Tshering Zangmo, a fourth-semester student of Royal Institute for Tourism and Hospitality in Thimphu represented Bhutan at the fifth Young Chef Olympiad in India.

London-based International Hospitality Council in association with International Institute of Hotel Management, started the Young Chef Olympiad in 2015 to give young student chefs from around the world a platform to showcase their skills and to compete at the global level.

Tshering Zangmo said that she was fortunate to be at the Olympiad. “This opportunity is a stepping stone to my career.”

Her mentor, Tshewang Rinzin, who trained her in Bhutan, said that participants from more than 50 countries were taking part and it was important for Bhutan to participate in such international events.

Tshering Zangmo made it until round two. The first round was for French main dish and French dessert. The second round was showcasing one’s own creativity food.

Meeting with people from different countries and learning about food cultures was new to Tshering Zangmo. “It made me feel good about myself and boosted my confidence.”

She said that funding her participation was a challenge for the institute. Bhutan Development Bank and some individuals sponsored the team from Bhutan this year.

Dechen Tshomo