The qualifying round of the Best School Cook 2024 competition has concluded. How did the participants succeed, and who made it to the finals? Find out in the article.
Now in its third year, the Best School Cook competition in the Kyrgyz Republic continues to gain popularity, evolving into a true culinary talent show. This year, around 200 school cooks applied, with 96 advancing to the qualifying round.
The regional qualifiers took place in schools across Chui, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Talas, Batken, Osh, and Jalal-Abad regions. The Chairman of the Kyrgyz Republic's Association of Chefs, and jury member Shukhrat Sharipov, who acts as the competition consultant, selected the main and side dishes for each region from the “Menu Options and Flowcharts for School Meals in Kyrgyz Schools” cookbook. The recipes were intentionally different from the traditional local dishes, challenging the cooks to try their hand at something new. Each participant was provided with a printed recipe.
So, what were the cooks tasked with preparing in each region?
The cooks had 1.5 hours to prepare their dishes, turning school kitchens into culinary laboratories where mastery and creativity transformed simple ingredients into delicious and nutritious meals.
A panel of professional judges, including a SIFI representative and Shukhrat Sharipov, evaluated the dishes. In Talas and Batken, they were joined by the winners of the previous competition — Anara Bazarkulova and Maria Kurbanova. The jury provided feedback on the cooks' techniques, flavor profiles, and overall execution. Participants had the chance to ask questions, exchange ideas, and learn from each other.
Here are the finalists of the Best School Cook competition:
Lyudmila Stonogina (Novo-Nikolaevka village school, Zhaiyl district, Chui region)
Now in its third year, the Best School Cook competition in the Kyrgyz Republic continues to gain popularity, evolving into a true culinary talent show. This year, around 200 school cooks applied, with 96 advancing to the qualifying round.
The regional qualifiers took place in schools across Chui, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Talas, Batken, Osh, and Jalal-Abad regions. The Chairman of the Kyrgyz Republic's Association of Chefs, and jury member Shukhrat Sharipov, who acts as the competition consultant, selected the main and side dishes for each region from the “Menu Options and Flowcharts for School Meals in Kyrgyz Schools” cookbook. The recipes were intentionally different from the traditional local dishes, challenging the cooks to try their hand at something new. Each participant was provided with a printed recipe.
So, what were the cooks tasked with preparing in each region?
- Mastava with beef and shavlya (Chui region)
- Borscht with cabbage and potatoes, dymdamy with meat (Issyk-Kul region)
- Borscht with beans and potatoes, rice pilaf with meat (Naryn region)
- Pickle soup with pearl barley, potato cutlets (Talas region)
- Potato soup with lentils, pasta with stewed chicken (Batken region)
- Vegetable soup with grains, vegetables stewed with meat (Osh region)
- Ugro soup, syrniki (Jalal-Abad region)
The cooks had 1.5 hours to prepare their dishes, turning school kitchens into culinary laboratories where mastery and creativity transformed simple ingredients into delicious and nutritious meals.
A panel of professional judges, including a SIFI representative and Shukhrat Sharipov, evaluated the dishes. In Talas and Batken, they were joined by the winners of the previous competition — Anara Bazarkulova and Maria Kurbanova. The jury provided feedback on the cooks' techniques, flavor profiles, and overall execution. Participants had the chance to ask questions, exchange ideas, and learn from each other.
Here are the finalists of the Best School Cook competition:
Lyudmila Stonogina (Novo-Nikolaevka village school, Zhaiyl district, Chui region)
Nurzat Omuralieva (Sayakbai Karalaev school No. 6, the town of Balykchy, Issyk-Kul region)
Nazgul Zhunushova (Uson Beisheev secondary school, Ak Kyya Sary village, Bulak rural district, Naryn region)
Minyura Ismailova (Pokrovka village secondary school, Manas district, Talas region)
Nargiza Kichibaeva (Ohna school-gymnasium, Kadamjay district, Batken region)
Farida Khodzhmatova (Kozhobek Kuzembaev secondary school No. 7, Tash-Komur, Jalal-Abad region)
Bagtygul Apseitova (Alaychi uulu Sait Innovative School, Chon-Alay district, Osh region)
After evaluating the dishes in each region, Shukhrat Sharipov conducted masterclasses on creating original, simple, and affordable dishes using local and seasonal ingredients. Participants learned how to make chickpea salad with green peas, corn, and herbs; vegetable risotto; sambusa with green peas and corn; Dungan tomo-mo with dried fruits; bean soup; bean salad; chicken fillet risotto with green peas; pumpkin purée soup with zucchini, and more. Now, the contestants have added new, delicious, and, most importantly, healthy recipes to their cookbooks.
We warmly congratulate the finalists of the competition. The finals will take place in November 2024, when each competitor will vie for the title of Best School Cook. The finalists will face two challenges: a homework assignment to create their own unique recipe for a hot school dish and a live culinary competition, where they’ll have just 20 minutes to prepare a salad and drink using the ingredients provided.
Stay tuned to find out who will be named the Best School Cook 2024.
We warmly congratulate the finalists of the competition. The finals will take place in November 2024, when each competitor will vie for the title of Best School Cook. The finalists will face two challenges: a homework assignment to create their own unique recipe for a hot school dish and a live culinary competition, where they’ll have just 20 minutes to prepare a salad and drink using the ingredients provided.
Stay tuned to find out who will be named the Best School Cook 2024.