International Chefs Day celebrations 2023 have created history by becoming the biggest gathering of professional chefs in the world with around 2500 chefs gathered at one place at a time.
HP Newsroom
Chefs Association of Pakistan (CAP), with the strategic partnership of College of Tourism & Hotel Management (COTHM), Chocolate Academy, and Diet Studio and the endorsement of Worldchefs, Paris celebrated International Chefs Day with unprecedented grandeur at Alhamra Hall 1, Mall Road, Lahore.
This momentous occasion, graced by the presence of esteemed guests and a record-breaking gathering of over 2500 culinary professionals, showcased the culinary excellence and talent that Pakistan has to offer. The event not only promoted the culinary prowess of Pakistan but also took the bar high in the respect of ‘White Jacket’ in the world.
The event was presented by Nestle Professional, powered by Young’s Food and Shangrila Foods, and executed in association with KnN’s and Ambassador Commercial Kitchen Equipment. Pakistan’s number one fast food brand Cheezious joined the event as Industry Partner.
The day commenced with a spectacular chefs parade, setting the stage for an unforgettable celebration of the culinary arts. Minister of State for Tourism, Wasi Shah, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while the Guests of Honour included prominent figures such as Mudassir Riaz Malik, Director General of Social Welfare & Bait-ul-Maal Punjab; Zeeshan Raja, CEO of American Lycetuff School System; Masood Ali Khan, Hospitality Expert & Founder of Mandrin/Sumo; Founder/CEO of Sana Durrani Studio, visual artist & art conservationist; Sana Durrani, Nausheen Jaffery, Business Executive Officer of Nestle Professional; Muhammad Sami Nawab, Head of Young’s Food Channel; Amir Arshad, Business Development Manager at Shangrila; Ali Mahmood, CEO of Ambassadors; and Shahid Qadar, CEO of Model Bazars.
The event was emceed by the affable Babar Sheikh, who commenced the proceedings with an introduction to CAP and the significance of International Chefs Day. CAP’s President, Ahmad Shafiq, delivered a warm welcome address, expressing his delight in hosting the talented chefs and urging them to join the ranks of CAP. He acknowledged the role of Worldchefs, Paris in bringing awareness among the masses about the chefs’ profession and uniting the chefs of the world under one umbrella. He also appreciated International Chefs Day 2023’s theme ‘Growing Green Chefs’ and said that the world needs to work on the training of young chefs and COTHM in Pakistan is already doing this service considering it as an obligation. He also unveiled an exciting announcement – the Pakistan International Culinary Championship (PICC), scheduled for February 13, 14, 15, 2023, promising to be a prestigious culinary event of international repute.
A highlight of the evening was the induction of CAP’s executive committee members, who took an oath from President Ahmad Shafiq and were presented with chef belts, signifying their commitment to the culinary craft.
The crowning moment of the event was the Chefs Achievement Awards – Lahore, 2023, where outstanding professional chefs were honored with beautiful trophies in various categories. Chief Guest Wasi Shah, CAP President Ahmad Shafiq and CAP Senior Vice President Waqar Ilyas presented the awards to these deserving recipients, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to the culinary world.
The festivities came to a sweet conclusion with a delightful cake-cutting ceremony, where a delectable cake, generously provided by Pakistan’s premium bakery brand Mini Treats, was shared among the attendees. Cheezious, Pakistan’s leading fast food brand, added to the excitement by distributing free vouchers to the professional chefs, ensuring that the culinary celebration continued even after the event.
The International Chefs Day Celebrations and Chefs Achievement Awards (CAA) Lahore 2023 was a resounding success, epitomizing the passion and dedication of Pakistan’s culinary community. It was a day when gastronomy took center stage, and chefs were celebrated for their exceptional talents and contributions to the world of food.
