Culinary Culture has concluded the third edition of Food Superstars – India’s Top 30 Chefs, presented by Zoya, on October 21, 2024, in the stunning city of Udaipur. Hosted by Vir Sanghvi, Chairman of Culinary Culture, this prestigious awards ceremony celebrated the culinary artists transforming India’s food landscape with their innovation and passion.
The event was a resounding success, showcasing a remarkable lineup of talented chefs flown in from across the country. The coveted No. 1 rank went to Chef Hussain Shahzad recognized for his restaurants which include The Bombay Canteen, O Pedro, and Papa’s. The list welcomed seven new entrants and five returning chefs to the list, including Prateek Sadhu, Manu Chandra, and Suresh Pillai, and celebrated vibrant culinary talent from eight cities, with Mumbai securing the highest representation at ten spots.
Dressed in bespoke scarves from Tasva by Tarun Tahiliani, the chefs took center stage as the list was revealed in descending order. The event also honored Special Award recipients, including the late Imtiaz Qureshi, who was posthumously awarded the Legend Chef Award. Previous No. 1 chefs, such as Regi Mathew, were also celebrated as they joined Manish Mehrotra in the Hall of Fame, underscoring their lasting influence on the culinary landscape.
“We are immensely grateful for the industry’s support for this unique platform. A huge congratulations to Hussain for being ranked No. 1, and to all our FoodSuperstars. It’s heartening to witness the amazing community of chefs we’ve built over the past three years. Thank you to our partners—Zoya, Veeba, Fratelli, Bisleri Vedica, and Tarun Tahiliani with Tasva. We look forward to seeing you next year in a new Indian city for the fourth edition, which we aim to make even bigger.”
Raaj Sanghvi, CEO, Culinary Culture
The selection process for FoodSuperstars is rigorous, conducted by a dedicated team of over 40 FoodHunters who traveled the nation to identify outstanding culinary talents. Each nomination is thoroughly vetted and debated before being presented to Culinary Culture’s Secret Jury which is overseen by Vir Sanghvi, ensuring that only the most deserving chefs make the final list.
Importantly, Food Superstars maintains its integrity by not accepting any form of advertising or commercial considerations from restaurants or hotels, and the list remains completely confidential until it is revealed live at the ceremony. In a groundbreaking approach, these awards focus on the chefs themselves, independent of their restaurant affiliations, ensuring that recognition stays with the chefs throughout their careers. As the Culinary Culture Food Superstars gathered to celebrate excellence and creativity, this year’s No. 1 Chef, Hussain Shahzad was awarded.
“On behalf of the entire ABDL team, heartiest congratulations to Chef Hussain Shahzad for being ranked No. 1, and to all the culinary artists who were a part of this year’s food superstars. It’s indeed a pleasure to collaborate ZOYA with FoodSuperstars, a platform that celebrates and recognizes the versatility of taste, flavors and aroma crafted by the amazing convergence of chefs.”
Bikram Basu, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, ABDL
“Thank you Culinary Culture and all the FoodSuperstars partners for this honor. I am grateful to be part of this amazing community and this will inspire me to work harder to be worthy of this responsibility. Thank you for making chefs feel special.”
Hussain Shahzad, Chef
FoodSuperstars 2024, held over two days and featuring a day of panel discussions known as Culinary Conversations, was more than just an awards ceremony; it was a vibrant celebration of food, creativity, and talent. This event brought together India’s finest chefs, allowing them to create unforgettable memories against the breathtaking backdrop of Udaipur.