On September 25th and 26th, 2025, two Worldchefs competition seminars were held by the Croatian Chefs Association at the Zagreb Fair in Croatia. Worldchefs competition seminars are designed for ambitious culinarians looking to gain insight into the height of international culinary competition standards. These intensive seminars provide key information about current trends, competition rules, and judging criteria, helping chefs stay at their best.
Pastry Arts Competition Seminar
This year, for the first time in Zagreb, a pastry arts competition seminar was organized for pastry chefs, mentors, and professionals wishing to stay up to date with the latest trends.
This seminar took place in the Brijuni Hall of the Zagreb Fair on September 25, and was led by Chef Leopold Forsthofer, a respected Austrian pastry chef known for his mastery of cakes and chocolates. Since 1984, he has been working at the renowned Vienna Kurkonditorei Oberlaa, where he serves as deputy head pastry chef, specializing in intricate decorations and special orders. In 2007, he achieved national recognition by winning the title of Austrian Master Chocolatier with his creation “Let’s Dance!” at the Patisserie Grand Prix, representing Austria at the World Chocolatier Championship in Paris.
Forsthofer has also competed internationally with the Austrian national culinary team, winning multiple gold and silver medals. A dedicated educator, he has co-authored several influential books such as The Chocolate Bible and Süße Kunst, and is a respected trainer and judge at world competitions.
As a member of Worldchefs Cultural Competition Committee, Forsthofer plays a key role in the development of the pastry arts. He combines tradition with innovation to inspire a new generation of pastry chefs.
Culinary Arts & Hot Kitchen Competition Seminar
In addition, a Culinary Arts & Hot Kitchen Competition Seminar took place on September 26, 2025 during the Croatian Culinary Days.
Chef Lee Corke instructed this seminar in the Brijuni Hall of the Zagreb Fair. Chef Lee Corke is a member of the Worldchefs Culinary Competition and an instructor of Worldchefs’ competition seminars. He is currently President and a member of the British Culinary Federation. He has won 100+ medals at both the national and international level and has been a competitor since 1990.
A Valuable Experience for Competitors, Judges, and Event Organizers
Worldchefs competition seminars are an excellent way for chefs to learn or expand upon their techniques. At these in-person events, chefs gain insights directly from both the perspective of Worldchefs Certified Judges and award-winning competitors. These seminars are an opportunity to discover best practices, network, and understand how to improve competition scores. Additionally, competition seminars are the first step in becoming a Worldchefs Certified Judge or renewing a judge license.
Discover our upcoming competition seminars at https://worldchefs.org/events/.
To learn how to host a competition seminar in your region, click the button below.
