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The theme of the conclave was Roots to Robots – The Evolution of Culinary Craft
The 6th Anniversary & Culinary Conclave 2025, hosted by the Telangana Chefs Association (TCA), was inaugurated by Chef Manjit Singh Gill, President, Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) at The Park, Hyderabad. The landmark event, themed Roots to Robots – The Evolution of Culinary Craft, brought together a vibrant confluence of India’s top chefs, global dignitaries, academicians, industry partners, and passionate culinary students.
Guests of Honor Chef Vijayabaskaran, General Secretary, IFCA; Chef MS Gupta, Treasurer, IFCA Presidium; Chef Sudhir Sibal, Board Member, IFCA Presidium; Chef Dharmendra Lamba, President, Telangana Chefs Association (TCA); Chef Vimal Dhar, President, Royal Rajasthan Chefs Association; Chef Nimish Bhatia, Indian Cuisine Custodian; Kamal Krishnan, Strategic Marketer and Brand Leader and Maud Miquau, Director Alliance Francaise; graced the occasion.
A panel discussion on AI – Ruin or Rule the Kitchen? sparked engaging conversations on the balance between embracing cutting-edge technology like AI and robotics, while preserving the deep-rooted culinary wisdom of the past. The conclave also served as a key platform for showcasing emerging talent from Hotel Management and Culinary Arts institutions across Telangana, particularly spotlighting students from Tier-II cities.
Reinforcing its commitment to nurturing the next generation of chefs, TCA conducted the Telangana Culinary League 2.0 across the state. The competition gave aspiring chefs a platform to showcase their creativity and skill. Regency College of Culinary Arts and Hotel Management emerged as the champion, earning accolades for innovation and excellence.
The conclave featured a lineup of keynote sessions including Future Kitchens by Chef Nimish Bhatia; Rise of Regional Cuisine by Chef Mandaar; Beyond Biryani by Begum Fatima Shahanaaz; Food from Telangana Homes by Radamma; Social Media & Chef Branding by Chef Jerson Fernandez; Chef Wellness & Mindfulness by Jiteesh Mogli.
TCA felicitated the Youngistan Organization and Regency College for the impactful life skills training programmes conducted for children in government safe homes. The initiative focussed on culinary empowerment and was hailed as a shining example of social responsibility within the hospitality industry.
Leading industry exhibitors including Monin, Goldee, Chefmate, Damati Foods, Spreaders, GHA, Excellent, Agromach, and others showcased innovative products and services. A standout moment was the live culinary performance by Chef Sanjeev Kumar Patra, drawing keen interest from both students and professionals.