42 Talented Young Chefs from 17 Countries and Regions to Converge upon Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2018
“Excel on Traditions Converging Global Culinary Talents”
42 Talented Young Chefs from 17 Countries and Regions to Converge upon Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2018
to Vie for International Championship
Celebrity Chefs from Gourmet Variety Shows, Executive Chefs from Renowned Chinese Restaurants & Michelin-starred Chefs to Showcase Best Culinary Skills
(Hong Kong, 19 September 2018) “Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2018” (LKKIYCCCC 2018) kicked off today with the Opening Ceremony held at the Chinese Culinary Institute. At its third edition, this year’s contest has become more internationalised with the theme of “Excel on Traditions Converging Global Culinary Talents”. 42 aspiring young chefs from 17 countries and regions worldwide, including celebrity chefs from gourmet variety shows, executive chefs from renowned Chinese restaurants and chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, are required to prepare Chinese dishes with designated ingredients, as well as Lee Kum Kee sauces and condiments within 90 minutes to vie for the International Championship during the two-day contest taking place today and tomorrow.
Organised by Lee Kum Kee under the auspices of the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry, the LKKIYCCCC 2018 is truly an international contest under the spotlight. This biennial culinary contest is an international platform for young Chinese culinary chefs from around the world to hone their skills and exchange experiences with their counterparts. To celebrate its 130th Anniversary, Lee Kum Kee has launched the “Lee Kum Kee 130th Anniversary Best Heritage Tasting Award”, with a prize of HK$130,000 to be awarded to the best-performing young chef with the highest overall score. All contestants will also have the chances of receiving the “Most Creative Award”, “Best Sauce Combination Award”, “Best Presentation Award”, and “Best Dish Award”.
At the Opening Ceremony, officiating guests lit up the podium together to show their determined efforts in promoting Chinese cuisines worldwide. Mr. Charlie Lee, Lee Kum Kee Sauce Group Chairman said, “In the past 130 years, Lee Kum Kee has been pursuing its mission of ‘Promoting Chinese Cuisines Worldwide’, striving for passing on Chinese culinary art across generations and promoting the sustainable development of the industry. The theme of this year’s contest is ‘Excel on Traditions Converging Global Culinary Talents’. We are very pleased to witness the world culinary talents converging under one roof to hone their skills in this contest. We hope these young chefs will join forces to enhance the international status of Chinese cuisines by lifting it to a new stratum.”
The 42 contestants come from 17 countries and regions, including Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, the Netherlands and the United States. Lauded as elites of the Chinese cuisine industry in their home countries, many of them are culinary talents that have received many awards, including recipients of the highest honours in World Championship of Cookery and other regional and international cooking contests. The contestants include celebrity chefs that have served as guests of culinary variety shows, executive chefs of leading Chinese restaurants and chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants. During today’s and tomorrow’s contest at the Chinese Cuisine Institute, they will undoubtedly make full use of their skills and creativity to dazzle the audience with their superb performance.
A star-studded judging panel, including Chef Chen Hui Rong, Chef Kondo Shinji, Chef Leung Fai Hung, Chef Li Yao Yun, Chef Lu Ching Lai, Chef Pung Lu Tin and Chef Jacky Yang, will will be responsible for selecting the winners among the contestants. The seven Star Judges, who enjoy stellar reputation in the Chinese culinary industry will have a hard task to select the best of the best in the competition.
Celebrity “Iron Chef” Chen Kenichi (President of the Japan Association of Chinese Cuisine), and Chef Choi Hyun-seok, Chef Mihal Ashminov and Chef Tony Yoo from Michelin-starred modern Korean restaurants who are hosts of Korean cooking variety show “Chef & My Fridge”, are among the world renowned chefs attending the Opening Ceremony.
Students of Lee Kum Kee Hope as Chef programme, a major CSR programme of the Group, will demonstrate their sophisticated cutting and food-carving skills, and make dough crafts at the Opening Ceremony in honour of Lee Kum Kee’s 130th Anniversary.
This year marks the third edition of LKKIYCCCC. Since its inception in 2014, the contest has transformed into an international platform setting to shape the industry. The event has gained full support by 22 Chinese culinary associations from around the world, with Angliss, Beef City Black, Chef Works, Fish Marketing Organisation, Sadia, Savoury Choice, Towngas and Vegetable Marketing Organisation asthe sponsors.
Please follow us on our Facebook official page (https://www.facebook.com/lkkchef/) and official contest website (https://lkkchallenge.lkk.com/) for the latest updates.
About Lee Kum Kee
Lee Kum Kee was established in 1888 when its founder Mr. Lee Kum Sheung invented oyster sauce. With a glorious history of 130 years, Lee Kum Kee has become a household name of Chinese sauces and condiments, as well as an international brand and a symbol of quality and trust. Lee Kum Kee has straddled three centuries and become a globally renowned Chinese enterprise offering over 200 choices of sauces and condiments to over 100 countries and regions. For more details, please visitwww.LKK.com.
－End－
Mr. Charlie Lee, Lee Kum Kee Sauce Group Chairman delivered his welcome speech at the Opening Ceremony of “Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2018”
Mr. Charlie Lee, Lee Kum Kee Sauce Group Chairman, and Madam Shang Ha Ling, Secretary General of the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry joined the seven star judges and 42 aspiring young chefs from 17 countries and regions worldwide to officially kick off “Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2018”
Lee Kum Kee Sauce Group Chairman, and Madam Shang Ha Ling, Secretary General of the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry sounded the traditional gong to kick-start “Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2018”.
APPENDIX I
Facts about “Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge” (LKKIYCCCC) 2014, 2016 and 2018:
| LKKIYCCCC 2016 | LKKIYCCCC 2016 | LKKIYCCCC 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of edition | First | Second | Third |
| No. of edition | Centro comercial Moctezuma | Francisco Chang | Mexico |
| No. of participating countries & regions | 7 | 13 | 17 |
| Participating countries & regions | Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan | Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the United States | Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the Phillippines, the Netherlands, the United States |
| Continents involved | Asia | 4 continents | 5 continents |
| Steering organiser | World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry | World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry | World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry |
| No. of Co-organisers | 9 | 21 | 22 |
| No. of supporting organisations | 8 | 10 | 13 |
| No. of sponsors | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| No. of contestants | 48 | 43 | 42 |
| Contestant specialities | Cantonese, Sichuan, Taiwanese, Hakka, Shanghai, Peking, Nanyang locals, Malaysian, etc. | Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, Chinese aristocrat, Taiwanese, Fujian, Zhejiang, Huaiyang, Shanghai, hot dishes, seafood, innovative Chinese, Cantonese fusion, Pan-Asian or matching with Western, etc. | Cantonese, Sichuan, Hubei, Chinese aristocrat, Taiwanese, Fuzhou, Hakka, hot dishes, Hunan, Zhejiang, seafood, innovative Asian and Chinese and Western fusion, etc. |
| Year of experience | 2 – 22 years | 3 – 23 years | 2 – 24 years |
| No. of judges | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| The countries or regions represented by judges | Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan | China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, USA | China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, USA |
| No. of contestants | 48 | 43 | 42 |
APPENDIX II: List of Co-organisers:
“Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2018” (LKKIYCCCC 2018) is organised by Lee Kum Kee and steered by the World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry. The event is jointly supported by 22 Chinese culinary associations from around the world:
| Co-organisers#: | |
| Australia | Australia Chinese Restaurateur AssociationNSW Chef Association
Modern Asian Chef (Australia) Association |
| Canada | Chinese Cuisine and Hospitality Association of Canada |
| China | China Five-Star Chef CommitteeHu Bei Cuisine Hotel Association
Xiamen Tourism Association |
| Columbia | Global Gourmet Ltda. |
| France | French International Cuisine Association |
| Japan | The Japan Association of Chinese Cuisine |
| Korea | Korea Chinese Cuisine Alliance |
| Malaysia | The Malaysia Selangor and Federal Territory Ku Su Shin Choong Hung Restaurant AssociationChinese Chef Association of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| Netherlands | Vereniging Chinese-Aziatische Horeca Ondernemers |
| New Zealand | NZ Chefs Association Inc. |
| Philippines | Le Toque Blanche Chef Association Philippines |
| Singapore | Society of Chinese Cuisine Chefs |
| Taiwan | Chinese Gourmet AssociationTaiwan International Cookery Association
Taiwan Junior Chef Association |
| USA | Asian American Restaurant AssociationAmerican Culinary Federation – LA Chapter |
# In alphabetical order by regions and names of associations
Press release sent by Above The Line for and on behalf of Lee Kum Kee.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Above The Line
Ms. Wing Chan T: 3704-7734 / 9669-7075 E:[email protected]
Mr. Tony Tse T: 3954-5306 / 6106-7625 E:[email protected]
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