Awards were presented to the winners of the Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) Global Culinary Challenge 2023 at a ceremony held on Thursday (11 May).
Held at the Maldives National University, the ceremony was attended by the Minister of Higher Education, Dr Ibrahim Hassan, as the Chief Guest. Speaking at the ceremony, he stressed the importance of culinary arts and the need for more diverse skills-based training programmes.
Gerard Mendis, the Chairman of the Chefs Guild of Lanka highlighted the importance of developing local chefs to elevate the tourism industry, noting the high number of local chefs, especially women, that competed in the Culinary Challenge this year.
The Global Culinary Challenge was held concurrently with the FHAM Exhibition from 8 to 10 May at the Hulhumalé Central Park. Over 600 chefs from 120 resorts as well as 11 national teams competed in 21 categories this year.
The winners of the FHAM Global Culinary Challenge:
– Most Outstanding Artist: R.A. Sisira Kumara – Reethi Beach Maldives
– Best Pastry Chef: Rijukumar Rajendran – Royal Island
– Best Maldivian Chef: Ajwad Abdul Wahaab – Joali Maldives
– Best Chef: Ushantha Chamara Gunasekara – Maldives Inflight Catering
– Most Outstanding Culinary Organisation – Cinnamon Velifushi
– Most Outstanding National Team – The Emirates Culinary Guild
– Petits Four or Pralines: H.M.Nuwan Kumarasinghe – Team Sri Lanka
– Creative Bread Display: Ramesh Viraj – Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives
– Artistic Pastry Showpiece: H.A. Dilini Shalika Perera – Team Sri Lanka
– Wedding Cake Structure: J.A. Mahesha Muthumali Abeywickrama – Team Sri Lanka
– Plated Appetizers: W.N.H. De Soyza – Cinnamon Velifushi
– Plated Three Course Meal: D.M. Chandana Kumara – Varu By Atmosphere
– Dress The Cake: Manoj Ruwan – Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives
– Fruit & Vegetable Carving: R.A. Sisira Kumara – Reethi Beach Maldives
– Appetiser – Hot Or Cold: Rukshan Dilanka Perera – Ellaidhoo Maldives By Cinnamon
– Lamb Hot Cooking: Dushantha Chamara Gunasekara – Maldives Inflight Catering
– Seafood Hot Cooking: Mayanga De Silva – Emirates Culinary Guild
– Poultry Hot Cooking: Dushantha Chamara Gunasekara – Maldives Inflight Catering
– Beef Hot Cooking: Nishan Nayana Kantha – Emirates Culinary Guild
– Creative Fusion Rice Dish: Akhilnath Parshapu – Hurawalhi Resort
– Maggie Asian Wok: Rasitha Maduranga – Cinnamon Velifushi
– Traditional And Modern Maldivian Meal: Mohamed Faneez – Summer Island Maldives
– The Young Chef: Aishath Jumana Jaleel – Sun Siyam Olhuveli
– Nescafé Creative Coffee: Putu Aditya Pratama Putra – Bandos Maldives
– Vegetarian Main Course: Siti Noor Molina Anggriani – Ozen Life Maadhoo
– Traditional Italian Main Dishes: Tharindu Silva – Cinnamon Velifushi
– Team Event Hot Cooking: Ajaya Paudel and Suraj Poudel – Dhigali Maldives
Endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS), the FHAM Global Culinary Challenge is held in partnership with the Chefs Guild of Maldives (CGM) and the Chefs Guild of Lanka (GGL). Nestlé is the main sponsor of the competition with Lily International as the principle sponsor of the event.
