Professional Chef Diploma student Kamran Taylor will compete in the international Young Chef Olympiad 2025 in Goa.
A talented student from Capital City College (CCC)’s renowned School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts will represent England in the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2025. The prestigious global competition involves young chefs from around 50 different nations across the globe. Kamran Taylor, who is in his final year of the Level 3 Professional Chef Diploma at CCC’s Westminster centre, will travel to Goa to join the competition opening ceremony which takes place on 2 February.
Kamran competed in a number of competition rounds to reach the international stage. Firstly, he took part in two heats against classmates at CCC before being chosen to progress to the next stage. Following his college heats, Kamran worked with his mentor Chef Christopher Basten to develop various dishes for two further competitive stages. For the first round, Kamran was given a limited selection of ingredients which he used to create a sweet potato and pumpkin gnocchi with an aromatic aubergine puree, sauce vierge and tomato. This was followed by a modern take on choux pastry with almond praline pastry cream, mango and orange. In round two, Kamran presented a menu of baked barramundi, white fish mousse and pearl barley risotto with prawns and a prawn bisque sauce. For dessert, he served a chocolate delice on a walnut biscuit with chantilly cream, mint oil and a passion fruit gel.
As a result of his success in the second round of the competition, Kamran was chosen to represent England on the international stage of the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2025. Throughout the competition, Kamran has been supported by his mentor Chef Christopher Basten and the teaching staff at the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts. One of Kamran’s dishes was also featured on the menu at the college’s restaurant, The Vincent Rooms, allowing him to develop the dish and gain confidence in executing it. In the run-up to the international competition in Goa, Kamran has been busy practising his dishes with timed four-hour sessions during which he prepares and produces his competition menu.
Kamran said: “I think the biggest highlight so far would be the knowledge and techniques I have picked up in preparation for this competition. I’m sure there will be an infinite number of memories and moments to remember when in India.”
Kamran has been drawn in Group A, so will remain in Goa to take part in the group stage of the competition where he is to compete against chefs from India, Kenya, Ireland, Brunei, Botswana, Ethiopia, Oman, Armenia and the USA. The other group stage competitions will take place in Hyderabad, Delhi, Pune and Bangalore and the competition will culminate in a Grand Finale in Kolkata.
Featuring truly diverse flavours, the competition will showcase the incredible talent of young chefs from across the globe. The judging panel will be led by Senior Judge Chef Gary Maclean, a celebrated food ambassador, author, and former MasterChef: The Professionals winner.
Kamran said: “I’m most looking forward to meeting all the other countries’ competitors, mentors and judges. I’m also very much looking forward to exploring the culture and cuisine India has to offer.”
Congratulations to Kamran on being chosen to represent England in the IIHM Young Chef Olympiad 2025. We wish you all the best for the competition!
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