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Written by: JK Monitor News Network

Published: 01 February 2024

NEW DELHI: After the grand and glittering Opening Ceremony of the epic 10^th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad on 29^th January 2024 at Siri Fort in New Delhi, the culinary heats have kicked off and every participant is giving the best to show his or her talent. Round 1 of the competition is in full swing at the respective IIHM campuses in Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Goa.

According to the groupwise division of the countries, Group C is competing in Goa, Group D in Pune, Group E in Hyderabad and Group F in Bangalore. Each group includes 10 participating countries.

Group C includes England, Singapore, Seychelles, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Madagascar, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Bangladesh.

Group D includes countries like India, Italy, Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Azerbaijan, Austria, Oman, Spain, Wales, and South Africa.

Group E comprises Malaysia, Nigeria, Jordan, Iran, Luxembourg, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Armenia, Ireland, and Ethiopia.

Group F comprises the Philippines, Turkey, UAE, Mexico, Sweden, Kenya, Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, Bulgaria

Before Round 1 started, the participants of each group were given a grand welcome at each of the campuses following the traditions of the respective states of India. Group C in Goa was welcomed with a lip-smacking Saraswat Cuisine Food Festival to showcase local Goan delicacies. A colorful traditional Maharashtrian dance was performed to welcome the participants of Group D at Pune. Group E in Hyderabad experienced a classical dance performance followed by a sumptuous meal at Churrolto, Hyderabad and Group E received a colourful and exciting welcome with the traditional Dholu Kunitha dance performance.

Round 1 of the competition was a three-and-a-half-hour competition comprising two stages. The first stage included a Skills Test where the participants were expected to display their knife skills. They had to chop three root vegetables as per the specifications provided and exhibit them. The judges marked the competitors based on skills, presentation, and hygiene management of the workstation and preciseness of measurements.

The second stage of Round 1 included the preparation of a Vegetarian Dish and a dessert item.  The competitors had to prepare four portions of a main course vegetarian dish suitable for a busy Brasserie-style restaurant. The dessert item was to be a Crepe Souffle made with oranges. Marks were awarded based on presentation, cooking skills, taste and flavor and several other technical factors like time management, hygiene, method of work and so on.  

Each city has a dedicated panel of international judges who will be judging YCO 2024 entirely. Apart from them, each campus had its own technical judges who were all well-known chefs of the region.

As Round 1 of the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad 2024 comes to a close, the world waits with bated breath to see which are the names that will be selected for the Grand Finale and Plate Trophy and which countries will be paired up for the exciting new round named the Dr. Bose Challenge.