A total of 36 individuals on Saturday received the first ‘CGM Chef Awards 2022’.
The Chefs’ Guild of Maldives Chef Awards 2022, the first-ever initiative to honour the exceptional individuals committed to improving culinary arts in the Maldives, was successfully concluded by the Chefs Guild of the Maldives. The biennial CGM Chef Awards are open to both domestic and international chefs working in the Maldives.
The first-ever CGM Chef Awards were presented on November 19, at a special reception held at Kurumba Maldives.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, First Lady Fazna Ahmed, Minister of Tourism Dr Abdulla Mausoom, and Chairman of the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI), M.U. Maniku, all attended the event as honorary guests.
President Solih made a comment during the occasion about how important chefs are to the country's tourism business. The President noted that the Maldives today has internationally famous chefs and culinary specialists, hinting at the development of the country's culinary industry over the previous 50 years. President Solih also commended local chefs and urged them to promote Maldivian cuisine as a gastronomy with global renown.
Awards were given in eight different categories on this special occasion. Young chefs, chefs at higher levels, and chefs who have been in the field for a long period are all included in this.
Chef Ahmed Mazim, Chef de Partie at the Four Seasons Maldives Resort Landaa Giraavaru, was recognized by the Chefs Guild of the Maldives and named "Chef of the Year." In addition to winning Best Maldivian Chef at the Food and Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) International Culinary Challenge 2022, Ahmed Mazim, a gifted young chef with 8 years of experience, also won Most Outstanding Chef and Top Maldivian Chef at the Hotel Asia Exhibition & International Culinary Challenge 2022.
Additionally, Mohamed Asim Abdul Gayoom received the "Special Recognition Award" from the Chefs Guild of the Maldives. One of the first native cooking instructors at the Maldives Hotel School was Mohamed Asim. Under Mohamed Asim's guidance, many Maldivian chefs who currently hold top positions in the culinary industry received their education and training. Additionally, he was a founder and the first host of the famed cooking show "Raha Thafaathu." Adaaran Select Hudhuran Fushi's previous general manager was Mohamed Asim Abdul Gayoom.
With the help of a number of generous sponsors, including Universal Enterprises, Kurumba Maldives, Best Buy Maldives (BBM), Dhiraagu, Crown and Champa Resorts (CCR), Lily International, and event management partner High Rise Pvt Ltd, the CGM Chef Awards 2022 became a reality. Chefs Guild of Maldives expresses its sincere gratitude to all of its sponsors and collaborators for helping to make the event a success.
