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EVENT ROUND UP
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ICF Marks Culinary Excellence at the 21st Annual Chef

Awards on the Occasion of International Chefs Day

dazzling evening of culinary brilliance unfolded at the 21st
Annual Chef Awards, hosted by the Indian Culinary Forum
A CF) at the Hotel Ashok in New Delhi. This grand event, held
(I
in celebration of International Chefs Day, gathered an elite assembly of
master chefs and industry veterans, all coming together to acknowledge
the artistry and dedication that defines the culinary world. The night
was illuminated by the presence of Nakul Anand, former Executive
Director of ITC Hotels, who had the honor of presenting awards
to the outstanding culinary artists recognized for their exceptional
contributions to the hospitality industry.
The Chef Awards by the Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) are among
India’s most prestigious culinary accolades, honoring the exceptional
contributions of chefs and elevating the reputation of Indian cuisine unique culinary voices. The rigorous competitions we held this year
worldwide. These awards not only celebrate individual achievements but were a testament to the talent present in our community, and we are
also serve as a catalyst for inspiring chefs to pursue excellence in their proud to support these chefs as they continue to contribute to the rich
craft and bring international prestige to Indian cuisine. As the oldest tapestry of Indian cuisine.”
association formed in 1987 dedicated to representing professional chefs Chef Vinod Bhati, the Treasurer of the Indian Culinary Forum,
in India, the ICF plays a pivotal role in recognizing and promoting extended his profound gratitude, saying, “We extend our heartfelt thanks
culinary excellence. to all our event partners and supporting associations who collectively
Chef Davinder Kumar, played an instrumental role in making this event a resounding success.
President of the Indian Culinary Their unwavering support and commitment to excellence in the culinary
Forum, expressed his pride in arts have truly elevated this celebration. Together, we are fostering a
the ceremony, highlighting the vibrant culinary community that inspires creativity and innovation
significance of honoring those across the industry.”
who have made a lasting impact
in the culinary world. “The Chef The winners of the 21st Annual Chef Awards are as follows:
Awards celebrate the dedication 1. Lifetime Achievement Award: Chef Sanjiv Mediratta
and creativity of our culinary 2. Golden Hat Chef: Chef (Dr.) Gautam Chaudhry, Demiurgic
artists. Their contributions are Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
invaluable to the hospitality 3. Silver Hat Chef: Chef Diwas Wadhera, Eros Hotel, Nehru Place,
industry, and we are committed ND
to showcasing their talent. This year’s awards highlight the innovative 4. Pastry Chef of the Year: Chef Syed Ali Miya Naqvi, Radisson
spirit of our chefs, and it is a pleasure to witness their hard work being Kaushambi
recognized on such a grand platform. I believe these awards will not 5. Shri Anil Bhandari Chef of the Year: Chef Vikram Shokeen, The
only motivate the awardees but also inspire upcoming chefs to explore Ashok
their culinary passions and push the boundaries of their creativity.” 6. Master Chef Carver: Chef Praveen Kumar, IHC, Habitat World
This year’s ceremony celebrated 17 culinary artists for their Delhi
outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry. The awards 7. Master Chef Butcher: Chef Sanjay Bakhla, Le-Meridien, Delhi
were divided into two categories: 5 Chef Awards, determined through 8. Master Chef Kebab: Chef Praveen Kumar, Country Inn & Suites,
nominations and selected by a grand jury, and 12 MasterChef Awards, Sahibabad
awarded following a rigorous four-day culinary competition involving 9. Master Chef Indian Sweets: Chef Omvir Singh, The Ashok
over 150 chefs from across India. The competitions took place at the 10. Master Chef International Confectionery: Chef Deepak Kumar,
Institute of Bakery & Culinary Arts (IBCA) in Vikaspuri and the JW Marriott, Aerocity
Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management and Catering 11. Master Chef East West South Indian Cuisine: Chef Sunder Rajan,
Technology in Delhi. A distinguished panel of WACS-certified jury Caddie Hotels Aerocity
members from all over India meticulously judged the participants. This 12. Master Chef North Indian Cuisine: Chef Navjot Singh, Novotel
year’s competitions were chaired by the esteemed Chef Nimish Bhatia, Aerocity
with Chef Rajeev Chopra serving as the organizing secretary. 13. Master Chef International Cuisine: Chef Aman Prajapati, Delhi
Chef Vivek Saggar, General Secretary of the Indian Culinary Forum, Aerocity, GMR
emphasized the importance of such events in fostering culinary talent. 14. Master Chef Oriental Cuisine: Chef Suraj Thakur, Eros Hotel,
He said, “The Chef Awards not only recognize excellence but also Nehru Place, ND
inspire the next generation of chefs to push the boundaries of culinary 15. Master Chef Baker: Chef Sunny, Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi
innovation. It is our responsibility to create an environment where 16. Student Chef of the Year (Female): Shaila Swamy, IBCA
creativity flourishes and where chefs feel empowered to showcase their 17. Student Chef of the Year (Male): Rishi Goyal, Vedatya Institute. n

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