Culinarians battle for supremacy

budding restaurateurs and young and aspiring chefs will put their skills to the test.

Young chefs, budding restaurateurs and aspiring culinarians from across the Philippines are set to put their skills to the test and rise to the top of their game as they battle it out to earn the privilege of representing their country for an international culinary contest.

Lee Kum Kee, the inventor of oyster sauce and a globally renowned Chinese sauce and condiment manufacturer, has invited local aspiring chefs to compete at the first ever International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge (IYCCCC) — Philippines Qualifiers at Magsaysay Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in Manila yesterday.

Born in 2014, the IYCCCC has been a biennial contest providing an international exchange platform for the Chinese culinary industry. It encourages young chefs from the world to hone their skills and learn, while promoting the inheritance of Chinese culinary skills.

Yesterday, a star-studded judging panel, including Singaporean award-winning Chef Aaron Tan Kean Loon and Chef James Antolin, president of LTB Philippines Chefs Association, selected two winners from the Philippines Qualifiers.

The talented contestants Chef Michael Lee and Chef Muhajiran Ijiran III will go on to the next level in the 4th IYCCCC in Hong Kong next year, competing with around 50 aspiring young chefs from over 20 countries and regions for the international championship. In the last contest, all three contestants from the Philippines won bronze awards.

Leslie Lau, managing director of Lee Kum Kee South Asia, said, “With the mission of ‘Promoting Chinese Culinary Culture Worldwide,’ Lee Kum Kee is committed to nurturing Chinese culinary talents worldwide. The IYCCCC is an optimal platform for young Chinese chefs from around the world for culinary exchange. In the third IYCCCC, we had representatives from the Philippines for the first time. This year, we are going even further to host the first-ever Philippines Qualifiers. I wish the two talented winners all the success in the finale in Hong Kong next year, representing the Philippines to fight for the championship.”