40th Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024: Expanding Culinary Horizons in Singapore

The 40th Worldchefs Congress & Expo brought together culinary professionals from across the globe for six days of connection to expand our culinary horizons.

• The 40th Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024 was held in Singapore from October 20 to 25, uniting the world’s top culinary talent and food service professionals for a highly anticipated six-day event.
• Marking a milestone year in Worldchefs history, the event welcomed more than 900 professionals from 76 countries, including chef delegates, competitors, judges, organisers, volunteers, and supporters, to celebrate culinary excellence, innovation, and future leaders.

Paris, 18 November 2024 – During the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024, hundreds of chefs and industry experts from around the world came together in Singapore for six days of connection and conversations from October 20 to 25.

The Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024 marked the much-anticipated return of the global culinary community to Singapore, with a stellar line-up of educational speakers, intense competition with the world final of the Global Chefs Challenge, and a vibrant expo taking place at FHA-HoReCa, a global marketplace for leading foodservice & hospitality suppliers in Asia.

As a long-standing industry tradition since 1928, Worldchefs Congress & Expo once again provided a global stage for industry networking, knowledge exchange, and international culinary competition. Held at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center and FHA HoReCa Singapore Expo, 900 professionals from 76 countries came together to explore industry trends, participate in expert-led sessions, grow their network, and take part in expanding culinary horizons for the future.

Welcoming New Leadership: Worldchefs’ Newly Elected President and Board

Worldchefs Congress 2024 also marked the introduction of the organization’s new leadership, with Andy Cuthbert announced as the new Worldchefs President. The new board, committed to guiding Worldchefs into a bright and sustainable future, brings fresh energy to the association’s ongoing mission to unite and uplift culinary professionals around the world. Learn more about Worldchefs’ new leadership team here.

A Focus on the Future: Billy Gallagher Young Chefs Forum

The Billy Gallagher Young Chefs Forum continued to play a crucial role in fostering the next generation of culinary talent, providing young chefs with the opportunity to learn, network, and develop their skills with guidance from renowned mentors. This year’s forum brought together 50 young chefs and mentors from around the world, including Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden, UAE, India, Australia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Africa. The program emphasized three key objectives: cultivating tomorrow’s industry leaders, promoting shared learning and growth, and providing participants with an immersive “slice” of Singapore’s rich culinary culture.

Young chefs had their own dedicated lounge space where they could connect and learn together, with unique Face-to-Face Sessions allowing them to interact closely with prominent figures like Iron Chef Thailand’s Martin Blunos, Bocuse d’Or winner Davy Tissot, and local pastry icon Janice Wong. These sessions allowed young chefs a space for open conversations,  fostering mentorship and providing invaluable insights in a supportive setting.

In addition to knowledge sharing, the forum offered engaging team-building activities that celebrated Singapore’s cultural heritage. Participants bonded over an Ondeh-Ondeh making session, collaborated on a Chinatown walkabout to explore kitchen hardware shops, and enjoyed a satay dinner at Lau Pa Sat. Post-congress, young chefs explored Singapore’s culinary and agricultural landscape with visits to Green Harvest farm and the 133-year-old Kwong Cheong Thye Soy Sauce Brewery. They also experienced Tekka Market and traditional hawker center breakfast, learned to make Singaporean Popiah, and toured the Peranakan Katong neighborhood, tasting the iconic Katong Laksa and sampling traditional kuehs under the guidance of Way of the Kueh author Christopher Tan.

The Billy Gallagher Young Chefs Forum received enthusiastic feedback, with participants praising the forum’s unique opportunities for hands-on learning, cultural immersion, and networking. Many expressed excitement to bring their newfound knowledge and inspiration back to their own countries, making the forum a transformative experience for young chefs and reaffirming its impact in shaping the future of the culinary profession.

Celebrating Key Moments

International Chefs Day’s 20th Anniversary

The Congress also marked a special milestone with the 20th anniversary of International Chefs Day, celebrated on October 20, which coincided with the event’s first official day. In addition, an activation event on October 19 welcomed twenty local children in Singapore, who participated in a workshop led by chefs from the Singapore Chefs Association, focusing on healthy eating and sustainable food choices.

Discover Hawker Heritage

Shi Long, Co-Founder of Style Palate presented a cooking demo on Singapore’s iconic hawker cuisine alongside KF Seetoh, Singapore’s street food guru.

Cooking for a Happy Gut: the Gut-Brain Connection through Food

Jeremy Lim, CEO and Co-Founder of AMILI, explored the gut-brain connection and how what we eat impacts all aspects of our well-being.

Elevating Ingredients: Smoked Eel, Beetroot, and Caviar in Harmony

Davy Tissot, Président International des Bocuse d’Or and Winner of Bocuse d’Or 2021, brought a bit of the Bocuse d’Or to the Congress stage with a culinary demonstration on elevating ingredients.

The Digital Revolution in the Kitchen

Belinda Moore, Strategic Planning Expert and Director of Strategic Membership Solutions, gave expert insights on technology and AI innovations for associations.

Breakout session UFS

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) hosted a vibrant “Culinary Infinity” activation, inspired by insights from its recent Future Menus Report 2024. Through an infinity-shaped setup, UFS chefs guided guests through four emerging food trends, such as Local Abundance and Low-Waste Menus, forecasting key insights set to shape the next chapter of the culinary industry.

World Chefs Without Borders Charity Dinner

Alongside the Congress events, Worldchefs’ humanitarian initiative World Chefs Without Borders played a key role in a charity dinner, working in close collaboration with the National Kidney Foundation Singapore (NKF) and the Singapore Chefs Association. The NKF55 Charity Gala Dinner raised 1.8 million SGD to support kidney failure patients in Singapore. With contributions from Michelin-starred chefs Julien Royer, Emmanuel Stroobant, and Jason Tan, the event showcased the power of the culinary community to create a meaningful impact for those in need.

A Line Up of Industry Leaders

In addition to these key moments, each session at the 40th Worldchefs Congress & Expo offered something exceptional. The lineup featured industry experts sharing insights and skills—including Chef Emmanuel Stroobant’s talk on mental wellness, “From Burnout to Balance,” and Chef Eric Teo’s inspiring “It’s Not How You Start But How You Finish.” From hawker heritage to AI, every session and speaker elevated the Congress experience, ensuring attendees returned to their kitchens inspired and connected, ready to bring new knowledge and passion to their culinary careers and communities.

All Worldchefs Congress 2024 speaker sessions are available to watch online: Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3.

New Titleholder of World’s Best Chef

A centerpiece of Worldchefs Congress, the Global Chefs Challenge showcased the skills and creativity of the world’s top chefs. National culinary teams competed across categories, including the Global Chefs Challenge, the Global Pastry Chefs Challenge, the Global Young Chefs Challenge, and, for the first time, the Global Vegan Chefs Challenge.

After four days of top-level competition and showcasing some of the world’s most talented culinary professionals, Chef Ale Mordasini of Switzerland, took home the coveted title of World’s Best Chef.

The Global Chefs Challenge has become a leading international competition for chefs to test their skills and bring their best work to the table, while setting the standard for excellence within the industry.  This year’s competition was notably marked by the addition of the first-ever Global Vegan Chefs Challenge category and the inaugural Nestlé Green Spatula Award. The introduction of this new competition category and sustainability award underscores the commitment of culinary professionals and Worldchefs’ members to sustainable gastronomy and culinary innovation, reflecting the evolving demands of consumers and chefs worldwide.

For a complete list of results, competitor profiles, and more, visit www.globalchefschallenge.org.

Taking Congress Forward: New Vision, New Momentum

Reflecting on the event’s resounding success, Worldchefs President Andy Cuthbert extended his thanks to all attendees, sponsors, and organizers who contributed to the Congress’s success. “We are immensely grateful to our community for joining us here in Singapore, and we look forward to seeing how the relationships, insights, and skills developed during this Congress will impact the industry in years to come. We can’t wait for 2026 in Wales!”

Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024 brought to the fore the commitment of the global chef community to advancing culinary standards, supporting sustainable practices, and strengthening the bonds within the global chef community.

As the industry looks ahead, the Congress served as an inspiring reminder of the power of unity, creativity, and innovation in shaping the future of food.

About Worldchefs

The World Association of Chefs’ Societies, known as Worldchefs, is a federation made up of 110 national chef associations. A leading voice in the hospitality industry, Worldchefs carries years of history since its founding in 1928 at the Sorbonne by the venerable Auguste Escoffier.

Representing a mobilized international membership of culinary professionals, Worldchefs is committed to advancing the profession and leveraging the influence of the chef jacket for the betterment of the industry and humanity at large.

Worldchefs is dedicated to raising culinary standards and social awareness through these core focus areas:

• Education – Worldchefs offers support for education and professional development through the landmark Worldchefs Academy online training program, a diverse network of Worldchefs Education Partners and curriculum, and the world’s first Global Culinary Certification recognizing on-the-job skillsin hospitality;
• Networking – Worldchefs connects culinary professionals around the world through their online community platform and provides a gateway for industry networking opportunities through endorsed events and the biennial Worldchefs Congress & Expo;
• Competition – Worldchefs sets global standards for competition rules, provides Competition Seminars and assurance of Worldchefs Certified Judges, and operates the prestigious Global Chefs Challenge;
• Humanitarianism & Sustainability – Worldchefs Feed the Planet and World Chefs Without Borders programs relieve food poverty, deliver crisis support, and promote sustainability across the globe.

About Worldchefs Congress & Expo

The global leading platform that brings together chef delegates and professionals from across the five continents, Worldchefs Congress & Expo delivers a unique program to help industry players network and expand their professional bonds. 

This includes presentations and workshops from leading experts in the industry, impactful educational programs including the Worldchefs Educators’ Forum, specialized events designed to uplift the next generation of chefs such as the Bill Gallagher Young Chefs Forum, the Global Chefs Challenge Finals culinary competition, an international trade exhibition, and diverse activities to enhance both your personal and professional network. 

For more information on Worldchefs Congress, kindly refer here: www.worldchefscongress.org

Thank you to Nestlé Professional and Electrolux Professional, along with all of our sponsors, for making the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2024 possible.

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