ICF announces 22nd Annual Chef Awards

The Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) has officially announced the 22nd Annual Chef Awards, India’s most prestigious celebration of culinary excellence, set to take place on October 13, 2025, at The Ashok, New Delhi. The event will be held alongside the 13th edition of the Knowledge Summit, creating a comprehensive platform that blends competition, recognition, and thought leadership in the Indian food and hospitality sector.

This year’s event will bring together around 250 chefs from across the country to compete in 12 diverse categories, including International Confectionery, Oriental Cuisine, Regional Indian Cuisines, Indian Sweets, Kebabs, Bakery, Butchery and the coveted Student Chef of the Year title. Highlights include a specialised Fruit & Vegetable Carving contest on the theme “Agricultural Farm”, judged on parameters such as hygiene, wastage control, mise-en-place, presentation and taste.

In a notable development this year, winners of the Master Chef categories will receive ₹20,000 in prize money, emphasising ICF’s growing focus on skill, innovation, sustainability and culinary education.

The ceremony will also feature the Praesidium Recognition Awards, honouring industry veterans with accolades like Lifetime Achievement, Golden Hat, Silver Hat, Academic Silver Hat, Lady Chef of the Year and Pastry Chef of the Year. A special tribute, the Shri Anil Bhandari Memorial – Chef of the Year Award, will be conferred on chefs with at least a decade of professional experience.

“The Annual Chef Awards honour the artistry, dedication and evolving role of chefs in shaping India’s culinary identity,” said Chef Davinder Kumar, President of ICF. “We are proud to celebrate not just excellence but also innovation and sustainability that define modern culinary leadership,” he added.

Chef Vivek Saggar, General Secretary of the ICF, emphasised the event's broader mission, stating, “This is more than a competition; it’s a catalyst for growth, creativity and collaboration. We’re creating a space where tradition meets technology, helping chefs adapt to changing trends while preserving our culinary roots.”

The concurrent 13th Knowledge Summit, themed “Tradition to Technology: Strategies for Success in the Culinary World”, will feature leading voices from the global culinary and hospitality landscape. Sessions will explore health and wellness trends, technological advancements, and new educational pathways, bridging the gap between traditional practices and modern innovation.

Trade tests for the competition will be conducted from October 6 to 8, 2025, at Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology and the Institute of Bakery and Culinary Arts, New Delhi.

Judging will be overseen by a prestigious panel certified by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS), chaired by Mahesh Kumar Sharma, Vice President of Shiv Vilas Jaipur, with Chef Bharat Khemani as Organising Secretary.