Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The International IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) Young Chef Olympiad, the biggest event in the annual calendar of the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM), is returning for its 9th edition with much fanfare. After being held virtually for the last two editions owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the much-awaited Olympiad is back in its physical form. It’s an exciting time as IIHM campuses across India gear up to host the 9th International Young Chef Olympiad 2023.
This year the event is bigger and more ambitious than ever before and is being supported by the Ministry of Tourism, the Government of India and 10 state governments.
With over 60 countries participating this year, the International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad is slated to be a grand and star-studded event of global proportions. This year, several new countries are in the fray, including Australia, The Netherlands, Egypt, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Azerbaijan and Tanzania.
YCO 2023 will be evaluated by a 28-member Grand Jury featuring the who’s who of the culinary and Hospitality World. Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is the event’s, Principal Mentor.
The Co-chief judges are Chef Andreas Muller and John Wood. Professor David Foskett is the Chairman of the YCO Grand Jury, Paul Jervis is the Chief Adjudicator, and Peter Jones is the Research Chair.
The Grand Jury also includes renowned culinary names such as Chef Ranveer Brar – Indian Celebrity Chef; Chef Manjunath Mural – Michelin Star Chef from Singapore; Chef Mario Perera – Executive Chef at The Dorchester Collection; Chef Gary Maclean – National Chef of Scotland; Chef Sarah Hartnett- Renowned Chocolatier and Pâtissier; Chef Rahul Akerkar- Master Chef, Restaurateur and Founder of Indigo, India; Chef Russell Bateman – Celebrity Chef; Chef Steve Munkley- Vice President of Craft Guild of Chefs, UK and Former Executive Chef Royal Garden Hotel, London, England; Chef Parvinder Bali – Programme Manager, Culinary Services, at the Oberoi Center of Learning and Development (OCLD), New Delhi and others.
“I would like to congratulate IIHM and Young Chef Olympiad for organizing the World’s biggest culinary competition. The year 2023 is the year of the Millet, and I am pleased to know that YCO has used ‘MILLETS’ as one of the ingredients in the competition. This promotes sustainability and the message of the United Nations to its use to address the global issue of hunger and make India as the global hub for Millets. Goa welcomes all the participants from various countries and wishes them the best of luck for this global event. Thank you to IIHM and International Hospitality Council London for getting the World to India,” said Dr Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa in his statement.
Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of YCO Global Council & CEO of International Hospitality Council, London & Founder & Chief Mentor of Indismart Group, who conceptualized and has passionately guided this event since its inception in 2015, said, “The 9th International Young Chef Olympiad is the first major Culinary Olympiad post-pandemic anywhere in the World. In 2023, 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 sensitize them to the critical importance of sustainability in the field of Hospitality.”
2023 being the International Year of Millets, the 9th International IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2023 is also promoting Millets in a big way, putting a spotlight on them as well as on sustainability.
