Author: Julia

In today’s culinary world, competition is a platform for growth, skill-building, and professional advancement. To better support chefs on that journey, Worldchefs has reintroduced its foundational competition training seminar under a new name: How to Compete Competition Seminar.

Previously known as Introduction to Culinary Standards, this seminar has been fully revamped by the Worldchefs Culinary Competition Committee and the Worldchefs administrative team in spring 2025. The new format brings fresh energy and deeper insights into the competition process, helping chefs at all levels prepare, perform, and thrive in the culinary competition arena.

Relaunching How to Compete

Competitions are a cornerstone of culinary excellence. They challenge chefs to push boundaries, master disciplines, and sharpen creative and technical skills under pressure. The How to Compete seminar helps chefs embrace this challenge with confidence, composure, and clarity.

Designed to be accessible, inspiring, and practical, this seminar is ideal for:

• Chefs who want to compete but don’t know where to start
• Culinary teams seeking to improve their strategy and performance
• Chefs looking to improve their competition scores

Participants dive into three key aspects of competitive success:  how to prepare for success, master team dynamics and strategy, and compete with confidence and composure. Along the way, they learn how to maximize scores and avoid common penalties.

A Strong Start: A Successful First How to Compete Competition Seminar

The first How to Compete seminar under the new format was held online on June 16–17, 2025, with 22 chefs attending both days. Each participant received a Worldchefs digital badge and certificate, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, 93.3% said the seminar was useful and 93.3% also said they would recommend it to others.

Participants praised the engaging format, practical advice, and expert guidance from Chef Gilles, the seminar’s lead instructor:

“The communication with Chef Gill was fantastic and the way he shares tips is amazing.”

“Chef Gilles is one of the most engaging teachers out there. His years of experience, witty humour, and deep knowledge make the class fun and insightful.”

“Two days is not enough!”

A Global Resource for Culinary Growth

How to Compete is one of six competition seminars available through Worldchefs. Upon registration, organizers have access to invite a Worldchefs instructor to lead the seminar in-person or online, using Worldchefs’ seminar assets.

By hosting a seminar, organizers provide chefs in their region with proven strategies to improve performance, an opportunity to earn a Worldchefs certificate and digital badge, and a chance to connect with the global competition community.

Host a Seminar in Your Region

Want to bring How to Compete to your association or institution? Worldchefs provides organizers with access to seminar materials and coordinate so that a Worldchefs instructor leads the seminar. For more information, click the button below.

In this issue of Infusion, the Scottish Chefs magazine, meet David Millar, Scottish Chef of the Year, look back on the Scottish Culinary Championships and view upcoming events.

To learn more about Worldchefs, click here.

• Worldchefs wins two international recognitions at Acquisition International’s Non-Profit Awards 2025, reinforcing the organization’s leadership in the non-profit space.
• The leading voice in hospitality, Worldchefs has been recognized as Most Influential Culinary Profession Development Organization and awarded for Sustainability Education Excellence.
• These two honors affirm Worldchefs’ positive global impact on the industry, its people and sustainability.

Paris, July 17 2025 – Worldchefs has been recognized with two prestigious honors from Acquisition International’s Non-Profit Awards 2025: Most Influential Culinary Profession Development Organization and the Sustainability Education Excellence Award.

Now in its fifth edition, the Acquisition International Awards celebrate outstanding non-profit organizations making a measurable impact across sectors. For Worldchefs, these accolades underscore the organization’s dedication to building a more skilled, inclusive, and sustainable future for the culinary industry.

“We’re proud to recognise those who play a part in improving this world and the lives of our fellow beings,” said Melissa Bramall, Awards Coordinator at Acquisition International. “It’s such an honour to celebrate their successes and learn from their stories. Congratulations again.”

These awards reinforce Worldchefs as a leader in the non-profit space, and elevate the organization’s reputation as a global leader in advancing culinary careers and equipping chefs with the tools to lead meaningful change. Through internationally recognized certification, educational opportunities, and initiatives like Feed the Planet, Worldchefs empowers culinary professionals at every stage.

With a network spanning 110 countries, Worldchefs’ work in sustainability, education, and professional development continues to shape the future of hospitality.

To read the full awards announcement from Acquisition International, click here.

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About Acquisition International Magazine

Acquisition International launched in 2010, and has, over the years, evolved into a business title that professionals rely on to bring them the business knowledge, insight, and news they need. Each month their magazine is circulated to business leaders and key professionals, including top tier managers, investment professionals, business advisers and service providers. Acquisition International is owned by UK B2B media group AI Global Media.

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 skills in 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.

Visit www.worldchefs.org to learn more.

Media contact: 

Olivia Ruszczyk communications@worldchefs.org

In a remarkable display of culinary talent and international competitiveness, young chefs representing Chefs Association of Pakistan (CAP) and College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHM) have achieved an extraordinary milestone at the Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge (TUCC) 2025, held from May 27 to May 31, 2025.

Participating for the first time in this prestigious global culinary event, the Pakistani delegation proudly secured 14 Diploma Certificates and 5 Bronze Medals, marking a momentous achievement for the country’s hospitality and culinary education sector.

The medalists are:

• Amina Basit
• Muhammad Mustafa Shahid
• Muhammad Nouman
• Hamna
• MahNoor Murtaza

These accolades not only celebrate the individual achievements of these young chefs but also underscore the strength of CAP and COTHM’s training programs and the rising global presence of Pakistani culinary arts.

Mian Shahid Mehmood, Vice President of the Chefs Association of Pakistan, praising the team’s exceptional performance said, “Earning 14 Diploma Certificates and 5 Bronze Medals at such a challenging international culinary platform is a significant achievement. It is a proud moment for Pakistan, and it proves that our young chefs are capable of competing on a global stage.”

Their coach, Tipu Imran, Executive Chef at COTHM Johar Town, also expressed his pride in the team. “It was the students’ first time competing on such an international stage, yet they performed exceptionally well,” he said. “With this experience, they’ll continue to grow and achieve even greater success in the future.”

Fraaz Kasuri, Manager of the Chefs Association of Pakistan and team manager for TUCC 2025, praised the young Pakistani chefs, saying they are both talented and passionate. “They’ve truly earned what they worked so hard for,” he added.

While appreciating the team telephonically, Chefs Association of Pakistan President Ahmad Shafiq congratulated the students and CAP members on their outstanding performance. He said the achievement reflects the high-quality training provided at COTHM and showcases the talent and potential of Pakistani youth. “Winning bronze medals on such a tough global stage is like gold to us,” he added. “This success not only brings pride to COTHM and CAP but also highlights Pakistan’s growing presence in the international culinary arena.”

Chef Willment Leong, Organizing Chairman of the Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge 2025 and Continental Director for Asia at WorldChefs, commended the Pakistan team on their debut performance. “It was Pakistan team’s first time participating in TUCC, and they showed great enthusiasm and potential,” he said. “They gained valuable experience this year, and I am confident they will come back stronger and achieve even better results in future competitions.”

Success on the International Stage

This success marks a major milestone in CAP and COTHM’s commitment to culinary excellence, innovation, and international collaboration. The participation and victory at TUCC 2025 has set a new benchmark for aspiring chefs in Pakistan highlighting the growing recognition of Pakistani cuisine and culinary education worldwide.

July 2, 2025 – We are saddened today to learn of the passing of an old friend of Worldchefs and the greater culinary community globally, Chef Norbert Girnth. Chef Norbert has been involved in Worldchefs and spent many years coming to the Emirates Salon Culinaire since the inception back in 1993 and was an icon judge for the competition over the past 28 editions. This endeared him to fellow judges and competitors alike. Chef Norbert had worked in some of the most iconic kitchens around the world.

Chef Norbert is a member of the Verband der Koche Deutschland. He served his apprenticeship in a Michelin-Star restaurant in Germany and worked in Switzerland, France, Jersey, Channel Islands, and Morocco. He spent two years on the flagship of the Holland- America line: S/S Rotterdam.

Chef Norbert won more than 30 gold culinary medals during a distinguished career before retiring from active competition to take up judging. After some seminars about judging, he was a member of judging teams in Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, Chicago, Iceland, Kuala Lumpur, Strasbourg, Basel, Gent, and Johannesburg. He was twice Host-chef for the national team of Australia during the cooking Olympics in Frankfurt and twice as a judge for the cooking Olympics in 1996 in Berlin and in 2000 in Erfurt. 

Following two years studying at the Heidelberg Hotel – and Management school, he has, since 1970, been Chef-Patron at the restaurant that has been owned and operated by his family for the past two-hundred years.

Norbert’s smile and stories would captivate us all. To listen to the history of his culinary journey was inspirational. 

To Norbert’s wife, Uschi, and his son – also a chef – Leif, we offer our sincerest condolences and thank them for sharing him with us over these many years. We are thankful to have met you both in friendship due to Norbert’s friendship to us all.

Rest in peace our friend.

Thoughts and prayers from from all chefs of the World Association of Chefs Societies.

• At the 2025 Gourmand Awards during the Cascais World Food Summit, Worldchefs Magazine was named Best Food Magazine in the World.
• With 31 published magazine issues, Worldchefs Magazine continues to celebrate the unity, progress and passion driving the global culinary community forward.

Portugal, 21 June 2025 – Worldchefs Magazine, by World Association of Chefs Societies, was named Best Food Magazine in the World at the Gourmand Awards, during the Cascais World Food Summit, a prestigious event that took place from June 18-21 in Portugal.

The announcement was made on stage at the Estoril Congress Centre by Edouard Cointreau, President and Founder of the Gourmand Awards, who praised the work for its depth and cultural significance:

“Congratulations to Ragnar Fridriksson and the entire Worldchefs team on the release of Worldchefs Magazine Issue 30—a powerful celebration of the global culinary community’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and professional growth. This milestone edition, launched in the lead-up to the Worldchefs Congress 2024 in Singapore, beautifully captures the spirit of mentorship and inclusivity that is shaping the future of gastronomy. With its thoughtful stories and global perspectives, the magazine serves as a vital reference point for the collaborative energy that defines Worldchefs and its expansive international network.”

Founded in 1995, and with participation from over 200 countries, the Gourmand Awards are the only international competition dedicated to publications on food and drinks cultures. The competition is free and open to all languages. Each year, Gourmand organizes a global symposium in a location of notable gastronomic relevance, bringing together leading voices from the diplomacy, culinary, publishing, and cultural sectors.

Today, Worldchefs Magazine, with 31 published editions, continues to celebrate the unity and progress driving the global culinary community forward. It’s a tribute to the legacy of chefs past and present, and a snapshot of the many ways Worldchefs’ members are leading with purpose and passion. To read our latest edition, click here.

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About the Gourmand Awards

Beyond the accolades, the Gourmand Awards offer a platform for sharing culinary knowledge and fostering connections within food & tourism professionals. These awards not only spotlight outstanding cookbooks, culinary magazines, and food-related media from across the globe, but also underscore the importance of culinary storytelling and its impact on food culture worldwide.

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.

Visit www.worldchefs.org to learn more.

Media contact: 

Olivia Ruszczyk communications@worldchefs.org