First Culinary Champions Competition in Kandy concludes on a high note

The first ever culinary competition to take place in the hill capitol just concluded with overwhelming success. Culinary Champions 2023 was held on the 15th and 16th of September at the Sahas Uyana in Kandy. Over 160 chefs participated in 12 categories competing against each other under the cool climate of the Hill Capitol in Kandy.

Organized for the first time by Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd, an award-winning event management company, with the endorsement and support from the Kandy Hoteliers Association, the Nuwara Eliya Hoteliers Association and the Cultural Triangle Hoteliers Association.

The Culinary Champions Competition was Judged by 4 renowned judges led by veteran competition organizer Chef Alan Palmer. The judges came all the way from Colombo to witness and extraordinary spectacle that surpassed any culinary competition held in this district. Professionally organized, the competition lasted two full days with around 25 hotels participating. There were 35 entries from students alone with participation from the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management branch in Kandy and Trinity College Culinary and Hospitality Club. The valuable knowledge and experience gained at this competition was immense and well appreciated by all. Some of these students even competed with experienced hotel chefs and became victorious by winning medals.

The most outstanding chef award won by chef H.M.C.M. Herath of Theva Residency, Kandy and the best culinary establishment award won by Eagles Lagoon View Banquet Hall, Negombo who also took part. Lanka Exhibitions and Conference Services in keeping with its promise awarded the best chef a return air ticket and hotel stay to compete in next year’s Hotel Asia International Culinary Challenge 2024 in Maldives.

The Competition was sponsored by Litro Gas Lanka Ltd, Delmege Forsyth & Co. Ltd, Rayin Food Products (Pvt) Ltd, Standard Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, Sola Chemical Company (Pvt) Ltd, Diamond Best Food Ltd, Nelna Agri Development (Pvt) Ltd, Oceanpick (Pvt) Ltd, Finagle Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Ellawala Horticulture (Pvt) Ltd, Yara Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Cargills Quality Foods Ltd

A culinary competition of this nature not only improves the skills and knowledge of the competitors, but also gave a boosting promotion to the trade with many visitors attending the event and experience culinary glamour. Many of these competitors participated for the first time in a competition and gained a valuable insight on culinary skills and know-how imparted by the judges and fellow competitors. They went away fully appreciative of this venture and promised to come in a bigger way for the 2nd Culinary Champions Competition next year. The categories for the competition were Hot Cooking – Poultry and Fish, Iced Mocktail, Ice Carving, Decorative Cakes, Hot Pasta, Bread and Pastry Display, Indigenous Ingredients, Contemporary Sri Lankan Cuisine, Students Category and many more.