Student Chef Wins Scholarship to Switzerland’s Best Culinary School

Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland live-streamed its second annual Cook ‘N’ Battle virtual competition on July 24, with Ms. Yihan Ying from the United Arab Emirates in first place.

National; July 29, 2021 — Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAAS), rated one of the world’s finest culinary schools, held its second annual Cook ‘N’ Battle virtual competition,  live-streaming the global finals on July 24.

Ms. Yihan Ying from Dubai was awarded a $22,000 (CHF 20,000) scholarship toward a five-star culinary education at Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland. Ying titled her winning creation the Winter Blossom inspired by the plum flower, which flourishes in the winter in her native China. She made three wagashi, a traditional and colorful Japanese sweet, garnished with a sprinkling of powdered camel milk as snow, which Ying explained is a sustainable, local ingredient in Dubai.

“It looks amazing and I’m sure it tastes amazing too,” said Michéle Müller, Executive Chef at the Kempinski Palace Engelberg in Switzerland. Müller was a member of the jury representing Kempinski Hotels, global sponsor of the Cook ‘N’Battle and the oldest luxury hotel group in Europe.

Each finalist was assigned a mentor drawn from CAAS faculty as well as professional chefs with Kempinski Hotels. Guilherme Razente of Brazil was 1st runner-up and Cho Zin from Myanmar the 2^nd runner-up both receiving scholarships to CAAS. The three other finalists selected to compete included Orianna Lopez from Colombia, Seo Huyn Lee from South Korea, and Mukuna Macharia from Kenya who all were awarded a two-night stay for 2 at one of the 78 Kempinski Hotels.

Their original video submissions can be viewed on the Cook ‘N’ Battle YouTube channel.

Legendary Swiss Chef Anton Mosimann, OBE, stated when announcing the winners “I wish you all the best for a successful, happy future in the hospitality industry. We need you. We need good chefs.” Chef Mosimann, recipient of the 2021 Swiss Culinary Merit and chef to four generations of the British royal family, is a long-time partner and supporter of the CAAS and César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, which specializes in entrepreneurship, business, and hospitality management.

The contest was open to students 16 and older from around the world who entered via a short video showcasing their culinary creation.

In 2021 CAAS ranked 8^th in Hospitality Leisure Management according to QS World Rankings, the superb quality of its program offerings, faculty, and facilities.