Every team is a winner.
Two competitions days per national team and performances at the highest level: The “supreme disciplines” of the IKA/Culinary Olympics are demanding in many respects.
Text Aina Keller Photos IKA/Culiary Olympics
The two categories National Teams and Junior National Teams have a long tradition at the IKA/Culinary Olympics, they stand for top-class culinary creativity and international food trends. The 26th edition of the IKA, which takes place from 2 to 7 February, 2024 parallel to Intergastra, will once again be an exclusive stage for the six-member teams in the kitchen boxes. Willing to represent their own country and to create the best on their plates, the national teams from all over the world will participate in the renowned competitions in Stuttgart.
Culinary Community
The category “National Teams” brings together the world’s best culinary teams in the glass kitchens of the IKA. Hall CS in the ICS International Congress Center Stuttgart will be the showcase for a wide variety of menus, flavors and spices. Each team will compete in two competitions, the respective competition days were drawn in May. On the one hand, a three-course menu for 110 people (Restaurant of Nations) and a seven-course menu for 10 people (Chef’s Table) are required. For the international chefs, taking part in the IKA is not only associated with great tension and maximum concentration. The teams are looking forward to the many special moments that the mega event has in store: „Holding our flag high and being involved in the comradery and culinary fraternity that the IKA encourages. Also maybe a few cheeky Stien’s of the local brew after we finish competing“, says Andrew Ballard from the National Culinary Team Australia.
Highly motivated and ambitious
In the “Junior National Teams” category, the excitement is even more intense, as the IKA is the very first major competition for the majority of the team members. The international talents of tomorrow will be cooking in Stuttgart: No older than 25, highly motivated and ambitious, the young members of the junior national teams will be showing off their skills on the IKA stage in Stuttgart. They will present a three-course menu for 110 people (Restaurant of Nations competition) and a five-course menu for 10 people on the second day of the competition (Junior Chef’s Table competition).
“I’m mostly excited to be there as a team. After having spent so much time training together. So many hours on the phone and in meetings, cooking, failing and trying again“, says Luca Marie Böttner, Captain of the Junior National Team Germany. „Everybody has poured his heart and soul into the dishes we have created. Going there as part of an incredible team and finally being able to showcase everything we have been working on for so long. That definitely means the most to me when thinking about IKA.“
The passion for competition and the fascination of team cooking can be experienced live in Stuttgart. Guests take a seat in the Restaurant of Nations and embark on an exciting journey through the world of cooking.
IKA 2024: National Teams at a glance
- Competition: Restaurant of Nations
- Procedure: Six National Teams per day with 110 menus each
- Kitchen Boxes: Hall ICS, C2
- Event Venue: Restaurant of Nations/ICS, C1
- Offer: Three-course menu
- Price: 89 Euro per person
- Competition: Chef’s Table
- Procedure: Six National Teams per day with a table of ten people each
- Kitchen Boxes: Hall ICS, C2
- Event Venue: Chef’s Table/ICS, C2
- Offer: Seven-course menu
- Price: 140 Euro per person
IKA 2024: Junior National Teams at a glance
- Competition: Restaurant of Nations
- Procedure: Six National Teams per day with 110 menus each
- Kitchen Boxes: Hall ICS, C2
- Event Venue: Restaurant of Nations/ICS, C1
- Offer: Three-course menu
- Price: 89 Euro per person
- Competition: Chef’s Table
- Procedure: Six National Teams per day with a table of ten people each
- Kitchen Boxes: Hall ICS, C2
- Event Venue: Junior Chef’s Table/ICS, C2
- Offer: Seven-course menu
- Price: 140 Euro per person
Overview of teams, menus and how to get there: www.culinary-olympics.com/visitors
Tickets: www.culinary-olympics.com/ticket
