The grand finale of the Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge (EverestBKCC) – Season 7 was successfully held at DY Patil University's School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Navi Mumbai, following semi-final rounds conducted across 19 cities in India to select the finalists who competed for the title. Since its inception, the competition has consistently followed the theme “Flavours of India,” with a strong focus on celebrating the country's rich culinary heritage. The initiative continues to inspire hotel management students to explore regional cuisines, understand indigenous ingredients, and present Indian flavours with creativity and contemporary flair.
EverestBKCC Season 7 witnessed enthusiastic participation from aspiring chefs across the country, each bringing forward unique interpretations of traditional Indian dishes. The grand finale served as a vibrant platform where skill, innovation, and cultural appreciation came together, reinforcing the importance of Indian cuisine in modern culinary practices.
The winners of the grand finale included Rhushat Kulkarni, IHM – Mumbai as the Winner, followed by 1st Runner-Up Adepu Kushul, IHM – Hyderabad and 2nd Runner-Up M Vasanth Kumar, SRMIHM - Chennai, all of whom stood out for their exceptional culinary skills, presentation, and thoughtful execution of the theme Flavours of India, impressing the esteemed panel of judges.
To provide a national-level platform for key disciplines within the hospitality sector, three concurrent competitions were organised across all 19 cities alongside the EverestBKCC, including the Better Kitchen Bakery Champion, F&B Young Masters Challenge, and the Enzo Housekeeping Olympiad. These competitions offered students the opportunity to participate as per their area of interest and showcase their specialised skills in bakery and patisserie, food & beverage service, and housekeeping operations.
Sharing her perspective, Ekta Bhargava, Publisher of Better Kitchen Magazine, subtly emphasised that the core objective of the competition is to encourage students to deeply engage with Indian cuisines, appreciate their diversity, and contribute towards making Indian cuisine one of the most admired globally. She also underlined the importance of such platforms in helping Indian chefs gain greater visibility and recognition on the international stage.
The success of Season 7 was made possible with the support of esteemed partners including Everest, Incredible India – Ministry of Tourism GoI, Bharatgas – BPCL, Wisdom Career Education, MYMENU365, Gujarat Tourism, Chefs Unlimited, Madhusudan, Morde, Cremeitalia, and Seven Hills Food, whose collective contribution added significant value to the event.
With another successful season concluded, Better Kitchen now looks ahead to Season 8, which is set to commence from September 2026 onwards across 21 cities, culminating in a grand finale. The continued expansion of the Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge reflects its growing influence as a leading platform dedicated to promoting Indian cuisine and shaping the future of the hospitality industry.
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