ICF’s 23rd Annual Chef Awards, the ‘Oscars of the Indian Culinary Industry’, Celebrate India’s Culinary Talent
New Delhi : The Indian Culinary Forum (ICF) celebrated the achievements of India’s culinary professionals at the 23rd Annual Chef Awards 2026, held at Sovereign Hall, Le Méridien, New Delhi. Commemorating International Chefs Day, the awards recognised professional excellence, culinary craftsmanship and contributions to the hospitality industry. Organised annually for over two decades, the awards brought together leading professionals and emerging talent, including winners of the Master Chef competitions held earlier this month.
The ceremony was graced by Amb. Jawed Ashraf, IFS (Retd.), Chairman, India Trade Promotion Organisation, as Chief Guest, and brought together leading figures from the culinary and hospitality industry. The awards comprised six Top Chef Awards recognising professional achievement, leadership and contributions to the culinary field, alongside Master Chef competition categories that tested participants’ technical skills, creativity and adherence to professional standards.
Among the top honours, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Chef Ajay Kumar Sood, while Chef Vivek Saggar received the Golden Hat Chef Award and Chef Sanjay Babu Dasari was honoured with the Silver Hat Chef Award. The Academic Chef of the Year Award went to Chef Pawan Ailawadi, the Pastry Chef of the Year Award to Chef Jaideep Singh Rana, the Shri Anil Bhandari Memorial – Chef of the Year Award to Chef Vaibhav Soni, and the Lady Chef of the Year Award to Chef Richa Johri.
Commenting on the awards, Chef Davinder Kumar, President, Indian Culinary Forum, said, “The Annual Chef Awards are an opportunity to recognise the dedication, skill and professionalism that chefs bring to their work every day. The competitions allow participants to test their abilities, learn from their peers and demonstrate the standards they uphold in professional kitchens. By recognising established professionals alongside emerging talent, we aim to encourage continuous learning and strengthen the culinary profession. Our philosophy remains ‘from chefs, by chefs and for chefs’.”
Chef Vivek Saggar, General Secretary, Indian Culinary Forum, added, “Culinary excellence requires more than creativity; it calls for technical precision, discipline, continuous learning and a commitment to professional standards. The Master Chef competitions put these qualities into practice, while the Top Chef Awards recognise experience, leadership and contributions to the industry. We hope the achievements celebrated at this year’s awards inspire young chefs to keep developing their skills and contribute to the future of India’s culinary sector.”
The Master Chef competitions brought together chefs from across the country across categories spanning Indian and international cuisines, Indian sweets, kebabs, international confectionery, baking, butchery, vegetable carving and student chef competitions. Held at Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology on 21–23 October and the Institute of Bakery and Culinary Arts on 26 October, the competitions were judged by a panel of professional chefs led by Chef Rajeev Janveja, Chief of Jury. Participants were assessed on personal and workstation hygiene, food wastage, mise-en-place, visual appeal, culinary skills, and the taste and texture of their dishes and accompaniments. Eligible Master Chef category winners received cash prizes of ₹20,000.
The Master Chef competitions recognised winners across various culinary disciplines, including:
· Master Chef International Confectionery: Mohd. Saquib Hussain, The Westin Gurugram
· Master Chef Oriental Cuisine: Chef Dilraj, Radisson Blu Plaza
· Master Chef North Indian Cuisine: Chef Mohd. Rabbi Khan, The Ashok
· Master Chef South/East/West Indian Cuisine: Chef Maqrub Alam, The Ashok
· Master Chef Indian Sweets: Chef Ravindra Raut, The Westin Gurugram
· Master Chef Kebabs: Darshan Rawat, India Habitat Centre
· Master Chef International Cuisine: Chef Deepak Bisht, Le Méridien
· Master Chef Baker: Chef Sajid, Lemon Tree Aerocity
· Master Chef Butcher: Chef Vikas Kumar, Radisson Gurugram Udyog Vihar
· Student Chef of the Year – Male: Chef Suhail Khan, BCIHMCT
· Student Chef of the Year – Female: Chef Nandini Gupta, BCIHMCT
The awards were presented in the presence of the ICF Awards Presidium, comprising Chef Ritu Dalmia, Ms. Sonali Mitra, Mr. Vikrant Batra, Chef Sanjeev Ghatak, Chef Ajay Chopra and Ms. Smriti Nambiar.
****
