EverestBKCC: India’s hospitality future shines in Mumbai

The flagship event of Better Kitchen magazine — the Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge (Everest BKCC) Season 7 — was successfully conducted at Bunts Sangha’s Ramanath Payyade College of Hospitality Management Studies (RPH), Mumbai. Recognised as India’s largest culinary competition for hotel management students, Season 7 is being held across 19 cities nationwide, along with three concurrent skill-based competitions: Better Kitchen Bakery Champion, Better Kitchen F&B Young Masters Challenge, and the Enzo Housekeeping Olympiad. The series will culminate in a prestigious national finale in Mumbai.

Aimed at bridging the gap between academia and the hospitality industry, Everest BKCC fosters practical learning, innovation, and professional readiness among aspiring chefs and hospitality students. Participants across all competitions receive access to global opportunities, including eligibility for a USD 500 WCE Scholarship via the Bridge USA J-1 Exchange Visitor Program or for advanced studies in Europe. The Mumbai edition brought together senior industry professionals, hospitality leaders, and enthusiastic young participants who demonstrated exceptional culinary artistry and technical skills.

Speaking at the event, Ekta Bhargava, Publisher, Better Kitchen, emphasized the core vision of the initiative. “Our goal is to prepare students for future challenges and promote Indian regional food globally, while preserving its authenticity and flavour,” she said. The long-standing theme ‘Flavours of India’ continues this year, celebrating the country’s diverse culinary heritage, healthy regional cuisines, and culinary tourism. National winners of Everest BKCC Season 7 will be awarded Rs51,000, Rs21,000, and Rs11,000.

The event concluded with the announcement of winners across categories, marking an impactful step toward strengthening India’s hospitality education ecosystem and celebrating the country’s rising culinary stars.

Everest Better Kitchen Culinary Challenge Season 7

First Position: Team Everest Ginger Garlic Paste represented by Krishnaa Rane & Isaa Patel from Patkar Varde College

Second Position: Team Everest Garam Masala represented by Saniya Bathija & Kevin Mathews from Sheila Raheja IHM

Third Position: Tie between team Everest Rajma Masala represented by Rugveda Sawant & Kashmira Pradhan from RPH IHM and Everest Dry Mango Powder represented by Bhumika Jain & Heer Singh from Sheila Raheja IHM.

Better Kitchen Bakery Champion

First Position: Durva Kadam & Himani Oza from from Sheila Raheja IHM

Second Position: Shravani Sakpal & Meenali Vaidya from Patkar Varde

Third Position: Nishika Pawar & Sumit Ahire from IHM, Mumbai.

Better Kitchen F&B Young Masters Challenge

First Position: Shubham Faware from Rizvi College

Second Position: Jithesh Shetty from RPH IHM.

Enzo Housekeeping Olympiad

First Position: Tanushree Mehra from Arun Muchhala College of Hotel Management

Second Position: Tanki Datar from RPH IHM

Third Position: Aditi More from Arun Muchhala College of Hotel Management.