At the IKA - World Culinary Olympics held in Stuttgart, Germany, a culinary team specially created for the event under the organization of the State Tourism Agency won two bronze medals and six diplomas in the category of "individual participant" for confectionery art, as well as a diploma in the "public catering" category in the team competition.

 

Considered one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in the world, the Olympiad saw a team of nine chefs representing Azerbaijan in the "public catering" and "individual participant" categories. The team participated with the support of the National Culinary Center and the Azerbaijan Culinary Specialists Association (ACSA), an associate member of the World Chefs' Association (Worldchefs).

 

The menu presented by Azerbaijan's national team was designed to reflect the natural biodiversity of the country while incorporating elements of Azerbaijan's culinary traditions. The team used ingredients recognized as part of Azerbaijan’s biodiversity, such as Caucasian chestnuts and “baltali” rice (included in the international Slow Food gastronomic tourism model), as well as local products like saffron, “Zire” tomatoes, and pomegranates (featured on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage).

 

The competition consisted of multiple evaluation stages, with menus assessed based on criteria including taste, health, sustainability, waste-free preparation, attention to product details, adherence to specific dimensions, aesthetic appeal, and color. Additionally, the team’s work process, stress resistance, equal division of labor, kitchen cleanliness, and the chefs' personal hygiene were considered, all within the time constraints set by the judges.

 

Culinary teams from around the world competed in categories such as “national,” “young national,” “public catering,” and “regional” at the event.

 

A stand showcasing Azerbaijani gastronomy was also set up in the pavilion of the World Association of Chefs Societies (Worldchefs). At this stand, visitors, including culinary experts, were informed about Azerbaijan's gastrotourism potential and had the opportunity to sample traditional Azerbaijani dishes. The stand highlighted the cuisines of Nakhchivan and Karabakh, as well as Sheki and Khinalig, regions included in the World Heritage List under the theme "Food traditions of Azerbaijan as a UNESCO heritage." Additionally, confectionery products created by Azerbaijan’s national team were exhibited, featuring various themes and techniques based on competition conditions.

 

It is worth noting that the IKA - World Culinary Olympics, held every four years in Germany since 1900, is a prestigious international competition and exhibition focused on culinary arts, food, restaurants, and hospitality businesses. The previous competition in 2020 attracted 1,800 participants from 67 countries, showcasing over 8,000 recipes to more than 100,000 visitors worldwide.