A celebration of artistry, discipline, and culinary passion unfolded in Ho Chi Minh City on 20 October 2025, as Vietnam proudly hosted the Young Talents Escoffier – Asia Pacific 2025 competition. This prestigious event brought together the region’s most promising chefs and service professionals, reaffirming Escoffier’s enduring legacy of excellence while spotlighting a new generation shaping the future of gastronomy across Asia and beyond.
The event brought together the region’s most promising chefs and service professionals.
The Young Talents Escoffier Competition, organized by Les Disciples Escoffier International, is a prestigious global event established in 2004 to inspire and nurture young professionals in both culinary and dining room service disciplines. Upholding the visionary ideals of Auguste Escoffier and César Ritz, the competition celebrates the artistry and evolution of gastronomy, uniting technical excellence with creativity, elegance, and the enduring spirit of hospitality.
The competition celebrates the artistry and evolution of the culinary arts.
The Asia Pacific Zone Selection of the Young Talents Escoffier 2025 took place on October 20, 2025, at the Ho Chi Minh University of Economics & Finance (UEF) in Vietnam, with the university proudly serving as the official competition venue. Following an inspiring day of culinary artistry, the award ceremony was held at Le P’ti Saigon Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City. The journey continues to the International Final in April 2026, set to be hosted at L'École de Paris des Métiers de la Table (EPMT) in Paris, France — the culminating stage where the finest young chefs and service talents from around the world will gather to celebrate the art of gastronomy.
The event took place on October 20, 2025, at the Ho Chi Minh University of Economics & Finance (UEF) in Vietnam.
The Young Talents Escoffier – Asia Pacific 2025 competition welcomed aspiring professionals under the age of 25 across two key disciplines — Cuisine and Dining Room Service. In the Cuisine Category, eight exceptional young chefs represented their nations: Pan Xiao Qin (China), Nguyen Quang Tam (Vietnam), Aanohá Herrmann (Tahiti), Jitruxmun Sorrayut (Thailand), Lim Woo Bin (Korea), Leung Hoi Lun (Hong Kong), I Wayan Nara Iswara (Indonesia), and Benedict Gavin Christy (Singapore). Meanwhile, the Service Category showcased rising front-of-house talents including Tran Khanh Tam (Vietnam), Poerava Temakeu (Tahiti), and Lutfil Hadi Bin Zaini (Singapore). From the Asia Pacific Zone selection, only four candidates, two from each category, will earn the honor of advancing to the International Final in Paris.
The competition welcomed aspiring professionals across two key disciplines — Cuisine and Dining Room Service.
The Asia Pacific selection of the Young Talents Escoffier 2025 was held with great success, thanks in large part to the collaboration of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF). The university’s active involvement not only elevated the event’s international profile but also offered its students invaluable hands-on exposure to global standards in Restaurant and Food Service Management, reinforcing UEF’s commitment to nurturing future professionals in the hospitality industry.
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The event also welcomed international judges, coaches, and Escoffier delegations.
The competition was made possible through the support and generosity of a distinguished network of partners from the F&B industry. These included Hopscotch Vietnam as the main communication partner, Classic Fine Foods and Clement Design as platinum sponsors, and Annam Group, Evian, Monsoon, and Sampan as gold sponsors, alongside contributions from numerous product and material partners. The event also welcomed international judges, coaches, and Escoffier delegations, who traveled to Vietnam to oversee and guide the competition in collaboration with the dedicated Escoffier Vietnam local team.
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The event was held to celebrate young professionals in the Culinary and Dining Room Service fields.
The announcement of results and the Awards Ceremony for the Young Talents Escoffier – Asia Pacific Selection 2025 took place on October 21, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Le P’ti Saigon Restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The evening celebrated the exceptional skill and dedication of the young professionals competing in both Cuisine and Service categories, with distinctions presented to the Winners, First and Second Runners-up, as well as special recognitions for Best Plate and Best Platter, honoring excellence in both artistry and execution.
The competition was made possible through the support of a distinguished network of partners from the F&B industry.
In the Service Category, the top honor was awarded to Tran Khanh Tam from Vietnam, whose exceptional poise and professionalism earned her the title of Champion. Poerava Temakeu from Tahiti impressed the judges with her refined technique, securing the position of First Runner-up, while Lutfil Hadi Bin Zaini from Singapore received the Second Runner-up recognition for his outstanding performance in dining room service.
Participants of the Young Talents Escoffier – Asia Pacific Selection 2025
The Cuisine Category showcased an equally high level of creativity and craftsmanship. I Wayan Nara Iswara from Indonesia claimed the title of Champion, followed by Lim Woo Bin from Korea as First Runner-up and Pan Xiao Qin from China as Second Runner-up. Special honors were also presented to Leung Hoi Lun from Hong Kong for Best Plate and Nguyen Quang Tam from Vietnam for Best Platter, celebrating their exceptional artistry and culinary presentation.
I Wayan Nara Iswara from Indonesia –Cuisine Champion
Tran Khanh Tam from Vietnam – Service Champion
Credit: Some images provided by UEF.