THE 18th edition of Battle of the Chefs will be held in Penang from Aug 5 to 7 this year.
The biennial culinary competition is slated to be held at the Gurney Paragon Mall and is organised by the Penang Chefs Association.
Battle of The Chefs 2022 (BOTC 2022) organising chairman Billy Lee Chan Hoong said the competition was supposed to be held in 2020 but has to be postponed due to the Covid-19 situation.
“At that time, we had already many sponsors. Then, all of a sudden the Covid-19 pandemic negatively affected all events and also the country’s economy.
“Nevertheless, we are now grateful that our country is returning to normalcy and events also can resume. That is why we choose to move forward with the competition this year.
“As of now, we have received close to 400 entries, including foreign participants from South Korea, Indonesia, the United States and the Philippines.
“The registration is still open and the last day to register is July 7 through https://asiaculinarychallenge.com/.
“And we hope more chefs will join this competition,” Lee told a press conference at the Gurney Paragon Mall today.
Also present were state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Malaysian Association of Hotel (MAH) Penang chapter chairman Tony Goh and Penang Chefs Association chairman Audee Cheah Phee Lee.
Lee added that for BOTC 2022, there are two types of challenges, namely ‘Greenhorn Chefs Challenge (Junior)’ and ‘Master Chefs Challenge’.
“Greenhorn Chefs Challenge (Junior) is open to students from any higher learning institution who are below 22 years old.
“As for Master Chefs Challenge, it is open to all professional and amateur chefs from any hotels, restaurants and catering industry.
“In total, there are more than 20 categories that will be competed in BOTC 2022, such as hot cooking, plated food, patisserie, artistic display and others,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yeoh said he is looking forward to the BOTC 2022.
“I am delighted to have the Battle of the Chefs to be held in our beloved state.
“This significant culinary competition can serve as a platform for all talented and professional chefs to exchange their experiences in culinary arts and gastronomy.
“Through BOTC 2022, it will be a platform to identify good practices and elevate the culinary skills of all Malaysian chefs.
“Consequently, it will improve and promote gastronomy tourism of Penang as we are famed for our warm hospitality and culinary delights here,” he said.
For further details, kindly visit https://battleofthechefs.com.my/
Story and pix by Riadz Akmal