The Professional Chefs Competition and the fifth Oman Barista Competition will celebrate the best of local culinary talent and skill at the 12th edition of Food & Hospitality Oman.
The event, organised by Omanexpo, will take place from 16-18 October at the new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Omanexpo has partnered with Oman Chefs Guild (OCG) to host the Professional Chefs Competition, Oman’s first-ever culinary competition, which launched in 2009.
OCG is a non-profit organisation aimed at improving the quality and standards of members of the culinary profession locally and internationally.
The competition will put more than 50 of the country’s best professional chefs from four and five-star hotels, restaurants, catering companies and bakeries, to the test, judging their techniques and style across five categories: Three-Tier Wedding Cake, Tapas, Petit Fours, Live Cooking Mystery Box, and Five-Course Gourmet Dinner.
During the 2016 edition of Food & Hospitality Oman, chef Pascal Etienne, president, Oman Chefs Guild, commented: “Competition is an important part of education.
“OGC together with Omanexpo is proud to have built a reputation for hosting the industry’s culinary event. The competition rules and judging culture are based on World Chef Association and American Culinary Federation standards.”
Running alongside the Professional Chefs Competition is the Oman Barista Competition, the first coffee competition of its kind in Oman, which will test the best baristas in the sultanate.
Participants will present visitors and coffee enthusiasts with their most innovative concoctions against a backdrop of world-class coffee machines and equipment, coffee ingredients, blends and beans.
The competition is a creativity and skill-based match of three categories: two types of standard coffee beverage and a signature beverage.
The activity will culminate in the preparation and presentation of the freestyle signature beverage to a select jury of local and international coffee experts.
Ammar Ahmad, exhibition director, Food & Hospitality Oman, said: “We are always pleased to simultaneously offer our participants and visitors a platform to bring to the fore the best of local culinary talent and create educational opportunities among food and beverage enthusiasts and aspiring cooks and chefs.
“These competitions also provide an avenue for food and coffee producers, manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers to seek and access business opportunities.”
Food & Hospitality is the only show in Oman for the sector. In 2016, Omanexpo added the Food Safety Oman Conference to expand its show platform further.
Supporters and sponsors include Omani Products, Riyada, Unilever Food Solutions, Renaissance Services Group, and Oman Foodstuff Factory and Sweets of Oman.
