JEDDAH — Food, hotel and hospitality Arabia 2015 witnessed a high-level of local, regional and international participation in the annual Jeddah Open Cooking Competition in which culinary arts connoisseurs from the Arab and Gulf states are given an opportunity to showcase their creativity and world-class skills. Taking place from April 13-16 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events and organized by ACE, Jeddah Open Cooking Competition has attracted around 500 chefs from all over the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia, according to the world-renowned master chef Thomas Gugler. Gugler said Jeddah Open Cooking Competition is a competition in which the best restaurants and hotels in the city and the country participate to show their ability and skill in the art of display with the professional set-up of tableware, chinaware, and cutlery. Dressed in his white coat, medals and badges covering a larger part of his chest, Chef Thomas A Gugler the competitors are from all over the Kingdom, with a majority from Jeddah. “Most of them from hotels, small establishments, restaurants, and coffee shops,” he added. Commenting on the Saudi participation, Gugler said “many Saudi chefs are participating and they are really showing interest in becoming chefs and breaking the stereotype. It is a good challenge for them.” Under the International Competition, the participating chefs prepare traditional Arabic dishes before an audience in a bid to make the championship more interactive and attractive to visitors. Endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) and the Saudi Arabian Chefs Association (SARCA), the competition is featuring chefs competing in various categories that range from five-course menus to novelty cakes, live cooking of signature dishes, carving competitions and the creation of decorative showpieces.
