Chennai, February 2024: Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge (EverestBKCC), India’s largest and most exciting culinary competition for final-year hospitality students, concluded its Tamil Nadu regional round at SRM Institute of Hotel Management, Kattankulathur – Chennai. The event was a resounding success, with participants showcasing their innovation and creativity in culinary skills, earning high praise from the distinguished jury members: Jesu Lambert, Executive Chef – Savera Hotels; Zubin Writer, Chef – Ottimo Cucina Italiana; Nisarg Chavan, Executive Chef – Novotel Sholinganalur; and Gabriel Rajan, Pastry Chef – Park Hyatt, Chennai.
EverestBKCC is more than just a culinary challenge; it provides a unique platform for budding chefs to exhibit their talent and serves as an ideal springboard to launch their future careers. With the theme ‘Flavours of India,’ the challenge aims to create awareness about regional cuisines, promote Indian food using Indian spices globally, and revive lost and forgotten regional recipes. The competition is scheduled to be held in 15 cities across India, including Lucknow, Durgapur, Chandigarh, Dehradun, NCR-Delhi, Indore, Chennai, Kottayam, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Pune, Patan, Mumbai, Kolhapur, and Goa. Winners from all cities will be invited to the Grand Finale in Mumbai on March 29-30, 2024. In addition, a concurrent competition, Better Kitchen Bakery Champion, is being conducted to provide a platform for bakery students.
The event is supported by Incredible India – Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology; Uttar Pradesh Tourism; Indian Culinary Forum; Western India Chefs’ Association (WICA); Chefs Association of Five Rivers; Varanasi Chef’s Association; Telangana Chef’s Association; Culinary Forum of Goa, and Hospitality Purchasing Managers’ Forum (HPMF).
Ekkta Bhargeva, Publisher of Better Kitchen, highlighted that the objective of the event is to prepare students for future challenges and to promote Indian regional food using local ingredients in global cuisine. The national winner of the competition will receive a scholarship of USD 5750 under the USA J1 Chef Exchange Visitor Program, while the first and second runners-up will receive scholarships worth USD 1000 and USD 750, respectively, along with a year of internship placement in the USA, facilitated by EverestBKCC’s International Placement & Study Abroad Partner, Wisdom Career & Education.
Dr. D. Antony Ashok Kumar, Director of SRM Institute of Hotel Management, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating that SRM IHM embraces opportunities to educate, enlighten, and equip its students. He praised the Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge for successfully enhancing students’ skills in competing, time management, waste management, creativity, innovation, and teamwork over the past five years. He thanked the entire team, especially Ms. Ekta Bhargava, the Publisher of Better Kitchen, and all the honorable jury members for their valuable time and lessons imparted to the students. Hoping to host more seasons in the future to come.
The valedictory event was a vibrant affair, attended by the jury members, sponsors, and the Honourable Registrar of SRM IST, Dr. S. Ponnusamy, who awarded the winners and felicitated the guests along with Dr. D. Antony Ashok Kumar and Ms. Ekkta Bhargeva.
The title sponsor of the multiple city challenge is Everest Spices, with other partners including Wisdom Career Education, MYMENU365, Chefs Unlimited, Cornitos, Barilla, Tabasco, and Ovamaltine.
