7th Edition of SICA Culinary Olympiad & Food Competition 2025 launched by Shri R. Rajendran, Minister For Tourism, TN along with Chef Damu & Chef Seetharam*

The 7th Edition of SICA Culinary Olympiad & Food Competition 2025 had a grand launch at the Chennai Trade Center by Shri R. Rajendran Minister For Tourism, TN along with Chef Damu & Chef Seetharam. The Three Day event has over 3000 chefs across India & International teams from MALDIVES, MAURITIUS, SRI LANKA & AUSTRALIA participating in India's First WACS Endorsed Culinary Competition*

This event is on the sidelines of the regional edition of AAHAR International Food Fair 2025, Chennai. This event is supported by ITPO

(India Trade Promotion Organization) and TNTPO (Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organization).

As a preliminary to this, SICA has already conducted workshops on Pastry Art & Hot Plate Presentation, to impart technical knowledge to approach professional competition. Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe Master Culinary Trainer from Chefs Guild of Lanka along with his team of 4 expat Chefs from Sri Lanka has demonstrated the art of food plating techniques.

Senior chefs and trained chefs from culinary establishments, hotels, bars and so on are participating in this. Besides this, there is a host of live competitions for students and chefs. There are exclusive cocktail and mocktail competitions and competitions for housekeeping too. At the end of each day winners will be awarded with gold medals.

Below find the highlights of the first day Live culinary competition on 19th September 2025.

*HIGHLIGHTS*

1)Three-tier Wedding Cake

2)Butter/ Margarine Sculpture

3)Plated Appetizers

4) The Culinary Team Challenge- Buffet Competition (Batch 1)

5) The Culinary Team Challenge- Buffet Competition (Batch 2)

6) Creative Skilled Paratha - Live

7) Best Creation for Restaurant or Banquet Hall Arrangement

8) Authentic Indian Regional Cuisine Powered by Maggi Coconut Milk Powder

The 7th edition of the 2025 SICA Culninary Olympiad and Food Competition organized by the South India Chief's Association (SICA) was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Minister of Tourism R. Rajendran, SICA President Padma Shri Chef Damu and General Secretary Chef Seetharam Prasad .

India's first, recognized by the World Association of Chefs Societies - WACS, at the Nandambakkam Business Centre, Chennai,

The SICA Culinary Olympiad 2025 and Exhibition takes place from today to the 21st.

The South Indian Chefs Association (SICA) showcased three-tiered wedding cake, butter/margarine sculpture, spices, cooking team challenge-buffet competition (Volume 1), cooking team challenge-buffet competition (Volume 2), live creative skill parotta competition, best product arrangement for a restaurant or banquet hall, and original traditional Indian dishes presented by Maggi Coconut Milk Powder on the first day of its 7th edition of the industry's premier culinary event, SICA Culinary Olympiad and Exhibition 2025.

As part of the Chennai Zone edition of Aagar International Food Expo 2025, the event is supported by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and the Tamil Nadu Trade Promotion Organization (TNTPO).

As a first step, SICA has already conducted workshops on pastry art and hot plate presentation to develop the technical knowledge to approach professional competition. In it, Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe, a Master Culinary Trainer from the Chefs Guild of Lanka, demonstrated the art of food plating techniques with his team of 4 Sri Lankans.

Another key feature of the ongoing seventh edition is that it is India's first national competition to be recognized by WACS, and the competitions will be judged by an international jury recognized by WACS.

More than 3000 chefs from South India and culinary experts from countries including the Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Australia are participating in these competitions.Also,

Senior and trained chefs from culinary institutions, hotels, bars, etc. will participate in this Olympiad.

There are many highlights including live cooking challenge competitions for students and professionals, exclusive cocktail and mocktail competitions, and competitions for housekeeping professionals focusing on sustainability in the hospitality industry. Gold medals are awarded to the winners at the end of each day's competitions.