Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge 2024 awards culinary excellence

The 2024 Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge concluded with a prestigious award ceremony and business gathering at Crossroads, Maldives. The three-day event celebrated the best in Maldivian and international hospitality, featuring captivating exhibits at Dharubaaruge, Malé, fiercely contested culinary challenges held at Maldives National University, and culminating in a glittering award ceremony.

The winners of the main awards are:

• Best Culinary Establishment – “Alan Palmer Challenge Trophy”: Velassaru Maldives
• Most Outstanding Chef: Barun Kumar Singh, Lux South Ari Atoll
• Most Outstanding Pastry Chef: Kasun Madhushanka R. Gamaralalage, Huvafen Fushi Maldives
• Top Maldivian Chef – “BBM Chairman’s Trophy”: Ismail Thahseen
• Best Artist: Sisira Kumara, Reethi Beach Resort
• Most Promising Young Maldivian Chef: Fathmath Zumya, Maldives National University

The event provided a platform for industry professionals to showcase their skills, gain exposure, and connect with other professionals in the hospitality industry. With its focus on culinary excellence and business networking, the Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge is a key event for the Maldivian tourism industry.

The Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge is a yearly event that is endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies. The event is an important part of the Maldivian tourism industry, and it helps to promote the country’s culinary heritage to the world.

Winners from class categories are follows. 

Decorated Cake        

• Winner Thilini Anuruddhika Vithanage Reethi Faru Faru
• 2nd Place Kasun Madhushanka Ranawansha Gamaralalage  Huvafen Fushi Maldives
• 3rd Place Mannage Don Madushanka      Oblu Xperence Ailafushi & Oblu Select Lobigili

Fruit & Vegetable Carving         

• Winner Sisira Kumara Reethi Beach Resort
• 2nd Place Nuwan Priya     Furaveri Island Resort & Spa
• 3rd Place A. Ashan Chamika Ishra         Canareef resort

Artistic Showpiece       

• Winner J.I. Priyankara Bandos Maldives
• 2nd Place Sisira Kumara   Reethi Beach Resort
• 3rd Place Nihal Wickramasighe  Coco Boduhithi

Bread & Pastry Display

• Winner Kawsar Miah Seaside Finolhu
• 2nd Place Omkar Panduranga Kanjalekar               Dhigali Maldives
• 3rd Place Liyana Arachchige Nirash Anuja Jayarathna              Kurumba Maldives

Desserts (Display)        

• Winner Neelima Lama Dhigali Maldives
• 2nd Place M. Madushika Upananda        Reethi Faru  Faru
• 3rd Place G.S. Nilanga Guruge               Amaya Kudarah

Hot Cooking – Fish fillet            

• Winner Anbarasan Varadharaj Kurumba Maldives
• 2nd Place Barun Kumar Singh       Lux South Ari Atoll
• 3rd Place Yash Bhushan Mistry    Lux South Ari Atoll

Hot Cooking – Beef      

• Winner Yomal Asanga Rodrigo Como Maalifushi
• 2nd Place Yash Bhushan Mistry    Lux South Ari Atoll
• 3rd Place Subeesh Chundaran     Velassaru Maldives

Hot Cooking – Seafood (A)        

• Winner G. Thulitha Niranjna Waldorf Astoria Maldives
• 2nd Place L.J. Ishara Silva            Canareef resort
• 3rd Place Barun Kumar Singh       Lux South Ari Atoll

Hot Cooking – Seafood (B)       

• Winner Nuwan Tharaka Dananjaya Bandara Tennakoon Tennakoon Mudiyanselage Huvafen Fushi Maldives
• 2nd Place Pritam Adhikari              Sun Siyam Vilu Reef
• 3rd Place Amal Dananjaya Udangamuwe Kulathunga              Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives

Hot Cooking – Poultry 

• Winner Chameera Upul Kumara Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Mercure Maldives Kooddoo
• 2nd Place Ahamed Muaz  Waldorf Astoriya Maldives
• 3rd Place ISURA UDAYANGA MESTIYAGE DON     SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton

Hot Cooking – Lamb    

• Winner Sumith Sanjaya Jayathissa Soneva Fushi
• 2nd Place Nuwan Taranga Eakanayaka     Lily Beach Resort & Spa
• 3rd Place Subeesh Chundaran     Velassaru Maldives

Desserts          

• Winner Kasun Madhushanka Ranawansha Gamaralalage Huvafen Fushi Maldives
• 2nd Place Juliana Azmi     Velassaru Maldives
• 3rd Place Ali Samaau Saeed         Four Season At Maldives Kuda Huraa

Vegetarian Dish             

• Winner Amila Sampath Gamage Velassaru Maldives
• 2nd Place A.Ayu Sinta Jumianti               Joali Maldives
• 3rd Place ISURA UDAYANGA MESTIYAGE DON     SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton

Asian Noodles

• Winner Amila Sampath Gamage Velassaru Maldives
• 2nd Place Bharat Kumar   Ozen Life Maadhoo By Atmosphere
• 3rd Place Deepak Thapa  Oblu Select Sangeli

Team Challenge         

• Winner Sanjeewa Ranasingha & Juliana – Velassaru Maldives
• 2nd Place G. Thulitha Niranjna & Ahmed Muaz – Waldorf Astoriya Maldives
• 3rd Place Harshana & Olivier Patrick Huliselan – Oblu Xperence Ailafushi & Oblu Select Lobigili

Maldivian Dish

• Winner Pradeep Pathirana Ayada Maldives
• 2nd Place M. Rony          Oblu Select Sangeli
• 3rd Place Ismail Thahseen

Creative Salad

• Winner Rabuil Miah Velassaru Maldives
• 2nd Place Robel Miah        Velassaru Maldives
• 3rd Place Thilina Fonseka              Seaside Finolhu

Perfect Steak & Omelets     

• Winner Subeesh Chundaran Velassaru Maldives
• 2nd Place Harish Joshi      Ozen Reserve Bolifushi
• 3rd Place Md Usman Mia Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort

Young Chef      

• Winner Vishwa Malshan Seaside Finolhu
• 2nd Place Dasun Lakmal Coco Boduhithi
• 3rd Place Fathmath Zumya           The Maldives National University ( Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Studies)

Tea Challenge 

• Winner Meghna Dey Reethi Beach Resort
• 2nd Place I Putu Priska Pramana Putra     Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island
• 3rd Place Puran Chalise   Sun Siyam Vilu Reef

Iced Mocktail  

• Winner I Gede Adi Mas Permana Summer Island Maldives
• 2nd Place Dilshan Jonathan Mark Vandort             One & Only Reethi Rah
• 3rd Place Falih Junio Rahman      Bandos Maldives

Creative Table Set-up  

• Winner Uttar Kumar Bista Bandos Maldives
• 2nd Place Ahmed Areeb   Reethi Beach Resort
• 3rd Place Hassan Sameer             Reethi Beach Resort

Hot Cooking – Lobster 

• Winner Barun Kumar Singh Lux South Ari Atoll
• 2nd Place Subeesh Chundaran     Velassaru Maldives
• 3rd Place Ken Rozario       Four Seasons Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

Creative Beverage        

• Winner Pradeep Kumara Mahalekam Mercure Maldives Kooddoo
• 2nd Place Arachchi Dewayalage Iresh Tharanga Mayadunna       Bandos Maldives
• 3rd Place Dilshan Dhananjaya     JEN Maldives

Low Waste Category    

• Winner Ismail Thahseen
• 2nd Place Barun Kumar Singh       Lux South Ari Atoll
• 3rd Place Sunny Kumar    Ozen Life Maadhoo By Atmosphere