Second National Culinary Challenge to Be Held in Jhapa
Kathmandu, May 7: The second National Culinary Challenge 2026 is set to be held in Jhapa with the aim of preserving the originality, diversity and cultural identity of Nepali cuisine and promoting it internationally.
Organisers announced at a press conference on Thursday that the competition will take place on May 15 and 16 at Pathibhara Culinary Arts College in Jhapa. The event is being jointly organised by the International Nepali Chef Society and the Nepal Chef Society.
Speaking at the programme held at the Nepal Tourism Board hall, Arun Adhikari, central president of the International Nepali Chef Society, said the competition would help connect Nepali cuisine with professionalism, innovation and international competitiveness.
According to him, the event will focus on the discovery, research, preservation and promotion of traditional and indigenous dishes from all seven provinces of Nepal.
“Our aim is to inspire the new generation of chefs towards creativity and innovation by presenting endangered and traditional dishes from different geographical regions on a single platform,” Adhikari said.
The programme will feature an open culinary competition, various food contests and a food festival. More than 50 stalls offering local and international dishes will be set up during the event, organisers said.
Experienced chefs from over 10 countries will participate as judges in the competition. Organisers believe their involvement will provide Nepali chefs with opportunities for international-level evaluation, guidance and experience sharing.
Speaking at the programme, a senior manager of the Nepal Tourism Board said chefs are contributing significantly to tourism promotion and local development. He said expanding culinary arts activities outside Kathmandu would help promote local tourism, production and culture.
A three-member team has been made mandatory for participation in the competition. Participating teams must confirm their participation by depositing the registration fee into the society’s official account.
The winning team will receive a cash prize of Rs 100,000, while the second and third-place teams will receive Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.
Organisers said the event is expected to contribute to the development of the culinary sector, tourism promotion, marketing of local products, job creation and cultural preservation.
