Honouring Culinary Excellence FoodSuperstars-India’s TOP 30 Chefs 2023 by Culinary Culture

• India’s leading culinary platform, Culinary Culture, will reveal the second edition of their annual Chef rankings recognising the country’s greatest Chefs in Goa on 21st September 2023 in association with Campo Viejo as the Celebration Partner

Goa, 14th September — Culinary Culture is thrilled to announce the eagerly awaited second edition of FoodSuperstars - India’s TOP 30 Chefs, the first and only awards platform dedicated to honouring the culinary maestros who bring flavour, innovation and passion to the country's vibrant food scene. This year, the annual event will take place in Goa in association with Campo Viejo as the Celebration Partner.

Following the resounding success of the inaugural edition in Delhi, FoodSuperstars returns to once again recognize and celebrate the culinary brilliance that defines India’s diverse gastronomic landscape. The platform will release its much-awaited list of India’s TOP 30 chefs of 2023 ranked in order from one to thirty at an invite only event on 21st September 2023 at the W, Goa.

The awards aim to acknowledge the relentless dedication and remarkable skills of chefs, elevating them to the status of true food superstars, making FoodSuperstars an emblematic event in the Indian culinary calendar. What makes this platform truly unique is that the recognition and trophy go directly to the chef and not the restaurant or establishment they work for. In the event the chef leaves their current restaurant/ hotel they can take the award and recognition with them.

These are the only food rankings <1> in India with no form of outside influence or commercial consideration. No restaurant or hotel advertisements are accepted. Along with the ranking of the Top 30, this edition will also feature special awards that will be bestowed on Chefs for exceptional achievements through the year. These will include awards for Social Activism, Pastry, an award to a Young Chef and a Food Legend. In addition Campo Viejo will also hand out an award for Sustainable cooking practices during the event.

FoodSuperstars follows a strenuous and confidential process behind the scenes, ensuring the utmost credibility and impartiality in recognizing the best culinary talents across India. The meticulous scouting process is carried out by a dedicated team of ‘FoodHunters’ consisting of over 40 food connoisseurs from across India who traverse the length and breadth of the country to identify and shortlist the most promising culinary talents. Each nomination is submitted along with a detailed explanation and debated at a physical meeting, where the FoodHunters are made to defend their choices. The final list of nominated chefs is then shared with Culinary Culture’s Secret Jury consisting of India’s topmost culinary experts and biggest foodies and the process

was overseen by Vir Sanghvi, Chairman, Culinary Culture. The final list will only be disclosed on the night of the awards ceremony and is not shared with the FoodHunters. This strict confidentiality protocol ensures that no information leaks, preserving the excitement and authenticity of the awards.

Unlike last year, this year, both Indian and Expat chefs have been considered in the list. Any chef of any country of origin, provided they are working in India, has been considered. There is a single eligibility criterion to be part of the FoodSuperstars Top 30 – the chef has to be currently cooking at a restaurant, hotel, delivery or catering kitchen in India.

“While many platforms recognize restaurants, FoodSuperstars is the first platform that has been created to shine the spotlight on Chefs’ endeavors, to remind us of the real heroes who work with their hands to create the food that brings us so much joy. We had a very successful first edition last year, as we came out of the pandemic and we are looking forward to bringing the industry together in Goa this time for a celebration of culinary excellence.”

Vir Sanghvi, Chairman Culinary Culture

Last year, Chef Manish Mehrotra from Indian Accent secured the prestigious title of India's No. 1 Chef, a testament to his dedication and innovation in shaping the culinary scene. Chef Mehrotra expressed, "This concept of FoodSuperstars focusing only on chefs was very much needed, it is here and it will inspire a new generation of Chefs.” This year, Chef Mehrotra will not be eligible to be part of the rankings as he enters the Hall of Fame and will be honored at the ceremony.

Campo Viejo wines express the vibrancy and colour of modern-day Spain, blending traditional and progressive winemaking methods. They are a reflection of heritage, history and curiosity that beautifully celebrate the culinary brilliance that defines India’s diverse gastronomic landscape. "We are excited to celebrate this edition of FoodSuperstars with Campo Viejo. We celebrate these culinary artistes who are capable of making something simply extraordinary, with the same passion we put into each bottle. We look forward to toasting to their excellence with our wines."

Chandni Dhundia, Category Head, Wines, Pernod Ricard India

FoodSuperstars 2nd Edition promises to be a spectacular celebration of culinary creativity and excellence, fostering a deeper appreciation for the culinary arts in India.

About Culinary Culture

Culinary Culture stands tall as India’s definitive voice in food. Co-founded by Vir Sanghvi and Sameer Sain, it represents a comprehensive movement that encompasses every facet of the culinary landscape in India. Distinguished as the country’s only authoritative and independent rating organization, Culinary Culture bestows stars upon restaurants, honors India's most exceptional chefs and pays tribute to the country's vibrant street food vendors. Culinary Culture is renowned for its global Culinary Exchanges, where it invites the world's most celebrated chefs to

showcase their talents in India while sending talented Indian chefs to cook at the world's finest restaurants. In 2020, it organized events in India with Chef Mauro Colagreco of Mirazur in France, the three Michelin starred restaurant, rated as World No.1 that year and in 2021 and 2022 it brought the world’s most famous Massimo Bottura, from Osteria Francescana in Italy, also a former two-time World No.1 for events in Mumbai and New Delhi respectively. An integral part of Culinary Culture is its esteemed academy of FoodHunters, comprising over 40 of India's most prominent food experts, strategically located throughout the country. Culinary Culture also offers a plethora of popular intellectual properties including FoodSuperstars, Culinary Conversations, StreetFoodSuperstars, Culinary X Change and its upcoming Restaurant Ratings platform.

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