KOTA BARU: Talented young chefs showed their culinary skills at the grand final Maggi secondary school's cooking competition 2017 held at Tunjung here today.
With this year's theme `Malaysian Classic with a Twist', 48 secondary students from 16 states participated in the competition.
Maggi/Nestle business executive officer Geetha Balakrishna said the competition was held to mark Maggi's 21 years collaboration with Education Ministry.
She said the participants, aged between 13 and 15 years old, were from 16 states across the country including Putrajaya and Labuan.
"Since the past two decades, Maggi secondary school cooking competition has helped many young Malaysians to develop their culinary talents and enrich their knowledge of making tasty and balanced meals.
"Through this competition, we also encouraged transmission of good eating and cooking habits among the people," she said.
The chefs were each given `Maggi Mystery Box Challenge' - a box containing unknown ingredients as well as various maggi products.
"This is a test for the participants and they are required to prepare the most creative dish they can think of using the ingredients and the products," she said.
Geetha said guests including teachers, state education officers and also other students were treated to a cooking demonstration and fun cooking challenge by Nestle corporate executive chef and training manager Chef Muluk.
Apart from that, she said there was also a nutritional talk by the Malaysian Dietitians' Association focusing on the importance of embracing balanced lifestyles.
Grand prize winners will receive cash prizes, trophies and medals at a dinner to be held tonight.