England’s Kamran Taylor Triumphs at 11th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad in Kolkata
England’s Kamran Taylor Wins 11th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad in Kolkata
Kolkata [West Bengal], February 10: The 11th IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO), the world’s largest culinary competition for young chefs, concluded in Kolkata with a grand finale. The winner was Kamran Taylor of England, who faced off against competitors from 50 other nations.
In the last round, Yves Gabriel Cabrera Po of the Philippines took home bronze, and Arsen Armenakyan of Armenia took home silver. In collaboration with the International Hospitality Council (IHC), London, the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) organised the event.
India and UAE Shine in Culinary Collaboration
The host country, India, celebrated as Aliakbar Mustafa Rampurawala from IIHM Bangalore won the Dr. Suborno Bose Culinary International Challenge Prize, sharing the honor with Jasmin Ali Maher Lutfi Jarrar from the UAE. Chefs from several countries were matched in this unusual competition to encourage international cooperation.
Meanwhile, South Korean athlete Shi-Hyun An claimed the Plate Trophy, which is given to competitors placed 11th to 20th.
World Unity and Culinary Diplomacy
In his remarks, YCO Chairman Dr. Suborno Bose emphasised the ability of food to bring people together.
“Culinary diplomacy brings the world together under the Kolkata sky. YCO is a family, and only in India can such an event create this unique spirit,” he said.
This year’s opening ceremony was held in Goa, adding a new dimension to the competition.The jury’s chairman, Prof. David Foskett OBE, commended YCO as a representation of friendship, solidarity, and cross-cultural interaction. This idea was supported by celebrity chef Padmashri Sanjeev Kapoor, who emphasised YCO’s function in promoting empathy and teamwork.
IIHM’s Vision: AI in Hospitality and Culinary Education
Dr. Bose also announced IIHM’s initiative to integrate AI into hospitality education, ensuring future chefs embrace innovation while maintaining the human touch. As part of this, IIHM signed a Global Knowledge Sharing Declaration on AI in Hospitality with 50 countries.
A Night of Celebration in Kolkata
The Young Chef Olympiad 2024 concluded with a night of joy, cultural exchange, and celebration, as young chefs from around the world came together—not just as competitors, but as ambassadors of global culinary unity.