BKCC Season 7 launches with a mission to champion India’s culinary heritage and tourism
The Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge (BKCC) Season 7 commenced its journey from the holy city of Varanasi in the presence of eminent dignitaries, hospitality leaders, and aspiring chefs. The Event is organised by Better Kitchen Magazine, BKCC is India’s largest culinary competition for hotel management students, aimed at bridging the gap between education and industry by nurturing future hospitality leaders.
The platform equips students with professional skills, inspires creativity and innovation, and provides international opportunities including paid internships and higher studies in hospitality abroad.
Nurturing Future Hospitality Leaders
Addressing the gathering, Ekkta Bhargava, Publisher of Better Kitchen, emphasized that the initiative’s mission is to prepare students for future challenges and promote Indian regional food at a global level while preserving its originality and flavour.
She further highlighted that Season 7 continues with the theme “Flavours of India”, a consistent focus since its inception, designed to showcase and safeguard India’s rich culinary heritage, encourage the younger generation to explore healthy regional cuisines, and promote culinary tourism across the country.
Scholarships, Cash Prizes & Global Exposure for Participants
BKCC Season 7 is being held across 19 cities in India along with three concurrent competitions – Better Kitchen Bakery Champion, Better Kitchen F&B Young Masters Challenge, and Enzo Housekeeping Olympiad – culminating in a grand national finale in Mumbai. Participants across all four competitions are eligible for a USD 500 WCE Scholarship under the Bridge USA J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for a 12-month period or for higher studies in Europe in hospitality programs. The national winners will also receive cash prizes of ₹51,000, ₹21,000, and ₹11,000, while their institutes will be honoured with rewards of ₹25,000, ₹10,000, and ₹5,000 respectively as recognition for mentoring and supporting young talent.
Esteemed Jury & Partners Strengthening the Initiative
The esteemed jury for the Varanasi round included Chef Ravikant Pathak, Chef Vivek Kadam, Chef Chandan Singh, and Chef Shiviam Dixit, while the event was graced by the presence of Tushar Paimode, Territory Manager, Bharatgas; Samarth Gupta, Senior Manager, Bharatgas; Anil Kumar Singh, Tourist Information Officer, Ministry of Tourism; and officials from Everest. The initiative received strong backing from its partners, with Everest as the Title Partner, Incredible India – Ministry of Tourism, Government of India as Support Partner, Bharatgas as Energy Partner, Wisdom Career Education (WCE) as International Placement & Study Abroad Partner, and MYMENU365, an initiative of Aruna Sharma, IAS, as Trophy Partner.
Recognising Young Culinary Talent from Varanasi
The Varanasi round concluded on a high note with winners announced across the competitions, marking another milestone in celebrating young culinary talent and shaping the future of India’s hospitality industry. The first position was secured by Team Everest Shahi Paneer Masala represented by Vaishali Tripathi and Shipra Verma, the second position went to Everest Sabzi Masala represented by Sakshi Gupta and Ashish Srivastava, while the third position was awarded to Everest Royal Gram Masala represented by Manasi Singh and Manish Kumar.
Summing Up!
As BKCC Season 7 continues its nationwide journey, the competition stands as a testament to India’s evolving culinary excellence, ensuring that the flavours of the country continue to shine brightly on the global stage.
