KUCHING: Four Sarawakian chefs will represent the state at the 22nd Khadhya Khurak 2025, taking place from Dec 15 to 18 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
Khadhya Khurak is one of India’s largest food exhibitions, with its Super Chef Competition as the main highlight, broadcast across India to a wide audience.
Leading the delegation is Chef Julian Lai Leonard Henry of Little Hainan Restaurant, who will receive the King Chef Award for excellence and leadership and serve as a judge for the exhibition’s Super Chef Competition.
Joining him are Chef Robbie Richard Balcarek of Little Fairy Cafe, Chef Lana Akam of Fairy Tavern, and Chef Annie Wee of Annie Kolo Mee.
In a statement by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) issued yesterday (Dec 14), the three chefs have been selected as Star Participants in the Super Chef Competition 2025, Season 5, competing in the Non-Fire Cooking Category, with their segment broadcast live across India.
“At the competition, the chefs will showcase local Sarawak and Borneo ingredients such as dabai (local black olive), bunga kantan (torch ginger), rambutan, tepus (wild ginger), bambangan (wild mango), durian flower, roselle flower and Sabah avocado.
“Through their dishes, they aim to share Sarawak’s natural produce, culture, and unique flavours with an international audience,” it said.
The send-off ceremony was attended by MBKS mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, together with Councillor Isaac Lee, Councillor Wilfred Mujah, Councillor Thomas Sim and Councillor Andy Tan, showing the council’s strong support for Sarawak’s culinary talents.
During the ceremony, Wee handed over the Sarawak flag to Lai, as the Sarawak delegation head, symbolising trust, pride, and the responsibility of representing Sarawak on the international stage.
Wee said the chefs are not only competing but also telling the story of Sarawak through food.
“Their participation supports Kuching’s position as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and helps promote Sarawak as a food tourism destination,” he said.
Wee also thanked the Malaysian Bersatu Culinary Sarawak Association (MBCSA) for its role in supporting and developing Sarawak’s culinary community.
As the chefs depart for India, he expressed his full confidence in their skills and creativity, and wished them every success in representing Sarawak at Khadhya Khurak 2025 and in showcasing Sarawak’s flavours to the world.
