Sep 21: India’s rich culinary heritage took centre stage at the East Zone round of ‘आँच’ – National Young Chef Competition 2.0, organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations; Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Tourism & Hospitality Skill Council. The competition was held at the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Bhubaneswar with enthusiastic participation from leading hospitality institutes across the eastern region.
Spread over six months, the contest is travelling across the country through zonal rounds before culminating in a grand finale in New Delhi in January 2027. After the successful West Zone round held in Pune, the spotlight shifted to Bhubaneswar where 6 institutes and 10 teams competed in a live cook-off showcasing the diversity of Indian regional cuisine through skill, creativity and innovation
Following an intense contest, Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata and ITI Kaushal College, Ranchi emerged victorious and will represent the East Zone at the Grand Finale in January 2027. State Institute of Hotel Management, Balangir was declared runner-up.
The participating institutes in the East Zone round included Gurunanak Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata; Institute of Hotel Management, Bhubaneswar; Institute of Hotel Management, Guwahati; Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata; ITI Kaushal College, Ranchi; and State Institute of Hotel Management, Balangir.
Each participating team prepared a traditional Indian meal comprising a Bhaja, main dish, vegetable preparation, pulses/ lentils preparation, curd preparation, rice or bread and a sweet dish within two and a half hours.
The jury for the East Zone round was chaired by Chef Anil Grover, Certified WorldChefs Judge and included Chef Rangonath Mukherjee, Director, Olive’s Hospitality; Chef Shivaji Majumder, Executive Chef, ITC Sonar, Kolkata. Chef Sudhir Sibal, Founding and Executive Board Member, IFCA served as the Observer.
Sharing his thoughts on the competition, Chef Sibal remarked,
“आँच is an important platform for young culinary professionals to showcase their skills, engage with experienced industry professionals, and explore India’s rich regional culinary heritage. The Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) has been playing a significant role in strengthening culinary education, professional standards, and opportunities for chefs, while fostering stronger connections between students, educators, and the industry. Initiatives such as आँच complement these efforts by encouraging young chefs to develop their skills, embrace India’s culinary diversity, and contribute to the growth of the culinary profession.”
Commenting on the competition, Chef Grover said,
“The East Zone round was a wonderful showcase of culinary talent, with participants demonstrating impressive preparation, creativity, and commitment. The overall benchmark of the competition made the evaluation particularly challenging, with several teams leaving a strong impression on the jury.”
Mr. Sambit Suman, Principal-In-Charge, IHM, Bhubaneswar, said,
“It is a pleasure for IHM, Bhubaneswar to host the East Zone round of PHDCCI’s आँच. We are proud to support an initiative that brings together aspiring culinary professionals and provides them with an opportunity to experience the standards and demands of a professional competition.”
‘आँच’ – National Young Chef Competition 2.0 is open exclusively to final-year hospitality students across government, private, stand-alone institutions and university departments specializing in hospitality and hotel management. The initiative is designed to create a focused platform on Indian cuisine, highlighting its depth, diversity and techniques while connecting aspiring chefs with the industry for internships and career opportunities.
East Zone round of आँच – NYCC 2.0 was supported by industry partners including Tata Consumer Products, Tata Sampann, Veeba, Catch, Chefs Unlimited, Eastern India Culinary Association and Purchasing Professional Forum – India.