HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
Culinary Art India 2023, the much-awaited culinary event of the year, captivated attendees with its mouth-watering displays at AAHAR International 2023, Pragati Maidan. This year’s edition of the event has brought together some of the best culinary talents from across the country, showcasing their skills and innovative recipes. Culinary Art India, ICF’s signature event, aims to honour, educate, and celebrate deserving chefs while providing them with a platform to present their culinary expertise.
The Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) in association with ITPO and Hospitality First organized the 15th edition of Culinary Art India 2023 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, integrated with the exhibition area of AAHAR International 2023. This year’s edition featured over 500 chefs showcasing their culinary excellence under 17 categories, marking the largest participation in the event’s history.
The first day of Culinary Art India held on March 14, featured 125 chefs from different regions of India competing in four categories: Plated Appetisers, Petit Fours/Pralines, Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine, and Live Cooking CDP & Above. On the event’s second day, 145 chefs participated in three competitions: Three-Course Set Dinner Menu, Live Cooking Students, and Cake Decoration – Dress the Cake Live. The contests were designed to assess the chefs’ culinary and artistic abilities, as well as demonstrate their cooking skills in real-time cake decoration.
On the third day of competition, 120 talented chefs competed in five exciting categories, which included the 5-Tier Wedding Cake, Plated Desserts, Contemporary Sushi Platter, Live Competition Rice Dish, and Chocolate Mania. The fourth day of the event saw 118 talented chefs competing in six exciting categories, which included the Artistic Pastry Showpiece, Artistic Bakery Showpiece, Fruit & Vegetable Carving, Live Competition Rice Dish, Egg Benedict, and Mocktail Competition. The chefs’ skills and knowledge were put to the test, and the competitions were a huge success.
The last day of the event, March 18th, concluded with an awards ceremony where the winners of the culinary competitions were announced and recognized for their culinary excellence. Culinary Art India 2023 provided a platform for chefs to highlight their talents and exchange knowledge and ideas, making it a valuable experience for everyone involved. The competitions at Culinary Art India 2023 are being judged by a distinguished panel of WACS-certified jury members from India and abroad. Renowned Culinary Legend, Chef Uwe Micheel was chairing this year’s competitions, with Chef Sireesh Saxena serving as the organizing secretary.
During the event, The Culinary Theatre, which also featured masterclasses, was a popular attraction where visitors could learn from 17 prominent chefs who shared their gastronomic mastery and cooking proficiency. Many aspiring young chefs and keen visitors interacted with renowned chefs as they demonstrated their expertise and techniques on stage, making The Culinary Theatre a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with some of the most talented chefs in the industry.
Chef Davinder Kumar, the president of the Indian Culinary Forum Said “Through this event, we aimed to showcase the rich diversity of Indian cuisine and promote culinary excellence in our country. It’s an honor to have received such overwhelming participation and enthusiasm from the young chefs. We believe that the skills and expertise shared during this event will contribute towards the growth of the culinary industry and help raise the bar of culinary excellence globally. It was a tremendous effort from our team to organize an event of this magnitude, and we’re grateful for the support of all our partners, sponsors, and attendees.”
“We are thrilled with the success of this event, and it’s been an incredible experience to see so many talented chefs from around the country come together and showcase their culinary dexterity. We wanted to create a platform where chefs could learn, collaborate, and push the boundaries of culinary excellence, and we’re proud to say that we achieved that goal. We hope that this event will inspire the next generation of chefs and provide them with the tools and knowledge they need to achieve their culinary dreams.” said Chef Vivek Saggar, Indian Culinary Forum’s General Secretary.
“As a chief of the Culinary Art India competition jury, I have had the privilege of witnessing the incredible talent and skill of Indian chefs. Their passion for food and their ability to create unique and delicious dishes is truly impressive. The way they infuse traditional Indian flavors with modern cooking techniques is a testament to their creativity and innovation. Culinary Art India is an excellent platform for showcasing culinary excellence in India, and I am proud to be a part of this event.” Said Chef Uwe Micheel, Renowned Culinary Legend of UAE
The Indian Culinary Forum is India’s association of Professional chefs of India. It was formed in New Delhi in 1987 as an exclusive non-profit-making organization, 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 the staging of its various competitions, seminars, and events.
