Page 13 - Berita Sunway - Issue 68

By Anis Shakirah Mohd Muslimin
Savouring Success

Sweet

Four Sunway University students win gold and silver at
the 25th IKA/Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart, Germany

Sunway University has become a household name when it comes to international success.
The university has built a reputation for nurturing fledgling and established talents, boasting IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
an impressive roster including award-winning Chef Patrick Siau, head chef and practice
professor at the School of Hospitality and athletes from the 2020 SEA Games in the Philippines.
Most recently, four of its students won gold in the “Restaurant of the Nations” category and
silver in the “IKA Buffet” category at the 25th IKA/Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart, Germany.
This was Malaysia’s first gold in 32 years.

oung chefs Alicia Tay Xin Jie, Tsen 24 countries, four of which were from is an opportunity to learn about different
Jun Yan, Pang Jin Yong and Amanda Asia: South Korea, Hong Kong, China and cultures around the world through culinary
Y Cheah Pui Mun, alongside their Malaysia. So far, the national senior team and food.

team manager Chef Soon Pau Voon, knew has participated in the 1988, 2004 and The lure of an entrepreneurial career in
they were entering uncharted territory 2012 competitions. This is the first time culinary motivates Jun Yan to take a leap
when they decided to incorporate local Malaysia was represented by both senior of faith in culinary. “Culinary programmes
flavours into their entry dish at the 25th and junior teams. are more skill-based, which suits my
IKA/Culinary Olympics in Stuttgart, preference of learning,” he said. “At the
Germany. It was a move that earned the THE ROAD TO SUCCESS same time, I can learn about managing
disapproval of many local chefs.
Dedication, ruthlessness and perseverance a restaurant, and perhaps, run my own
“That was his (Chef Soon’s) game plan – are just some of the adjectives to describe business in the future.”

to go all out with our Malaysian flavours, the team, who started training for the For Amanda Cheah, pursuing culinary
or nothing at all,” said Cheah.
Olympics in December last year. Training an means transforming her hobby into a real
It was a bet that paid off handsomely – average 10-14 hours a day, six days a week, life career. “I always knew that cooking BERITA SUNWAY | APR—JUN 2020
earning the junior chefs, who formed the it was no walk in the park for the team, as was my passion. Choosing culinary arts
Malaysia Junior (Youth) Culinary team, time constraints and classes posed some as a course to study means I can pursue a
both gold and silver medals at the global serious challenges for them. Some of the professional career in the culinary world,”
culinary stage. The team also ranked sixth young chefs had to defer their studies to she said.
overall in the world at the competition. commit full time for training sessions.

Besides their SUNWAY UNIVERSITY –
hard work, the THE SILICON VALLEY FOR
young chefs also CULINARY IN MALAYSIA?
attributed their
success to the
support given by With its state of the art culinary facilities,
multiple groups Sunway University provides these young
which include chefs an excellent platform to excel in
the Ministry of their education. The thriving and growing
Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism, Arts ecosystem offered in Sunway City Kuala
For IKA Buffet, the team had four hours to and Culture, the Professional Culinaire Lumpur via its hotels and well-known
prepare a 12-pax meal consisting of four Association, Sunway University, fellow award winning chef mentors, also provide
types of finger foods, a festive seafood platter mentors, their senior and alumni Queeny these budding chefs the proper resources
with three garnishes and three sauces, a Cheong, and industry partners. needed to succeed.
hot main course of rabbit and a dessert
combining warm and cold elements. CULINARY AS A CAREER The team’s mentors include Chef Soon,
Chef Lee Han Ying, Chef Chong Wei Tzeh
In Restaurant of Nations, they were and Chef Patrick Siau. Chef Chong credits
required to prepare a three-course meal Despite the appeal and rising demand of the unconditional support from Sunway
featuring a warm seafood appetiser, a hot tech or science-based courses, the decision University as an important factor which
main course and a dessert made both hot to pursue culinary as a major – and most helped Sunway University’s School of
and cold for a pack of 60 under five hours. likely a career – stems from more personal Hospitality achieve its recent successes
reasons for all four budding chefs.
One of the oldest and most prestigious on the world stage – besides the relentless
culinary competitions in the world, the “My mum is my inspiration. When I was team work among members.

IKA/Culinary Olympics is held every four little, I always helped her in the kitchen – The future of culinary in Malaysia, like
years, organised by the German Chefs which sparked my passion and interest in many other industries, said Chef Patrick,
Association, with the first competition cooking,” said Tay. “The culinary industry is heading towards a greener future –
taking place in the 1900s. gives me a chance to explore both my sustainability. “It is an important note
scientific and artistic sides.” 13
The team participated under the Junior to minimising food waste in any food
National Team category, competing against The more adventurous Jin Yong said this production,” he said.

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