Chen Khai Loong from Malaysia has been announced as the winner of the 6th International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO). Apart from receiving the YCO 2020 Champion trophy, Chen Khai donned the Gold Toque and bagged the prize cheque of $ 10,000. Austin Cale Labago of Philippines won the Silver medal while the Bronze winner was England’s Bethany Collings.
The trophies were given away at a glittering ceremony held in Kolkata by Dr Suborno Bose (Chairman, YCO Global Council), Professor David Foskett (Chairman of the International Hospitality Council), Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor (the Principal Judge and Chief Mentor of YCO) and Chef Brian Turner (the President of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts) in the presence of the 18 esteemed judges of YCO 2020.
YCO 2020, the world’s biggest culinary competition for student chefs, was organised by the International Hospitality Council (IHC) in association with the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) and witnessed participation from over 50 countries. This united platform of young chefs was the perfect example of bonding, friendship and learning together. “More than a competition, YCO is now a global youth platform and launchpad for the culinary superstars of tomorrow,” said Dr Suborno Bose.
Apart from the three winners, YCO 2020 had a long list of special category winners. The Plate Trophy round, held between the participants ranked 11 to 20 based on the scores of the first two rounds of the competition, went to Dominic Muollo of New Zealand. The Best Dessert Dish in Round 1 went to Ieuan Jones from Wales while the Late Shakuntala Devi Gupta Award for Best Vegetarian Dish Creation in Round 2 went to EunjeongJeong of South Korea.
YCO 2020 had the theme of Sustainability, embracing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In keeping with this theme, a special presentation had to be given by the participating countries about Sustainability measures in their own country. Beside the competition, the participants along with their mentors and the judges took part in various Food Aid activities, supporting IIHM’s initiative to support the UN’s Sustainable Goal Number 2 of Zero Hunger.
