By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
In order to promote Indian cuisine, a culinary contest is being organised for young chefs across the country by the Union Tourism Ministry for the first time. The grand finale of the contest will be held in the national capital in January next year.
Spread over six months, the National Young Chef Competition (NYCC) is travelling across the country through zonal rounds. The contest is exclusively for final-year hospitality students from government, private, stand-alone institutions, and university departments specialising in hospitality and hotel management.
Two zonal rounds over
Its first zonal round (North Zone) was held in Chandigarh. The spotlight then shifted to Kolkata where 11 institutes competed in a live cook-off showcasing innovation rooted in Indian traditions on September 18.
The competition is being organised by the Ministry of Tourism jointly with the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), and the Tourism and Hospitality Skill Council (THSC). The effort is to promote India’s fading culinary traditions, a senior Tourism Ministry official said.
In Kolkata, the competition was held at the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, with the enthusiastic participation of leading hospitality institutes across the eastern region.
Each participating team prepared a three-course Indian meal comprising a starter, main course, and a dessert within two-and-a half hours. The contest challenged participants to reinterpret traditional flavours using modern culinary practices, in front of an eminent jury, mentors, and an eager audience.
Following an intense contest, IHM Kolkata and IHM Bhubaneswar emerged victorious and will represent the East Zone at the grand finale. The ICFAI University, Sikkim, was declared runner-up.
The NYCC is designed to create a focused platform on Indian cuisine, highlighting its depth, diversity and techniques while connecting aspiring chefs with the industry for internships and career opportunities, the official said.
