HCM CITY — A team of three chefs from Bình Quới 1 Tourist Area defeated 14 rival teams to win the fourth Golden Spoon Contest besides VNĐ1 billion (US$44,150) and a trophy.

Four runners-up - Indochine Palace Hotel Huế, Naman Retreat Resort Đà Nẵng, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, and Nhi Restaurant in Cần Thơ --won VNĐ100 million each for having the most creative, best decorated, most nutritious, and most unique traditional dishes.

The jury consisted of prestigious local and foreign culinary experts and food artisans, including Eckart Witzigmann, who won the award “Chef of the Century” from the Gault Millau guide.

Witzigmann said he was impressed with the contest as well as the Vietnamese chefs’ innovation.

Organised by the Bình Dương-based Minh Long I Company and the Business Studies and Assistance Centre, the contest attracted 312 chefs from 104 hotels, restaurants and resorts from 39 cities and provinces, who introduced a dozen new spices and more than 600 dishes.

Ly Huy Sáng, deputy general director of Minh Long I and deputy head of the organisers, said the contest aims to discover, preserve and promote traditional dishes that embody traditional regional culture besides honouring professional chefs who research into nutrition and introduce Vietnamese specialties and healthy dishes.

It also seeks to develop a brand for Vietnamese cuisine and turn it into a national tourist attraction, he said.

Sáng said the contest would not be held next year to enable the organisers to review and create a complete new programme. — VNS