This year, Tajikistan's celebration of school culinary art once again brought together cooks from across the country to compete in creating nutritious and delicious school meals. The Best School Cook 2024 competition wasn’t just an event — it became a movement dedicated to transforming school feeding into an inspiring and flavorful experience for every child. Let’s take a closer look at this remarkable journey, from the first application to the triumphant final.
Care for the future on each plate
The competition is part of the School Feeding Programme in Tajikistan, implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with support from the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI). This Programme aims to improve the quality of school meals, ensuring children receive not only tasty and nutritious food but also the energy needed for learning and growth.
Why is this so important? School lunches are often the primary meal of the day for many children, especially in rural areas. The quality of these meals directly impacts their health, academic performance, and overall well-being.
The start of the competition: making a mark
In early summer 2024, WFP and SIFI, in collaboration with Tajikistan’s Ministries of Education and Health, announced the launch of the annual competition. The goal was clear: to raise awareness of the importance of high-quality school meals, improve their nutritional value, and support the professional development of school kitchen staff.
58 cooks from across the country were busy submitting their applications from July 1 to September 15. Among them were seasoned culinary experts and newcomers eager to prove themselves. The selection process went beyond technical skills, delving into the participants’ motivations expressed through essays or videos with the theme “Why I Became a School Cook.” The heartfelt stories ranged from personal missions to feed children better to finding a life’s calling in the kitchen.
The semifinals: demonstrating mastery on-site
In October, the shortlisted participants advanced to regional competitions held in school canteens across five regions: GBAO, Sughd, Khatlon (Bokhtar and Kulob districts), and the Districts of Republican Subordination (DRS).
Each participant was tasked with preparing a school meal consisting of soup, a main course, salad, drink, and pastries. The recipes were drawn from the School Meals Recipe Book developed by SIFI and WFP as part of the School Feeding Programme.
The jury, comprised of representatives from the Ministries of Education and Health and experts from SIFI and WFP, evaluated cooking techniques, adherence to sanitation standards, and, of course, the taste of the dishes.
Mistakes? Certainly. Some cooks added too much garlic to a salad, while others slightly undercooked mung beans. However, what stood out most was the determination of every participant — a shared commitment to learning and gaining more experience.
The best of the best made it to the finals:
Finals: emotions and skills
On November 7, 2024, School No. 19 in Dushanbe welcomed five exceptional finalists for the grand finale of the Best School Cook competition. The event began with an inspiring speech from Dilorom Karimova, the 2023 winner, who shared her journey and offered words of encouragement to this year’s contenders:
"The secret to success is putting your heart into your work. Your sincerity and effort are the keys to winning over any taster."
With these motivating words, the competition finals officially kicked off. The finalists presented their signature dishes, each crafted to meet stringent criteria: the use of local ingredients, nutritional value, adherence to a limited budget, and creative presentation. Not only did they impress the judges and audience with the taste of the dishes, but also with their original presentation.
The challenges didn’t end there. Each finalist had to complement their signature dish with additional courses — soups, salads, and hot entrees — selected from the School Meals Recipe Book. All of this had to be prepared, plated, and presented within just 90 minutes.
A masterclass to remember
Adding an extra layer of excitement, the event featured a masterclass led by the popular chef and blogger Shokhin Murodov. Teaming up with Dilorom Karimova, he demonstrated how to create healthy vegetable-based snacks and revealed the secrets to making perfectly balanced pomegranate juice. Guests and participants eagerly watched this dynamic team in action, taking notes, asking questions, and gaining new insights into healthy and nutritious school meal preparation.
A well-deserved victory
The title of Best School Cook 2024 was awarded to Zulfiya Alieva from Khatlon Region. Her creamy pumpkin and carrot purée, garnished with roasted pumpkin seeds, impressed the judges most of all. Baargul Tamashaeva from GBAO came second for her hearty pumpkin and meat soup, while Sarvinoz Pirova from the Bokhtar District, whose homemade potato-filled dumplings were a delightful culinary surprise, claimed the third place. Dilorom Juraeva and Zulaykho Makhmadieva rounded out the top five.
Each finalist received valuable prizes, medals, certificates, and a trophy recognizing their contribution to improving school meals. Beyond the accolades, they gained the support of their colleagues, inspiration, and a renewed passion for their work.
Why this competition matters
Over the years, the Best School Cook competition has evolved into more than just a contest. It has become a platform for skill-building, knowledge-sharing, and, above all, inspiring school cooks for professional growth. Behind every dish lies a heartfelt mission to improve children’s lives, making this initiative an investment in the health and future of the nation.
The Best School Cook competition has become a tradition that continues to grow, uniting more and more talented cooks every year.
Care for the future on each plate
The competition is part of the School Feeding Programme in Tajikistan, implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) with support from the Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute (SIFI). This Programme aims to improve the quality of school meals, ensuring children receive not only tasty and nutritious food but also the energy needed for learning and growth.
Why is this so important? School lunches are often the primary meal of the day for many children, especially in rural areas. The quality of these meals directly impacts their health, academic performance, and overall well-being.
The start of the competition: making a mark
In early summer 2024, WFP and SIFI, in collaboration with Tajikistan’s Ministries of Education and Health, announced the launch of the annual competition. The goal was clear: to raise awareness of the importance of high-quality school meals, improve their nutritional value, and support the professional development of school kitchen staff.
58 cooks from across the country were busy submitting their applications from July 1 to September 15. Among them were seasoned culinary experts and newcomers eager to prove themselves. The selection process went beyond technical skills, delving into the participants’ motivations expressed through essays or videos with the theme “Why I Became a School Cook.” The heartfelt stories ranged from personal missions to feed children better to finding a life’s calling in the kitchen.
The semifinals: demonstrating mastery on-site
In October, the shortlisted participants advanced to regional competitions held in school canteens across five regions: GBAO, Sughd, Khatlon (Bokhtar and Kulob districts), and the Districts of Republican Subordination (DRS).
Each participant was tasked with preparing a school meal consisting of soup, a main course, salad, drink, and pastries. The recipes were drawn from the School Meals Recipe Book developed by SIFI and WFP as part of the School Feeding Programme.
The jury, comprised of representatives from the Ministries of Education and Health and experts from SIFI and WFP, evaluated cooking techniques, adherence to sanitation standards, and, of course, the taste of the dishes.
Mistakes? Certainly. Some cooks added too much garlic to a salad, while others slightly undercooked mung beans. However, what stood out most was the determination of every participant — a shared commitment to learning and gaining more experience.
The best of the best made it to the finals:
- Sughd Region: Dilorom Juraeva from School No. 49 in Asht District impressed the judges with her dishes’ exquisite flavors and precise presentation.
- Bokhtar District, Khatlon Region: Sarvinoz Pirova from School No. 4 in Nurek wowed the jury with her delicate casserole.
- Kulob District, Khatlon Region: Zulfiya Alieva from School No. 44 in Farkhor excelled with her chicken soup and beetroot salad.
- GBAO: Baargul Tamashaeva from School No. 40 in Shughnon amazed the panel with her original pumpkin soup presentation.
- DRS: Zulaykho Makhmadieva from School No. 23 in Rogun demonstrated her mastery with a creamy noodle soup and perfectly baked buns.
Finals: emotions and skills
On November 7, 2024, School No. 19 in Dushanbe welcomed five exceptional finalists for the grand finale of the Best School Cook competition. The event began with an inspiring speech from Dilorom Karimova, the 2023 winner, who shared her journey and offered words of encouragement to this year’s contenders:
"The secret to success is putting your heart into your work. Your sincerity and effort are the keys to winning over any taster."
With these motivating words, the competition finals officially kicked off. The finalists presented their signature dishes, each crafted to meet stringent criteria: the use of local ingredients, nutritional value, adherence to a limited budget, and creative presentation. Not only did they impress the judges and audience with the taste of the dishes, but also with their original presentation.
The challenges didn’t end there. Each finalist had to complement their signature dish with additional courses — soups, salads, and hot entrees — selected from the School Meals Recipe Book. All of this had to be prepared, plated, and presented within just 90 minutes.
A masterclass to remember
Adding an extra layer of excitement, the event featured a masterclass led by the popular chef and blogger Shokhin Murodov. Teaming up with Dilorom Karimova, he demonstrated how to create healthy vegetable-based snacks and revealed the secrets to making perfectly balanced pomegranate juice. Guests and participants eagerly watched this dynamic team in action, taking notes, asking questions, and gaining new insights into healthy and nutritious school meal preparation.
A well-deserved victory
The title of Best School Cook 2024 was awarded to Zulfiya Alieva from Khatlon Region. Her creamy pumpkin and carrot purée, garnished with roasted pumpkin seeds, impressed the judges most of all. Baargul Tamashaeva from GBAO came second for her hearty pumpkin and meat soup, while Sarvinoz Pirova from the Bokhtar District, whose homemade potato-filled dumplings were a delightful culinary surprise, claimed the third place. Dilorom Juraeva and Zulaykho Makhmadieva rounded out the top five.
Each finalist received valuable prizes, medals, certificates, and a trophy recognizing their contribution to improving school meals. Beyond the accolades, they gained the support of their colleagues, inspiration, and a renewed passion for their work.
Why this competition matters
Over the years, the Best School Cook competition has evolved into more than just a contest. It has become a platform for skill-building, knowledge-sharing, and, above all, inspiring school cooks for professional growth. Behind every dish lies a heartfelt mission to improve children’s lives, making this initiative an investment in the health and future of the nation.
The Best School Cook competition has become a tradition that continues to grow, uniting more and more talented cooks every year.