Thailand Culinary Academy whips up four gold medals at Culinary Olympics in Germany

18 Oct, 12

Thailand has proven its culinary prowess at the IKA World Culinary Olympics 2012 in Germany, winning four gold and one silver medals.

Chef Willment Leong, Thailand Culinary Academy founder and chairman, who led a group of Thai chefs to compete at the IKA World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany October 5-10, told reporters upon the team’s return from Germany that the Thai chefs won four gold and one silver medal at the competition.

Chef Leong said there were more than 1,500 chefs representing more than 60 countries worldwide competing in the world’s most prestigious culinary competition, an even held every four years.

Thailand’s team won medals for only the second time in 30 years, he said.

The Thai chiefs’ winning entries which impressing judges with their edible culinary art were wedding cake, sugar show piece and dessert pastry.

The junior chefs team won a gold medal for hot cooking.

The junior national culinary teams won silver medal for cold display.

Mr Leong said that the team must seek financial support itself and while it received support from several companies, it was not enough to cover all expenses.

The Thailand Chefs Team coach urged the government to support youth in this field, in a way similar to the youth are supported in sport.

The IKA World Culinary Olympics in Erfurt, Germany, is billed as the oldest competition of its kind in the world with a tradition that dates back to 1900.

Similar to the Olympic Games, which brings together the best athletes from around the world, the IKA is the world’s single most elite competitive culinary event.