Foodie’s day out

India’s biggest culinary challenge — Culinary Art India 2019 (CAI) commenced on Tuesday at Pragati Maidan staged alongside AAHAR International Fair. One of the most loved food-related festivals, Culinary Art India is known for its thrilling competitions among the chefs. The 14th edition of Culinary Art India organized by Indian Culinary Forum & Hospitality First in association with ITPO began its 4-day battle of chefs with participation of around 300 experienced and apprentice chefs.

The first day of event saw a total of 45 chefs demonstrating their culinary expertise and competing in Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine, Fruit & Vegetable Carving and Live Cooking category.

The artworks were not only scintillating, they were also thought-provoking. Carving the face of wing commander Abhinandan and juxtaposing it with the message of ‘Jai Hind’ on a watermelon was one such example. Food enthusiasts were seen making a beeline to catch a glimpse of live kitchen and culinary art on display by renowned chefs.

Lukesh Bajaj (Radisson Blue, Paschim Vihar) was acknowledged as a Gold winner, Prem Singh Rathore (The Oberoi) and Sekh Sahajan (Naad Wellness) won Silver, and MD Jibrail (The Ashok) and Vivek Goswami (The Claridges) won Bronze in Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine category.

Fruit and Vegetable Carving category won 2 Silver by Rakshith A & Jitender, 2 Bronze by Pavan Kumar H & Jyothi Prakash and 1 Merit by Shashank S.

The second day will witness chefs contending in these categories- Petit Fours & Pralines, Artistic Bakery Showpiece and Three Tier Wedding Cake.

Chef Davinder Kumar, President, Indian Culinary Forum said, “It gives me immense pleasure to announce the 14th Culinary Art India, a professional culinary challenge where chefs are given a platform to demonstrate their culinary skills as well as help them improve to meet international standards.

I would like to assure all participants and members of total transparency through structured rules, regulations, systems and panel of WACS certified judges. ICF will constantly thrive to bring our fraternity closer and continue our commitment to encourage the betterment of the culinary profession in setting new benchmarks in the hospitality industry.”

The Indian Culinary Forum is India’s association of Professional chefs of Northern India. It was formed in New Delhi in 1987 as an exclusive non-profit-making organisation, dedicated solely to the advancement of the culinary art of India. The Forum’s objective is to act as a link, a platform and an instrument for the enhancement and overall development of the national community of chefs. The World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) is 110-nation fellowship comprising the world’s various professional chefs’ organization representing over 9 million professional chefs. The ICF has an international culinary focus in staging of its various competitions, seminars, and event.  

Chef Vivek Saggar, General Secretary of Indian Culinary Forum said, “This event has evolved from a competition venue to an educational platform for chefs to learn exchange and showcase their culinary skills. Last year saw close to 300 participants from not only NCR but from other northern, western & southern states.

This year’s event will be the biggest ever with newly added categories and an expanded competition venue, to be accredited by a panel of internationally acclaimed judges. The budding chefs, who are the future of the industry, especially will get more opportunities to compete and win. To encourage them, we have opened up more categories for them and hope that this year; we will identify more star chefs in the making.”

CAI has always endeavored to encourage young chefs by providing them a big platform.

Till last year, there was only one category open for students but the keeping in mind the number of participants and their incredible skills and talent, the CAI will now allow them to compete in three more categories that is Plated Appetizers, three Course Set Dinner Menu, Desserts and Enthusiastic Hobby Cooks categories. More the merrier, indeed! The objective of the competition is to establish an opportunity for the senior and apprentice chefs across India to display their individual and combined skills, creative talent, learn and share experiences. The winners of the culinary challenge will be felicitated at the award function to be held on 16th March, 2019.