The Grand Finale of the “Taste of Chicken – Savour the Flavor of American Chicken, Unleash Your Culinary Talent” competition, organized by the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) on August 2, offered students a valuable opportunity to explore and learn about international culinary cultures.
At the beginning of the program, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quyet Thang – Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management – shared his message of encouragement with the contestants: "Through this competition, I believe you will gain valuable knowledge, enhance your skills, and build a solid foundation for your future career."
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quyet Thang expresses his belief that students will gain valuable and exciting knowledge
The atmosphere in the auditorium became even more vibrant with an interactive sharing session from Ms. Quynh Nguyen – Representative of USAPEEC. In her remarks, she highlighted USAPEEC’s collaboration with the “We Are One” Club as a key factor contributing to the success of the program. She also revealed the competition’s high-profile judging panel, featuring Chef Le Xuan Tam and Chef Ho Tran Nhat Linh – both culinary advisors of USAPEEC.
Ms. Quynh Nguyen interacts with students during the competition
At this year’s competition, Chef Le Xuan Tam not only served as a judge but also inspired contestants by sharing valuable culinary experiences. During his live cooking demonstration, he introduced two eye-catching and flavorful dishes: a German-style taco and American-style grilled chicken.
Although the dishes originated from different culinary traditions, under the skillful hands of Chef Le Xuan Tam, they were creatively reinterpreted with a refined fusion of Western flavors and the distinct essence of Vietnamese cuisine — leaving students in awe. Through his cooking demonstration, he also shared heartfelt messages, encouraging and motivating students on their journey toward a promising future.
Chef Le Xuan Tam demonstrates his cooking skills and shares valuable experiences with the contestants
Following Chef Le Xuan Tam’s presentation, the competition officially kicked off in an energetic and enthusiastic atmosphere as students began showcasing their preparations. The contest featured 10 teams, each consisting of two members, with a 60-minute time limit for cooking. The mandatory main ingredient for all dishes was turkey.
Throughout the competition, contestants demonstrated proficiency in every cooking technique while showing strong teamwork and coordination. After the time limit ended, each team presented their finished dishes and delivered a brief presentation explaining the concept behind their creations.
Contestants enthusiastically compete, showcasing proficiency in every step of the cooking process
Each dish reflected unique creativity, blending the main ingredient — turkey — with diverse culinary cultural elements to create impressive and personalized culinary works. Following the presentations, the judging panel provided direct feedback on each dish, evaluating aspects such as flavor, texture, ingredient handling, and presentation. Their comments were not only technically insightful but also heartfelt and encouraging, offering contestants valuable lessons to improve and grow on their culinary journey.
Teams take turns presenting their dishes and receiving feedback from the professional judging panel
The competition helped sharpen professional skills and ignited the passion within each student
The “Taste of Chicken – Savour the Flavor of American Chicken, Unleash Your Culinary Talent” competition concluded with a truly meaningful journey of experience, where each student had the chance to challenge themselves, sharpen their professional skills, and ignite their passion for the field they are pursuing. The program stands as a vivid testament to the dedication and efforts of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management in creating a practice-oriented learning environment — one that equips students with the confidence, solid knowledge, and ambition to step boldly into the world and reach new heights.
News by: Hung Son - Anh Hao
Photos by: Quoc Dat - Nguyen Huy
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