Golden Eye Chef 2023 Awards

International Cooking Contest for the Blind

Winners Announcement

In a jubilant celebration of culinary talent and inclusivity, the Golden Eye Chef 2023 convened visually impaired chefs from across the globe in an international cooking contest. Diverse participants from countries such as India, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay, Nepal, Malawi, the United States, Mauritius, North Macedonia, and more showcased their culinary prowess in a virtual culinary extravaganza.

The Theme:

The theme for this year’s competition was ‘Preparing a traditional dish from your locality using locally available ingredients.’ Consistent with past editions, the contest comprised two categories: one for totally blind participants and another for partially blind participants.

Triumphs in Darkness: The Winners

Totally Blind Category:

The coveted Golden Eye Chef title in this category was claimed by Katarzyna Bukowska from Mexico. Her dish, Green Salsa Chicken Tamales, not only impressed the jury but also resonated with the hearts of many.

“Thank you. I would like to express my gratitude to everybody, to all the jury, for appreciating my work. I love being in the kitchen, and I hope this is something I can share with other people. Thank you very much.”

Katarzyna shared her joy,

Partially Blind Category:

The Golden Eye Chef 2023 Jury Award in this category went to Annpurna from India, the maestro behind the delightful Veg Momos. Annpurna’s triumph underscored culinary excellence.

Creativity Unleashed: Runner-ups and Unique Recipes

Totally Blind Category:

Pinky Mangal’s Malwa Special Dal Bati Churma and Daniel Aronoff’s Hake in Green Sauce secured the positions of Runner-up and Second Runner-up, respectively. Navina Gyawali from Nepal received the Most Creative Recipe award for her Dhido and Gundruk preparation.

Partially Blind Category:

Pushmawtee O Kane from Mauritius secured the Runner-up position with her Fish Vindaye, while Namrata Deshpande from India claimed Second Runner-up with Kothimbir Vadi. The Most Creative Recipe award in this category was granted to David Bogacz from Uruguay for Keny’s Lamb.

Crowd’s Favourites: People’s Choice Awards

Partially Blind Category:

David Bogacz from Uruguay, with his dish Keny’s Lamb, clinched the People’s Choice Award. The second most liked recipe in this category was Tavche Gravche by Ratka Miloshevska from North Macedonia.

Totally Blind Category:

In this category, the second most liked recipe was Malwa Special Dal Bati Churma by Pinky Mangal. The crown for the most liked recipe went to Hake in Green Sauce by Daniel Aronoff from the USA.

Wisdom from the Jury:

Chief Jury Chef V. K. Iyer commended all participants, expressing the difficulty in selecting a winner due to the exceptional quality displayed. Master Chef Nazim Khan shared his journey of briefly experiencing blindness by blindfolding himself to understand the challenges, praising the contestants for their remarkable culinary skills and resilience.

Messages from the Golden Eye Chef Team:

MasterChef Aditi Bhutia Madan, a proud member of the Golden Eye Chef journey, congratulated founder Akhil Srivastava for the event’s success. Chef Kuldeep Singh extended New Year and Christmas wishes, inviting all international participants for the 2024 edition, planned to be conducted offline in India.

Chef Participants’ Heartfelt Remarks:

Participants from Mauritius, Mexico, Uruguay, and the USA expressed gratitude for the opportunity, shared insights into their unique recipes, and expressed a desire to participate again in the future.

“Thank you for this opportunity. I made a typical Mauritian dish, and with only a week to prepare, I was busy and unsure. Despite the short notice, I managed, so thank you.”

Pushmawtee O Kane / Mauritius / Runner-up – Partially Blind, Jury Awards

“Thank you for the recognition. Knowing that people appreciate my recipe is heartwarming. I plan to try every recipe in the contest because they are truly excellent. It’s an honor to participate. Thank you very much.”

David Bogacz / Partially Blind / Uruguay / Winner of Most Creative Recipe and People’s Choice Award:

“I am honored to be here. Thanks for this incredible opportunity. It’s been amazing, and all of you are truly exceptional. I’ve watched all your recipes, and I appreciate this platform. I love cooking with you all and hope to collaborate again. I’ve been following you for a few years now on social media and attended to give it a shot.”

Daniel Aronoff / First blind food critic: USA / Winner of People’s Choice Award, and 2nd Runner-up of Jury Award:

The Golden Eye Chef 2023 truly showcased the exceptional talents of visually impaired chefs globally, bringing together diverse flavors and cultures in a celebration of culinary artistry. The event concluded on a high note, with anticipation building for the next edition in 2024. Congratulations to all participants!