India – February 14, 2025 – The world’s largest culinary competition for young chefs, the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO), concluded its 11th edition in Kolkata with a grand closing ceremony. England’s Kamran Taylor took gold, followed by Armenia’s Arsen Armenakyan (Silver) and the Philippines’ Yves Gabriel Cabrera Po (Bronze).
The prestigious Dr. Suborno Bose Culinary International Challenge Prize, a collaborative competition featuring 28 teams from different nations, was shared by India’s Chef Aliakbar Mustafa Rampurawala (IIHM Bangalore) and UAE’s Jasmin Ali Maher Lutfi Jarrar. South Korea’s Shi-Hyun An won the Plate Trophy, awarded to chefs ranked 11th-20th after the initial rounds.
The YCO, organized by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) in partnership with the International Hospitality Council (IHC), London, brought together young chefs from 50 countries. Participants competed in multiple rounds, showcasing their culinary skills and creativity.
Dr. Suborno Bose, Chairman of the Young Chef Olympiad, emphasized the event’s role in promoting culinary diplomacy and global unity. He highlighted India’s unique ability to host such a large-scale international event and announced IIHM’s Global Knowledge Sharing Declaration on AI in Hospitality, focusing on inclusivity, the human touch, and sustainability.
Prof David Foskett OBE, Chairman of the Jury, praised the YCO for fostering friendship, unity, and passion within the culinary world. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor acknowledged the event’s spirit of compassion, collaboration, and healthy competition.
The closing ceremony celebrated the young chefs as ambassadors of culinary diplomacy, marking the end of another successful YCO.
