the 4th Edition of Young Chef Olympiad. The countries have been divided into five groups, consisting of 10 countries each (see attachment).
The event will be held in two phases. The event commences with an opening ceremony at Talkatora Indoor Stadium on 28th January, New Delhi. The first round, featuring Group A, B and C, will be held in Delhi on 29th January 2018. Group D & E will cook-off in the first round in Bengaluru and Pune respectively on 30th January.
All the countries will reassemble in Kolkata on 31st January for the International Chefs Forum at Hyatt Regency, followed by United World of the Young Chefs wherein young Chefs will cook and present national dishes of their country. After 2nd Round, the selected 10 contestants will head for a face-off in the final round on 2nd February, followed by a grand closing Awards ceremony.
The Judges:
| India | International |
| Chef Sanjeev Kapoor | Prof.David Foskett |
| Chef Ranveer Brar | Chef Andreas Muller |
| Chef Karen Anand | Chef Karl Guggenmos |
| Chef Abhijit Saha | Chef Scott Baechler |
| Chef Avijit Ghosh | Chef Boris Leung |
| Chef Saurabh Shahi | Chef John Wood (Michelin Starred Executive Chef) |
| Chef Ajay Chopra | Chris Galvin (Co-owner of Galvin Restaurants, Michelin-starred restaurant group) |
| Chef Pradip Rozario | Chef Udo Leick |
| Chef Manjit Singh Gill | Chef Enrico Bricarello |
| Suresh Hinduja | Chef Enzo Oliveri (Celebrity TV Chef) |
| Sudhir Sibal |
All rounds will be marked on culinary skills and techniques, adherence to good health and safety and hygiene practice, working methods, minimal waste and best use of ingredients, professional appearance, attitude, dish presentation, taste and flavor. The competition will feature 2 sets of judges for each round. One set will be marking on the technical and production element and the other set of judges will be marking on the presentation, taste, flavour and culinary knowledge.
The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $10,000 and the YCO Trophy.
About IIHM: International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), founded in 1994, is a part of the IndiSmart Group. The group is a large conglomerate that operates the IndiSmart Hotels and offers a wide range of services in the field of Hospitality Management Education Training & Consultancy in India as well as the South East Asia. Today, the Institute is the largest Hotel School Chain that leads in the field of International Hospitality Management Education in India with campuses at Kolkata, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and KBU Bangkok in the capital city in Thailand.
IIHM was the first collegiate program in the country offering discerning students the opportunity to be trained in globally recognized skills and earn an International Degree in Hospitality Management through its collaboration with The Edinburgh Napier University, UK and tie-up with University of West London.