The Future Chef Contest 2024: “Necessary conditions” for the Development of the young generation of Vietnamese Chefs

Over the past 12 years, from a student project to a prestigious national competition, The Future Chef Contest has become an annual platform attracting more than 10,000 young culinary enthusiasts. With the theme “Journey to Depict Passion”, the Future Chef Contest 2024 continues to affirm its position as a launching pad for new talents, young but determined to pursue a professional path.

The Journey to Depict Passion

Winning is not the only destination. What The Future Chef Contest 2024 (TFCC 2024) truly aims for is growth and maturity, where contestants learn from judges, peers, and every training session to discover their own limits and potential. That is why the 12th season embraces the theme “Journey to Depict Passion”.

Organized by the Faculty of Hospitality students of Hoa Sen University, the contest served as an ideal development path for young people taking their first steps into the culinary world. Each contestant showcased their talent across three intense rounds, interspersed with workshops and training sessions focused on creating delicious, unique dishes:

PRELIMINARY ROUND: THE AWAKENING JOURNEY – FLAVORS OF NOSTALGIA

Flavors of childhood and cherished family meals inspired each contestant, allowing them to craft a culinary style that truly reflects their individuality.

SEMI-FINAL ROUND: THE CONQUERING JOURNEY – IGNITE THE POWER WITHIN

Young people stepped beyond their comfort zone, tackled greater challenges, and learned directly from professional chefs.

FINAL ROUND: THE SELF-AFFIRMATION JOURNEY – EMBRACING UNIQUE IDENTITY

More than a competition, this marked a moment where contestants proved their growth with every dish, illustrating passion and leaving a personal imprint on their culinary journey.

After a challenging journey under the supervision of esteemed judges from the professional chef association, including Ms. Bui Thi Suong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Culinary Conservation, Research and Development Centre; Chef Pham Son Vuong, Chairman of the Saigon Professional Chefs Guild, Chef Cam Thiên Long, Brand Ambassador of Mega Market, …, the top three of the season were announced:

• Champion: Mr. Le Vu Luan
• First Runner-up: Mr. Nguyen Duy Thao
• Second Runner-up: Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dat

The Future Chef Contest 2024: “Necessary conditions” for the development

As the culinary profession reaches higher standards of professionalism, real-world experience is key to nurturing the next generation of chefs. Therefore, TFCC 2024 has responded to that need by creating a platform for learning, innovation, and creative expression.

Though it may not rival the scale of world-class culinary competitions, after 12 seasons and a Guinness Vietnam record in 2022, The Future Chef Contest remains a platform that challenges young talent, sharpens skills, and fuels professional growth. A major change this year’s season is the merging of the Young Chef and Student divisions, making the competition more dynamic and giving participants a more realistic experience.

An unforgettable journey

TFCC 2024 may have concluded, but its impact continues to resonate with every contestant, judge, and organizer. It was not only a place to cook, but also a place to connect, where young individuals met peers from across the country, discovered their unique flavors, learned from every challenge, and experienced what it truly meant to grow into the profession beneath the chef’s hat and apron.

The success of the 2024 season would not have been possible without the organizing team, the dedicated students of the Faculty of Hospitality at Hoa Sen University. Despite it being their first time organizing, they rose to the challenge, from seeking contestants and sponsors to designing an entirely new competition format. Moreover, this year’s success marks another milestone in the contest’s 12-year mission of igniting culinary passion in young people.

Though the competition has concluded, the journey of growth for these young chefs is just beginning. May TFCC keep inspiring and nurturing the next generations of Vietnamese chefs for years to come. Let’s look back at the unforgettable dishes from the final night!

Created: Tan Tai – Hoai Thuong

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