Young Chef India

JUDGES

Padmashri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor

Padmashri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor is an Indian celebrity chef, entrepreneur and television personality. Regarded as a pioneer for bringing the Indian food to the forefront of Culinary world, he is also the first chef in the world to own a 24X7 food and lifestyle channel, Food Food which was launched in January 2011. He has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award in the year 2017. His popularity and contribution to Indian Cuisine has been recognized by Government of India who conferred on him the National award of “Best Chef Of India”.

Chef Ranveer Brar

Chef Ranveer Brar is an Indian celebrity chef, MasterChef India judge, author, restaurateur, and actor. His passion for food has taken him across the globe, enriching his culinary expertise with diverse cultures and flavors. As the youngest executive chef at a five-star hotel and a host of acclaimed cooking shows, Chef Brar has made significant contributions to Indian gastronomy. His innovative approach blends traditional Indian cuisine with modern flair, and his television shows and books have popularized Indian food on the global stage. Beyond his culinary achievements, Chef Brar is committed to promoting healthy eating and supporting social causes, making him a true icon in the culinary world.

Chef Ranveer Brar

Chef Ranveer Brar is an Indian celebrity chef, MasterChef India judge, author, restaurateur, and actor. His passion for food has taken him across the globe, enriching his culinary expertise with diverse cultures and flavors. As the youngest executive chef at a five-star hotel and a host of acclaimed cooking shows, Chef Brar has made significant contributions to Indian gastronomy. His innovative approach blends traditional Indian cuisine with modern flair, and his television shows and books have popularized Indian food on the global stage. Beyond his culinary achievements, Chef Brar is committed to promoting healthy eating and supporting social causes, making him a true icon in the culinary world.

Dr. Suborno Bose

Dr Suborno Bose is a first-generation entrepreneur and global thought leader of the hospitality industry.. A Chartered Accountant by training, he is the Founder of the Indismart Group and International Institute of Hotel Management, IIHM —a leading chain of hospitality education institutes with centres in Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Siliguri, Goa, Bangkok, Samarkand and most recently in Singapore. As a pioneer of Hospitality Education, Dr Bose started the first private Hospitality Education Institute of East India in 1989. He is the force behind the IIHM International Young Chef Olympiad—the biggest Olympiad for Culinary students in the world, with over 60 countries participating each year to promote Sustainability and Youth Diplomacy through Culinary exchanges. His initiatives like IIHM Young Chef India, Young Chef India Schools and Young Chef India Schools Junior which see a participation of over 28000 students each year, are the biggest platforms for school children to pursue their interests in Culinary Arts. Recognized for his passion to revolutionize the Hospitality Industry through better Education, Dr Bose has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University and University of West London, UK. As an author, Dr. Bose penned two influential books: “The Art of Hospitality” and “The Art of Sustainable Hospitality.” In these pages, he explored the soul of hospitality—the delicate balance between service, creativity, and responsibility. His insights resonate with practitioners, educators, and aspiring chefs alike. A prolific speaker, Dr Bose has also addressed the SCO countries during the historic 25th General Assembly of UN Tourism in 2023, advocating Sustainability and positive change. Dr Bose is the recipient of many prestigious awards and accolades, including the Economic Times Most Promising Business Leader of Asia Award from the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the ET Now Business Leader of the Year Award 2020, the Times Men of the Year Award as Times Visionary Leader in 2022, Zee Udaan Dare to Dream Award 2023, Zee Most Influential Personality of Year 2023, 2024 Icons of Whisky, Communicator of the Year Award and many more. A true Hospitality Evangelist, Dr Suborno Bose continues to stand as a beacon of inspiration for generations of Hospitality professionals and Entrepreneurs to embrace the passion and excellence of this dynamic industry and pioneer its revolutionary growth.

Prof. David Foskett OBE

Professor David Foskett OBE, Chairman of the YCO Jury, previously Dean and Head of the London School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of West London, now Professor Emeritus is also a member of the Academy of Culinary Arts and the Craft Guild of Chefs. He is co-author of Practical Cookery, Theory of Hospitality and Catering, Food and Beverage Management, and Hospitality Supervision. He has won many awards over the past 40 years, including a Queens Anniversary Award for exemplary hospitality education and the British Hospitality Centenary Award for exemplary hospitality education. In 2016 he was appointed the chair of the International Olympiad and International council in India. He is on the management committee of the Craft Guild of Chefs, The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and the Council of the Institute of Hospitality. He has also been voted one of the most influential people in the hospitality public sector. In December 2023, he was awarded an OBE for ‘services to the hospitality industry and to inclusivity’

Prof. David Foskett OBE

Professor David Foskett OBE, Chairman of the YCO Jury, previously Dean and Head of the London School of Hospitality and Tourism at the University of West London, now Professor Emeritus is also a member of the Academy of Culinary Arts and the Craft Guild of Chefs. He is co-author of Practical Cookery, Theory of Hospitality and Catering, Food and Beverage Management, and Hospitality Supervision. He has won many awards over the past 40 years, including a Queens Anniversary Award for exemplary hospitality education and the British Hospitality Centenary Award for exemplary hospitality education. In 2016 he was appointed the chair of the International Olympiad and International council in India. He is on the management committee of the Craft Guild of Chefs, The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and the Council of the Institute of Hospitality. He has also been voted one of the most influential people in the hospitality public sector. In December 2023, he was awarded an OBE for ‘services to the hospitality industry and to inclusivity’

Chef Manisha Bhasin

Chef Manisha Bhasin is the Corporate Executive Chef at ITC Hotels, Mementos, and WelcomHotels, known for her leadership in high-profile catering for global heads of state, including the G20 culinary offerings. She is a champion of culinary sustainability and heritage foods, having pioneered iconic concepts like Dehlnavi and Pan Asian. With vast expertise in luxury catering, hospitality management, and customer service, Chef Bhasin is a seasoned professional in the industry. She holds a prestigious fellowship from the University of Alabama, awarded through the USDA’s Cochrane Fellowship Program, focusing on food safety and trends. She is also the recipient of numerous national and international awards for her contributions to the culinary world.

Chef (Dr.) Parvinder Singh Bali

Chef (Dr.) Parvinder Singh Bali is a well-known name in Culinary Education. He recently represented India in the World skills competition in Leipzig as an expert. He has worked with world renowned MOF pastry chefs like Stephane Treand, Stephane Glacier, Jean Francoise Arnaud, Sebastian Chevalier, Martin Lippo and Fredrick Morceau. He has also authored five books, which are prescribed textbooks for catering colleges in India, Kenya, Nepal and Malaysia.Chef Bali is currently working with Oberoi Center of Learning and Development as Corporate Chef – Learning and Development and has completed his Pro Certification level 2 from Culinary Institute of America. He is one of the only three chefs in India to have been professionally certified by CIA and American Culinary Federation. He is also one of the chefs in the world, who has scored the highest marks in Pro certification level 2 until the year 2018.

Chef (Dr.) Parvinder Singh Bali

Chef (Dr.) Parvinder Singh Bali is a well-known name in Culinary Education. He recently represented India in the World skills competition in Leipzig as an expert. He has worked with world renowned MOF pastry chefs like Stephane Treand, Stephane Glacier, Jean Francoise Arnaud, Sebastian Chevalier, Martin Lippo and Fredrick Morceau. He has also authored five books, which are prescribed textbooks for catering colleges in India, Kenya, Nepal and Malaysia.Chef Bali is currently working with Oberoi Center of Learning and Development as Corporate Chef – Learning and Development and has completed his Pro Certification level 2 from Culinary Institute of America. He is one of the only three chefs in India to have been professionally certified by CIA and American Culinary Federation. He is also one of the chefs in the world, who has scored the highest marks in Pro certification level 2 until the year 2018.

Rakesh Sethi

Rakesh Sethi is a celebrity chef and television personality based in India. Sethi is currently the corporate executive chef of the Radisson Hotel Group. He is popularly known for his cooking show, Mirch Masala, on StarPlus. Rakesh Sethi has an impressive culinary history, starting as a Kitchen Trainee Commis-II with the Hotel Corporation of India in its unit in Delhi, where he underwent training in various sections of the kitchen for one and a half years. He further went on to work as an executive chef at Ramada Plaza, New Delhi; TajSats Ai; Inter-Continental The Grand, New Delhi; and East India Hotels, New Delhi, among the many reputed hotels that he has worked for. An enthusiastic and motivated chef and team leader with extensive knowledge in all aspects of food, Sethi has practical, technical, and management experience in the food and beverage areas of a hotel and is highly experienced in launching a new hotel, restaurant, or flight kitchen.