Young Chef India Schools
by International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM)
National title and a trophy
Young Chef India Schools is a competition by International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) for students in Grade 11 to 12, open to students across India. It is free to take part.
Mode
In-Person
Eligibility
Grade 11 to 12
Fee
Free
Duration
About six months from the home city cook-offs through the zonal finals to the national Mega Final
Format
Individual
Time needed
Each cook-off round runs up to two hours, and the national Mega Final task is completed within 120 minutes
About this opportunity
Young Chef India Schools is a national cooking competition run by the International Institute of Hotel Management, held every year since 2011. This is the main competition, for students in Classes XI and XII, which registers, competes and is judged on its own. IIHM also runs a separate junior competition for Classes V to X, and a student enters the one that matches their class.
Entry is free, and a student registers online choosing their category and state. The first rounds are cook-offs held in the student's home city or at the nearest IIHM campus, and the country is grouped into four zones covering the North, East, South and West. The ten strongest from each zone meet in a zonal final, and the top two from each zone go through to the national Mega Final.
At the Mega Final a contestant prepares two identical plated main courses with accompaniments and two portions of a dessert, all from a pre-decided ingredient basket, inside 120 minutes. Judges score how well the task is finished in the time given, culinary skill and technique, food safety and hygiene, careful use of ingredients with little waste, professional bearing in the kitchen, and the presentation, taste and flavour of what is served.
The national winner takes a cash prize and a trophy, and a month of culinary training in Kolkata under IIHM chefs with accommodation and meals covered. IIHM runs campuses in Kolkata, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Ahmedabad, and cook-offs are hosted at and around them.
Eligibility
- Grade level
- Grade 11 to 12
- Age range
- 16 to 18 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Academic requirement
Enrolled in a school in India in Classes XI and XII.
Prerequisites
- Enrolled in an Indian school in Classes XI and XII
- Able to travel to the home city or nearest IIHM campus cook-off
- Comfortable cooking unsupervised in a competition kitchen within a time limit
Open to students enrolled in a school in India in Classes XI and XII. Registration is free and is done online, choosing the YCI category and the state of residence. Cook-offs are held in the student's home city or at the nearest IIHM campus.
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Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Cash prize, trophy and training
The national winner takes a cash prize and a trophy, and a month of culinary training in Kolkata under IIHM chefs with accommodation and meals covered.
Recognition
National cooking title
Skills your child builds
Highlights
- A category of its own for Classes XI and XII, registered and judged separately
- Free to enter at every stage
- First rounds held in the home city or at the nearest IIHM campus rather than at one central venue
- A month of culinary training in Kolkata for the national winner
Rounds & format
The competition runs in five rounds across four zones covering the North, East, South and West. The first three are cook-off sessions in the home city or at the nearest IIHM campus. The fourth brings the ten strongest from each zone to a zonal final. The top two from each zone then cook in the national Mega Final.
How entries are judged
Contestants are scored on finishing the assigned task within the time limit, culinary skill and technique, food safety and hygiene, efficient use of ingredients with little waste, professional appearance and attitude in the kitchen, and the presentation, taste and flavour of the dishes served.
Selection process
Contestants move up from the home city or campus cook-offs to the zonal final, where the top ten from each zone compete. The top two from each of the four zones qualify for the national Mega Final, which decides the title.
How to apply
- 1Register online and select the YCI category for Classes XI and XII, along with the state of residence
- 2Cook in the round held in the student's home city or at the nearest IIHM campus
- 3Go through to the zonal final for the North, East, South or West zone
- 4The top two from each zone cook in the national Mega Final
Fees & financial support
Fee details
There is no entry fee at any stage. For the national final, IIHM covers accommodation and meals for the finalists during the Kolkata training period. Families arrange travel to the cook-off and zonal venues.
Frequently asked questions
Is Young Chef India Schools free?
This opportunity is free to participate in.
Who can participate in Young Chef India Schools?
Students in Grade 11 to 12. Children aged 16 to 18.
What will my child gain from Young Chef India Schools?
Free to enter at every stage, with no entry fee. A cook-off in the home city or at the nearest IIHM campus, so a first round is reachable. A zonal final and then a national Mega Final for those who go through. A cash prize, a trophy and a month of training in Kolkata for the national winner. Judging by working chefs on technique, hygiene and taste rather than on presentation alone.
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