Malaysian culinary arts student Lai Jia Yi beat contestants from 42 countries to clinch the top prize at the 4th International Young Chef Olympiad 2018 competition.

Lai, 21, received the gold prize at the closing ceremony in Kolkata, India, on Friday.

The competition organised by International Institute of Hotel Management and Incredible India – an international tourism campaign by the Indian Government to promote tourism in India – was held from Jan 28 to Feb 2.

Lai, a final year Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Foodservice Management (Hons) student from Taylor’s University, said he felt a deep sense of satisfaction that the long hours of mastering the art the last three months had borne fruit.

“I would head back to university daily to train under mentor Chef Farouk Othman after completing my internship and spent hours learning how to master the art behind the dishes we had in mind,” he said.

Lai said that the training he had received had enabled him to be quick in thinking up dishes to whip up when given the ingredients.

“That made it easier to incorporate the mystery ingredient – turmeric – when it was announced at the start of the last phase of the competition,” he said.

The 11 finalists had progressed through a week-long competition which spanned four cities in India – Pune, Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata. In the last of the three phases, the finalists had to come up with three impressive dishes – a poultry dish, a potato dish and a dessert.

Lai came up with a potato fondant served on red lentils and garlic mashed potato, topped with crispy potato straws.

For his poultry dish, he prepared a chicken breast stuffed with turmeric mousseline and sultanas and served with sauce and charred shallot.

The dessert was an éclair filled with dark chocolate and cinnamon cream cheese, apple compote and salted caramel.

His quiet demeanour and attention to detail in the execution of the dishes as well as the processes, be it in the preparation, workflow efficiency, hygiene and presentation, greatly impressed the judging panel of the annual culinary arts competition.

They included eminent Indian and international judges such as Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Chef Ranveer Brar, Chef Abhijit Saha, Chef Pradeep Rozario, Chef Andrea Muller, Chris Galvin, and Michelin-Star winner Chef John Wood.

“I was very happy when it was announced that Malaysia was the champion,” said Farouk, who is Lai’s mentor and lecturer.

He said it was the second time that Malaysia had brought home gold from this competition.

The winner of the inaugural International Young Chef Olympiad 2015 was also a student from the university.

“Jia Yi showed tremendous capability and mastery and I am very proud that he has been recognised at a platform like this,” he said.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/04/cooking-up-a-storm-with-turmeric-to-clinch-top-prize/#pLTxC2qa6Ul5Y83t.99