Young chefs from 60 countries have come together to participate in a competition that will test their culinary skills over a week.
In its 10th edition, the Young Chef Olympiad is not only about competing but about developing camaraderie between nations and helping the youth understand how technology like artificial intelligence (AI) is set to change the hospitality industry.
The 10th edition of IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2024 organised by the International Hospitality Council and hosted by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and the International Hospitality Council (IHC) London, was inaugurated in the national capital on Monday.
The participants will tour six cities — Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa and Kolkata.
“AI is being used in various ways in the hospitality industry and young chefs need to know about it. For a start, before the competition takes off, they have to put all their recipes on a software. If they don’t do that they can’t qualify,” said Suborno Bose, chief mentor and chairman, IIHM, and CEO, IHC.
The IHC was established with the aim of advancement of education, arts, culture, heritage and science.
Bose said in the hospitality industry, AI can control both food wastage and reduce energy use.
“AI will be the future but it won’t replace the human touch in the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry is about people and AI will not change that. When people go to eat in a restaurant it is because they want to be served by someone and because they want to enjoy the ambience. Else, they can order food at their doorstep,” said
Bose.
The olympiad is a meeting point for the youth from various parts of the world.
The Young Chef Olympiad started with participants from 15 countries in 2015. It has now grown to accommodate participants from 60 countries.
“From 2015, YCO (Young Chef Olympiad) has grown, not just as a competition, but as a gathering of young minds, of friendship, harmony and learning. Today, YCO promotes learning about issues the world faces,” said David Foskett, chairman, IHC and YCO jury.