The Centre's chefs cooked up a storm recently at the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic (HKICC) 2005, a prestigious gourmet cooking showdown jointly organised by The Hong Kong Chefs Association and Hong Kong Exhibition Services Limited. Held between 10 and 13 May, the event attracted 437 entries from 60 organisations hailing from 10 countries and regions across Asia. Besides the demanding Western Cuisine, Chinese Cuisine, and Pastry competitions, participants could also enter the Live Bakery Competition, the Gourmet Team Competition or the Ice Carving Competition. Some 60 judges from leading hotels and restaurants were on hand to select the best performances in each category.

Under high pressure and with some of the region's top culinary experts looking over their shoulders, the HKCEC chefs kept their cool and managed to pick up a remarkable 11 awards in the process! A highlight was the Gourmet Team Challenge in which the Centre's chefs won a Gold Award with Distinction, a fitting testimony to their collective skills and committed teamwork. Two other Gold Awards, in the Western Cuisine category for Appetizers Display and Main Courses Display, paid tribute to the HKCEC chefs' impeccable sense of the aesthetics of food presentation. A further five Silver awards were won in the Western and Chinese Cuisine categories, along with two more Bronzes. Finally, the Centre's talents for sculpture were on display in the Ice Carving (Individual Competition), where the Centre's master sculptor picked up a Bronze medal for his striking piece. Overall, the event was a triumph for the HKCEC, and showed yet again the depth of quality of the Centre's culinary resources at every level. Bravo!