The MENA Food Expo in Benghazi recently hosted an international cooking competition featuring teams from Libya and Sudan. The event aimed to highlight participants' culinary skills and encourage the exchange of expertise in cooking and kitchen management. This competition is part of a larger effort to promote culinary excellence and innovation in the region. The expo provides a platform for chefs to showcase their skills and learn from one another.
Awad Mohammed, executive director of the International Union of Arab Chefs, emphasized the importance of the competition in helping chefs reach a professional level and acquire new career skills. He noted that the competition focuses not only on culinary skills but also on food safety and promoting healthy dietary habits. According to Mohammed, chefs play a key role in spreading these messages to the community. The competition seeks to develop the skills of participants and promote the exchange of experiences.
The competition involves a series of challenges, with teams presenting a main course, dessert, and appetizer as part of the preliminary rounds. Chef Mahmoud Al-Najjar explained that competitors aim to showcase their skills and their ability to organize preparation and presentation stages. The final stage will feature teams from Libya, Sudan, Egypt, and Morocco, each striving to present their best and highlight their national culinary identity.
A panel of judges, including chefs Awad Mohammed, Mohasen, and Mustafa Al-Alam, evaluates entries based on several criteria. These criteria include presentation, food quality, cleanliness of the work area, personal hygiene, and adherence to preparation and serving standards. The judges play a crucial role in ensuring that the competition is fair and that the best teams are recognized.
The MENA Food Expo attracts specialists in food, cooking, and related industries, creating an environment for competition and knowledge exchange. Participants have the opportunity to learn about new cooking and kitchen management methods, which can help them improve their skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends. The event also provides a platform for networking and collaboration.
Organizers of the event emphasize the importance of developing local talent in the culinary sector and connecting academic training with hands-on practice. This helps raise performance levels, improves the skills of those working in kitchens and specialized institutions, and promotes the exchange of experiences and enhanced cooperation among participants from Libya and other Arab countries. The competition is an important step towards achieving these goals.
The cooking competition at the MENA Food Expo is a significant event that promotes culinary excellence and innovation in the region. The event provides a platform for chefs to showcase their skills, learn from one another, and network with industry professionals. The competition also highlights the importance of food safety, healthy dietary habits, and kitchen management in the culinary industry.
Key points
- The MENA Food Expo features an international cooking competition with teams from Libya, Sudan, Egypt, and Morocco.
- The competition focuses on culinary skills, food safety, and promoting healthy dietary habits.
- The event provides a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and collaboration among industry professionals.
