Four hundred chefs have expressed interest in taking part in The Battle of Chefs Africa cooking competition.

Organisers of the event, which seeks to promote and celebrate the culinary skills and creativity of passionate chefs, are set to hold auditions in Lilongwe on February 22 to 23 2025.

This will be followed by auditions in Blantyre on April 4 to 5 2025.

“The competition will involve a series of thrilling cooking challenges that will test participants on their technique, innovation and ability to work under pressure.

“It is not just about cooking; it is about telling a story through food and celebrating the diverse cultures of Africa,” founder Famida Daud Aly said.

She added that this year’s edition would be different in a way that challenges would incorporate culinary heritage and global trends.

In addition, chefs would have the chance to collaborate with local producers in order to create dishes that highlight the best ingredients from across the continent.

“We are seeing a diverse group of talented individuals, from seasoned chefs to young rising stars, all eager to showcase their skills. The interest speaks volumes about the growing recognition of African

cuisines on the global stage,” Daud Aly said.

In the competition, the chefs will be competing individually with the hope of showing judges their individual skill, creativity and ability to work under pressure.

It is expected that 35 chefs will battle it out for the grand prize of K4 million for the first position, with the runner-up pocketing K1 million.

Zomba-based chef Fiona Saka won last year’s competition.