There are culinary geniuses in Goa who have not yet had their share in the spotlight. These men and women spend hours slogging in kitchens of restaurants across the State, ensuring that our every culinary whim is catered to.
So who thanks them and awards them? Well, the community has taken up the initiative. The Goan Chef Awards!
“An event for the chefs, by the chefs and with the chefs!” says Chef Rohan Parish, from the Institue of Hotel Management. Rohan and his business partner Chef Xavier Faria, have been working hard to make sure that all chefs are recognized for their achievements.
Further, this entire endeavour has one beneficiary, the late Chef Boris Rego. The renowned chef was gunned down in cold blood, during the November 26 attacks of 2008, when he was working at the Taj Intercontinental in Mumbai.
Honouring his memory, the Goan Chef Awards started as a six day challenge at the Institute of Hotel Management and culminated in an award ceremony on August 28 at the Park Hyatt, with Chef Hemant Oberoi as guest of honour and judge.
Dozens of chefs from across Goa took part and won awards in different categories like Carne, Chorico, International Vegetarian, Seafood and Fish, Poultry and Desserts. There were awards for the best hygiene, punctuality and youngest chef. The prize for the youngest chef, went to Chef Royston of Bhatti.
The grand award of the event was the ‘Chef de Goa’ award. The one that will be on par with the Michelin Stars of the world. This is really intriguing, because this competition not only focused on Goa, but on travels to cities across the country. Thus turning it into a national competition to be held in Goa itself.
Chef Rohan says “There is no reason for the famous chefs to be only Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver. There are super talented chefs in India and particularly in Goa.”
Image Credits: Goa Prism
