A feast for the eyes and tastebuds
The 17th battle of the chefs, ‘Culinary Art Food Expo 2017’ organised by the Chefs Guild of Lanka affiliated to the World Association of Chefs’ 
Societies (WACS), supported by professional exhibition organizers, CDC Events & Travels Pvt.Ltd, was inaugurated by President Maithripala Sirisena on July 28 at the BMICH.The main event featured 1700 chefs around the country from 165 hotels demonstrating their culinary skills and competing for 34 coveted trophies including most outstanding chef, most outstanding apprentice, and most outstanding culinary and hotel team. The chefs were put to the test for three days (28th-30th) of competition and judged by an international panel.
The competition consisted of static displays of plated appetizers, 5 course set dinner menu, petit fours, pralines and desserts along with wedding cake structures, butter sculptures and artistic showpieces of pastry, salt dough, and chocolate created under various thematic concepts.
The Practical- Live competition category showcased contemporary Sri Lankan cuisine, hot cooking, dress the cake, fruit and vegetable carvings and individual ice carvings.
The upcoming young chefs demonstrated their culinary skills, creating mouthwatering dishes in apprentice hot cooking live, apprentice dessert live and Dilmah always tea time competition under the category of Apprentice- Live. Beverage Challenge- Live featured Nescafe creative coffee, Scan Sunquick mocktail competition along with I.D.L and Lion Beer cocktail competitions.
The event was followed by a trade exhibition on hospitality, food and beverage sectors where attendees were provided with business opportunities, networking and knowledge sharing.
The award ceremony took place on the 31st where the culinary skills of chefs were assessed and awarded by the judges from the World Association of Chefs’ Societies.
Cooking up their best: Some of the dishes and sculptures in chocolate and butter. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi