Kazakh chefs take part in culinary competition in Baku
As part of the 31st International Food Industry Exhibition InterFood Azerbaijan in Baku, the 6th National Culinary Championship “Golden Shah” has officially kicked off, Qazinform News Agency reports.
he championship, which will run through May 8, is organized by the Azerbaijan Culinary Specialists Association with the support of the State Tourism Agency and the Azerbaijan National Culinary Center, in partnership with the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (Worldchefs).
The main goal of the event is to promote the development of gastronomy in the country, expand the potential of gastro tourism, improve the professional level of specialists, and promote national cuisine internationally. An important focus also remains the exchange of experience with foreign chefs and familiarizing them with the traditions of Azerbaijani cuisine.
The championship program includes individual categories for chefs, pastry competitions, team contests, and junior category performances. Special attention this year is being given to innovation, sustainability, and the combination of national culinary traditions with modern international trends.
Teams from Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Serbia, Russia, Belarus, Croatia, Romania, and Ukraine are taking part in the competition.
Participants are being evaluated by an international jury made up of certified Worldchefs judges representing the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Germany, and other countries.
Kazakhstan is represented this year by the national team formed by the Kazakhstan Chefs Hub Association of Chefs. The delegation includes Kazakhstan’s official representative and judge Said Roshayev, team captain Nursultan Ismailov, national team chef Aidarbek Saparkhan, and pastry chef Yerdaulat Lespek.
It should be noted that the “Golden Shah” championship has been held since 2019. Since 2024, it has obtained the right to host the continental Gold Shah chefs championship organized jointly with Worldchefs. This has helped expand international participation and raise the overall level of the competition.
According to the organizers, the championship is viewed as an important professional platform for discovering new talent, exchanging experience, and strengthening Azerbaijan’s position as a promising gastronomic destination.
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that three Michelin-starred chef Paolo Romano said Kazakh cuisine had inspired him to create a dish combining Italian technique with Kazakh culinary traditions.
