Benildean Culinary Arts student Austin Cale Labago nabbed the silver medal amongst young chefs and cooks from over 50 countries as the country’s representative in the 6th edition of the International Young Chef Olympiad (YCO) in Delhi, India last Feb. 2, 2020.
YCO 2020 challenged the limits and horizons of the culinary skills of the selected chefs and apprentices from all around the world. Labago’s unique take on food impressed the palate of the judges and embraced the competition’s theme of sustainability, helping her surpass the 55 contenders and being one of the top 10 finalists.
Labago is being trained in the Italian Food Style Education Culinary Institution in Turin, Italy, as well as Tenuta La Cascinetta, a Michelin-Star restaurant in Regione Rena, Buriasco, Italy. She was also mentored by Mr. Kannan Jayaprakash Sreedevi, the College’s School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management (SHRIM) industry expert and faculty member, throughout her journey in YCO 2020. Her experience as the kitchen manager of Benilde’s Andrew Café helped her hone the skills she utilized in the competition.
In an interview with Labago posted on the Youth Chef Olympiad Facebook page, she expressed her happiness and shock as she won as the first runner-up in the said competition.
“I’m really happy. Just being in the top 10 is great and I am really not expecting anything so I am happy about it,” she stated. Labago also added that her journey was fun and she will miss India and hopes to be able visit as soon as possible.
Labago competed in an international culinary competition for the first time as the fifth Benildean student-chef to represent the country in the tournament after Valery Anthony, who placed fifth last 2019.
Chen Khai Loong from Taylors University in Malaysia and Bethany Collins from Westminster Kingsway College in England won the gold and bronze medal respectively.
The Youth Chef Olympiad is the world’s largest culinary olympiad that is organized by the International Institute of Hotel Management. This year’s competition is the sixth edition of the mentioned olympiad.
