Pune, 05th February 2025: The United World of Young Chefs (UWYC) is a distinguished event organized under the aegis of the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad by the International Hospitality Council and the International Institute of Hotel Management. This unique non-competitive gathering provides a platform for representatives from over 50 countries to come together and showcase their national dishes.
Dr Suborno Bose Chairman IIHM & Chairman YCO said “The United World of Young Chefs is an event beyond food. It is a testament to the uniting power of food bringing nations together. This is the pinnacle of culinary diplomacy.” UWYC was held alongside the main event, in different cities including Pune, where it was held at Radisson Blu Pune, Kharadi. ” Showcasing dishes from participating countries in their respective host cities helps create awareness and break cultural barriers through the universal language of food,” said Prof David Foskett OBE and Chairman of the jury of YCO.
UWYC is a celebration of friendship and camaraderie, offering Young Chef Olympians a chance to experience solidarity through culinary arts amidst the intense competition. This year’s edition introduced an exciting twist, where the national dishes were open to public vote, allowing the world to determine the most popular national dish.
“A glittering evening in Pune witnessed the icons of the city getting felicitated on the sidelines of UWYC, showing us that food is a unifier and a source of celebration,” said Rupinder Khurana Director IIHM Pune.
The icons who made the evening sparkle were:
1. Indian Cake Artist – Ms. Prachi Dabaldeb
2. Radisson Blu Kharadi – Chef Amit Swarup
3. Pride Hotel – Chef Rajarshi Guria
4. Marriott Suites – Chef Praduman Bisht
5. E-Square The Fern Hotel – Chef Alam Singh
6. Ammachi Mess Restaurants – Chef Arun Kumar
7. Lemon Tree Premier Pune – Chef Mayur Dudhankar
8. Concept Hospitality Pvt Ltd – Mr. Ritesh Sen (General Manager F&B)
9. The Central Park Hotel – Chef Bhushan Murkute
10. ibis Pune Viman Nagar – Chef Anuj Gushain
11. ibis Pune Hinjewadi – Chef Juhi Kaur
12. The Fern Residency MIDC Pune – Chef Rakeshchand Ramola
13. The Fern Residency, Talegaon – Chef Keshab Chandra Jana
14. Sayaji Hotel – Chef Yashwant Sapane
15. Amanora The Fern, Pune – Chef Diwan Singh Negi
16. The Westin Pune Koregaon Park- Chef Rajdeep Rana
17. Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences – Chef Sanjay Rawat
18. Hyatt Pune – Chef Sumt Rawat
19. Speciality Restaurants Ltd. – Chef Ram Chander
20. Crowne Plaza Pune City Centre – Chef Pradipta Panda
21. Blue Diamond Pune – Chef Sudev Shaarma
The main competition rounds started at the IIHM campus kitchens, on Feb 3, in Goa, and will commence on Feb 4 in Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. The top 10 Young Chef Olympians’ as per the scores of the two rounds, will compete in the Grand Finale of YCO 2025 in Kolkata on February 8, 2025. However,r there is also the plate trophy and the Dr Suborno Bose Culinary International Challenge prize up for grabs. Each trophy, in this global platform, is bound to embellish the careers of young chefs and validate their skills.